Drive or Fly: Merrillville, IN to Richmond, IN?

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 GYY–DAY. At 212 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 1m

Distance

212.5 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

86 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 30m

21m in the air

Air Distance

172 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Merrillville, IN → GYY 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAY → Richmond, IN 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Merrillville, IN GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Richmond, IN DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GYY and DAY. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 59m

5h 37m on rail

Total Cost

$36

CO2

10 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Merrillville, IN → Dyer Amtrak 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 337m

Arrival 10m

Connersville Amtrak → Richmond, IN 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $36) $36

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

Stations

From Dyer Amtrak 10 mi, ~15m drive

To Connersville Amtrak 18 mi, ~27m 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 1m	3h 30m	6h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$182	$36
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	10 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: 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

212.5 mi 4h 1m

via I 65, I 70, I 465

Alternative (+34 min)

216.5 mi 4h 35m

via US 30, US 27

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Merrillville, IN to Richmond, IN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.