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

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for ORD–BMI. At 157 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 6m

Distance

157.1 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

63 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 3m

15m in the air

Air Distance

124 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BMI → Heyworth, IL 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Heyworth, IL BMI — Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and BMI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 45m

3h 50m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0145S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → Elgin IL (ELG6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 230m

Arrival 10m

Bloomington-Normal (BLL6) → Heyworth, IL 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From ELG6 — Elgin IL 2 mi, ~10m drive

To BLL6 — Bloomington-Normal 14 mi, ~20m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 6m	3h 3m	4h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$125	$12
Carbon footprint	63 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

157.1 mi 3h 5m

via I 55, I 355, US 20

Shortest (+0 min)

144.6 mi 3h 6m

via I 55, IL 47, CR 83

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