Drive or Fly: Carrier Mills, IL to Elgin, 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 MWA–ORD. At 364 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 2m

Distance

364.9 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

147 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81

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 38m

36m in the air

Air Distance

301 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

77 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Carrier Mills, IL → MWA 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Elgin, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Carrier Mills, IL MWA — Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois 22 mi, ~32m drive

Elgin, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 24m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 2m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$116	$187
Carbon footprint	147 kg CO₂	77 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 15, 2026.

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