Drive or Fly: Waukegan, IL to Shelbyville, 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 58m

Distance

247.1 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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 50m

25m in the air

Air Distance

210 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → ORD 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DEC → Shelbyville, IL 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Waukegan, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

Shelbyville, IL DEC — Decatur Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

84.9%

Cancellation

15.1%

+ 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 58m	3h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$183
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	54 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	85% 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

247.1 mi 4h 58m

via I 57, I 90; I 94, I 94; US 41

Alternative (+14 min)

248.4 mi 5h 13m

via I 55, US 51, I 294

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