Drive or Fly: Waukegan, IL to Wyoming, IL?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 49m

Distance

186 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

75 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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 38m

16m in the air

Air Distance

134 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → ORD 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIA → Wyoming, IL 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Wyoming, IL PIA — General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 49m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$125
Carbon footprint	75 kg CO₂	34 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

186 mi 3h 48m

via I 80, I 294, I 55

Shortest (+12 min)

184.4 mi 4h 1m

via I 80, I 88; IL 110, IL 71

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