Drive or Fly: Berwyn, IL to Johnston City, 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 MDW–MWA. At 310 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 50m

Distance

310.1 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69
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

2h 54m

34m in the air

Air Distance

285 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

73 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berwyn, IL → MDW 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 34m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MWA → Johnston City, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Berwyn, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive
Johnston City, IL MWA — Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW and MWA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 56m 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

10h 8m

9h 5m on road

Total Cost

$33

CO2

17 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berwyn, IL → Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) 12m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 545m
Arrival 10m
Carbondale Intermodal Station (CDI6) → Johnston City, IL 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $33) $33

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

Stations

From CHD6 — Chicago Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m drive
To CDI6 — Carbondale Intermodal Station 17 mi, ~26m 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 5h 50m 2h 54m 10h 8m
Total cost (1 person) $104 $186 $33
Carbon footprint 125 kg CO2 73 kg CO2 17 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 12, 2026.

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