Drive or Fly: Quincy, IL to Freeport, 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 UIN–RFD. At 243 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 7m

Distance

243 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

98 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 22m

23m in the air

Air Distance

188 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

48 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Quincy, IL → UIN 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RFD → Freeport, IL 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Quincy, IL UIN — Quincy Regional Airport Baldwin Field 11 mi, ~17m drive

Freeport, IL RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between UIN and RFD. 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

4h 55m

2h 38m on rail

Total Cost

$32

CO2

9 kg

Route

Carl Sandburg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Quincy, IL → Quincy Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 158m

Arrival 10m

Mendota Amtrak Station → Freeport, IL 87m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From Quincy Amtrak Station 3 mi, ~10m drive

To Mendota Amtrak Station 58 mi, ~87m 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 7m	3h 22m	4h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$183	$32
Carbon footprint	98 kg CO₂	48 kg CO₂	9 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 21, 2026.

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