Drive or Fly: Round Lake Beach, IL to Decatur, 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 18m

Distance

212.5 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

86 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 15m

22m in the air

Air Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Round Lake Beach, IL → ORD 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DEC → Decatur, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Round Lake Beach, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

Decatur, IL DEC — Decatur Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.2%

Cancellation

5.8%

+ 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	4h 18m	3h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$182
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	46 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	94% 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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

212.5 mi 4h 18m

via I 55, US 51, I 355

Alternative (+9 min)

224.6 mi 4h 27m

via I 57, I 294, I 72

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Round Lake Beach, IL to Decatur, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.