Drive or Fly: Elgin, IL to Godfrey, IL?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 39m

Distance

294.8 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

119 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 24m

28m in the air

Air Distance

235 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

60 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Godfrey, IL 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Elgin, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Godfrey, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.5%

Cancellation

0.5%

+ Saves about 2h 15m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 39m	3h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$184
Carbon footprint	119 kg CO₂	60 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

294.8 mi 5h 38m

via I 55, I 355, US 20

Shortest (+0 min)

282.3 mi 5h 39m

via I 55, IL 47, CR 83

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Elgin, IL to Godfrey, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.