Drive or Fly: Alton, IL to Waukegan, 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 STL–ORD. At 316 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 8m

Distance

316 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

128 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 33m

32m in the air

Air Distance

269 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alton, IL → STL 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Waukegan, IL 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Alton, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 35m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	6h 8m	3h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$186
Carbon footprint	128 kg CO₂	69 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 12, 2026.

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