Drive or Fly: Adams, IL to Naperville, 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 UIN–ORD. At 279 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 33m

Distance

279.3 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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 2m

25m in the air

Air Distance

207 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Adams, IL → UIN 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Naperville, IL 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Adams, IL UIN — Quincy Regional Airport Baldwin Field 5 mi, ~10m drive

Naperville, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between UIN and ORD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 31m compared to driving

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 52m

3h 45m on rail

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Route

Carl Sandburg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Adams, IL → Quincy Amtrak Station 17m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 225m

Arrival 10m

Naperville Amtrak Station → Naperville, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $42) $42

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Quincy Amtrak Station 11 mi, ~17m drive

To Naperville Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 33m	3h 2m	4h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$183	$42
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	12 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

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

279.3 mi 5h 33m

via I 55, I 72; US 36, South Washington Street

Alternative (+16 min)

293.2 mi 5h 49m

via IL 110, I 172; IL 110, US 67; IL 110

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