Drive or Fly: Joliet, IL to Alton, 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

4h 43m

Distance

248.7 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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

26m in the air

Air Distance

213 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joliet, IL → MDW 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Alton, IL 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Joliet, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

Alton, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.7%

Cancellation

1.3%

+ 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 55m

3h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$42

CO2

14 kg

Route

Lincoln Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joliet, IL → Joliet Gateway Center (JOL) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 195m

Arrival 10m

Alton Amtrak Station (ALN) → Alton, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $42) $42

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

Stations

From JOL — Joliet Gateway Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ALN — Alton Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	4h 43m	3h 24m	4h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$184	$42
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	54 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 Joliet, IL to Alton, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.