Drive or Fly: Atlanta, GA to Swansea, 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 ATL–BLV. At 542 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h 5m

Distance

542.7 mi

Total Cost

$300

CO2

219 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$120

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 19m

55m in the air

Air Distance

455 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

116 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlanta, GA → ATL 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 55m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLV → Swansea, IL 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Atlanta, GA ATL — Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Swansea, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ATL and BLV. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 46m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

11h 35m

10h 40m on road

Total Cost

$51

CO2

27 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlanta, GA → Atlanta Bus Station (ATD6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 640m

Arrival 10m

St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) → Swansea, IL 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From ATD6 — Atlanta Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 13 mi, ~20m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	10h 5m	3h 19m	11h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$300	$193	$51
Carbon footprint	219 kg CO₂	116 kg CO₂	27 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: FlixBus 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.

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