Drive or Fly: Vernon, IL to Wheaton, 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 BLV–ORD. At 244 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 2m

Distance

244.9 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

99 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 52m

26m in the air

Air Distance

218 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Vernon, IL → BLV 66m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Wheaton, IL 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Vernon, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 44 mi, ~66m drive

Wheaton, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BLV 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

− 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 2m	3h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$184
Carbon footprint	99 kg CO₂	56 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

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 26, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

244.9 mi 5h 2m

via US 51, US 51 Business, Naperville Road

Alternative (+0 min)

259.1 mi 5h 2m

via I 57, I 70, I 355

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