Drive or Fly: Beach Park, IL to Crystal Lake, 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–ORD. At 36 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

59m

Distance

36 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 31m

3m in the air

Air Distance

27 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Beach Park, IL → ORD 46m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Crystal Lake, IL 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Crystal Lake, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and ORD. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 32m

38m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Hiawatha Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Beach Park, IL → Sturtevant Amtrak Station 31m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 38m

Arrival 10m

Glenview Amtrak Station → Crystal Lake, IL 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Sturtevant Amtrak Station 21 mi, ~31m drive

To Glenview Amtrak Station 29 mi, ~43m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	59m	3h 31m	2h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$9
Carbon footprint	15 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	3 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Beach Park, IL to Crystal Lake, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.