Drive or Fly: Bethany, IL to Des Plaines, 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 DEC–ORD. At 212 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 12m

Distance

212.6 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

86 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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 53m

21m in the air

Air Distance

171 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bethany, IL → DEC 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Des Plaines, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bethany, IL DEC — Decatur Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

Des Plaines, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DEC 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 12m	2h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$182
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	44 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

212.6 mi 4h 12m

via I 57, I 72, I 294

Shortest (+0 min)

205.7 mi 4h 12m

via US 51, US 51 Business, I 294

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