Drive or Fly: Cairo, IL to Markham, 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 PAH–MDW. At 350 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 23m

Distance

350 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

141 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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 33m

39m in the air

Air Distance

327 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

83 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cairo, IL → PAH 34m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Markham, IL 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Cairo, IL PAH — Barkley Regional Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

Markham, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 50m 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

8h 43m

6h 58m on rail

Total Cost

$71

CO2

21 kg

Route

City of New Orleans

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cairo, IL → Fulton Amtrak Station 55m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 418m

Arrival 10m

Homewood → Markham, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $71) $71

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

Stations

From Fulton Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~55m drive

To Homewood 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 4 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 23m	3h 33m	8h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$188	$71
Carbon footprint	141 kg CO₂	83 kg CO₂	21 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 13, 2026.

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