Drive or Fly: Bremen, IL to North Center, 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–ORD. At 344 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 52m

Distance

344.3 mi

Total Cost

$111

CO2

139 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$76

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 54m

36m in the air

Air Distance

296 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

76 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bremen, IL → BLV 60m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → North Center, IL 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

North Center, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 58m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 41m

5h 9m on rail

Total Cost

$56

CO2

16 kg

Route

Illini

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bremen, IL → Du Quoin Amtrak Station 42m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 309m

Arrival 10m

Chicago Union Station → North Center, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $56) $56

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

Stations

From Du Quoin Amtrak Station 28 mi, ~42m drive

To Chicago Union Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	6h 52m	3h 54m	6h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$111	$187	$56
Carbon footprint	139 kg CO₂	76 kg CO₂	16 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: Amtrak 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.

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