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Drive or Fly: Bethalto, IL to Aurora, 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 STL–ORD. At 250 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 49m

Distance

250.9 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

101 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55
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 36m

26m in the air

Air Distance

217 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

55 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bethalto, IL → STL 31m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 26m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
ORD → Aurora, IL 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bethalto, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive
Aurora, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STL 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
− 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 4h 49m 3h 36m
Total cost (1 person) $90 $184
Carbon footprint 101 kg CO2 55 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
250.9 mi 4h 48m

via I 55, IL 47, IL 140

Alternative (+12 min)
258.4 mi 5h 1m

via I 55, US 51, IL 71

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