Drive or Fly: Bremen, IL to University Park, 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–GYY. At 309 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 6m

Distance

309.6 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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

32m in the air

Air Distance

264 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

67 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bremen, IL → BLV 60m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GYY → University Park, IL 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

University Park, IL GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 18 mi, ~28m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 6m 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

5h 53m

4h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$52

CO2

15 kg

Route

Illini

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bremen, IL → Du Quoin Amtrak Station 42m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 259m

Arrival 10m

Homewood → University Park, IL 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $52) $52

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

Stations

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

To Homewood 8 mi, ~12m 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 6m	4h	5h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$186	$52
Carbon footprint	125 kg CO₂	67 kg CO₂	15 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

309.6 mi 6h 6m

via I 57, IL 127, IL 150

Alternative (+22 min)

324.8 mi 6h 28m

via I 55, IL 159, IL 3

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