Drive or Fly: Arlington Heights, IL to Mattoon, 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 ORD–DEC. At 204 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 58m

Distance

204.5 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

83 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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 29m

22m in the air

Air Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington Heights, IL → ORD 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DEC → Mattoon, IL 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Arlington Heights, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Mattoon, IL DEC — Decatur Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ 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	3h 58m	3h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$182
Carbon footprint	83 kg CO₂	46 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 13, 2026.

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