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Drive or Fly: Berwyn, IL to Wheaton, 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–ORD. At 18 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

34m

Distance

18.3 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4
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 32m

2m in the air

Air Distance

16 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berwyn, IL → MDW 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 2m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
ORD → Wheaton, IL 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Berwyn, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive
Wheaton, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 47m

58m on road

Total Cost

$3

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berwyn, IL → Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) 12m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 58m
Arrival 10m
Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) (NEM6) → Wheaton, IL 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From CHD6 — Chicago Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m drive
To NEM6 — Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) 8 mi, ~12m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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
Travel time longer than driving
Need transportation to/from station
Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

Drive Fly Bus
Door-to-door time 34m 2h 32m 1h 47m
Total cost (1 person) $39 $121 $3
Carbon footprint 7 kg CO2 4 kg CO2 2 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 15, 2026.

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