Drive or Fly: Elgin, IL to Rosewood Heights, 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–STL. At 287 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 31m

Distance

287.4 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

116 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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 25m

28m in the air

Air Distance

237 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Rosewood Heights, IL 27m

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

Rosewood Heights, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 6m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− 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 31m	3h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$184
Carbon footprint	116 kg CO₂	61 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

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

287.4 mi 5h 31m

via I 55, I 355, US 20

Alternative (+11 min)

295.2 mi 5h 42m

via I 55, I 39; US 51, IL 38

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