Drive or Fly: Upper Alton, IL to Park Ridge, 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

5h 29m

Distance

285.6 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

115 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 4m

30m in the air

Air Distance

246 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

63 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Alton, IL → STL 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Park Ridge, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Upper Alton, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

Park Ridge, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

91.9%

Cancellation

8.1%

+ Saves about 2h 25m 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	5h 29m	3h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$185
Carbon footprint	115 kg CO₂	63 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	92% 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 21, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Upper Alton, IL to Park Ridge, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.