Drive or Fly: Bremen, IL to Ashburn, 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 BLV–MDW. At 327 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 30m

Distance

327 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

132 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$72

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 44m

34m in the air

Air Distance

282 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bremen, IL → BLV 60m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Ashburn, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bremen, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 40 mi, ~60m drive

Ashburn, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 46m 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 20m

8h 55m on road

Total Cost

$32

CO2

17 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bremen, IL → Carbondale Intermodal Station (CDI6) 50m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 535m

Arrival 10m

Chicago (95th / Dan Ryan) (CHA6) → Ashburn, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From CDI6 — Carbondale Intermodal Station 34 mi, ~50m drive

To CHA6 — Chicago (95th / Dan Ryan) 5 mi, ~10m 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	6h 30m	3h 44m	10h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$107	$186	$32
Carbon footprint	132 kg CO₂	72 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

327 mi 6h 30m

via I 57, IL 127, IL 150

Alternative (+14 min)

341.1 mi 6h 44m

via I 55, IL 159, IL 3

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