Drive or Fly: Godfrey, IL to Cicero, 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 21m

Distance

281.5 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 4m

28m in the air

Air Distance

237 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

60 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Godfrey, IL → STL 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Cicero, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Cicero, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.3%

Cancellation

0.7%

+ Saves about 2h 17m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 32m

3h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$47

CO2

14 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Godfrey, IL → Alton Amtrak Station (ALN) 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 212m

Arrival 10m

Summit Amtrak (SMT) → Cicero, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $47) $47

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

Stations

From ALN — Alton Amtrak Station 3 mi, ~10m drive

To SMT — Summit Amtrak 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 21m	3h 4m	4h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$184	$47
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	60 kg CO₂	14 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

Transit: Amtrak 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 Jul 20, 2026.

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