Drive or Fly: York, IL to McHenry, 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

6h 9m

Distance

282 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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

4h 56m

27m in the air

Air Distance

221 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

York, IL → CMI 103m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → McHenry, IL 46m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

York, IL CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 69 mi, ~103m drive

McHenry, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 31 mi, ~46m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.4%

Cancellation

4.7%

+ 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	6h 9m	4h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$184
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% 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

282 mi 6h 9m

via I 57, IL 1, I 294

Alternative (+36 min)

321.2 mi 6h 45m

via US 51, I 74, IL 1

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