Drive or Fly: Newell, IL to Palatine, 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 CMI–ORD. At 160 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 49m

Distance

160 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 29m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newell, IL → CMI 56m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Palatine, IL 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Newell, IL CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 38 mi, ~56m drive

Palatine, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CMI and ORD. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 34m

5h 40m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0145S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newell, IL → Danville Mass Transit (DAN6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 340m

Arrival 10m

Elgin IL (ELG6) → Palatine, IL 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From DAN6 — Danville Mass Transit 3 mi, ~10m drive

To ELG6 — Elgin IL 12 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 49m	3h 29m	6h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$125	$15
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	8 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: FlixBus 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

160 mi 3h 49m

via IL 1, I 57, US 136; IL 1

Alternative (+0 min)

167.8 mi 3h 50m

via US 41, I 294, SR 63

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