Drive or Fly: Metropolis, IL to Waukegan, IL?

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

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 40m

Distance

403.6 mi

Total Cost

$140

CO2

163 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$105

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 34m

44m in the air

Air Distance

363 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

93 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Metropolis, IL → PAH 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Waukegan, IL 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Metropolis, IL PAH — Barkley Regional Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Waukegan, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 4h 6m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 40m	3h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$140	$190
Carbon footprint	163 kg CO₂	93 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

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 Oct 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

403.6 mi 7h 40m

via I 57, I 24, I 94

Alternative (+25 min)

415.5 mi 8h 5m

via I 57, I 294, I 55

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