Drive or Fly: Springfield, IL to Highwood, 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 15m

Distance

218.7 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

88 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

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

2h 57m

23m in the air

Air Distance

191 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Springfield, IL → SPI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Highwood, IL 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Springfield, IL SPI — Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Highwood, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ 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 15m	2h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$183
Carbon footprint	88 kg CO₂	49 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 Jun 3, 2026.

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