Drive or Fly: Champaign, IL to Bishop, 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 CMI–PIA. At 101 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 18m

Distance

101.7 mi

Total Cost

$57

CO2

41 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$22

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

2h 57m

11m in the air

Air Distance

88 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Champaign, IL → CMI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIA → Bishop, IL 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Champaign, IL CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Bishop, IL PIA — General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CMI and PIA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 4m

1h 30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Champaign, IL → Champaign Intermodal Trans Ctr (CPN6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 90m

Arrival 10m

Springfield SMTD Transfer Center (SNG6) → Bishop, IL 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From CPN6 — Champaign Intermodal Trans Ctr 0 mi, ~10m drive

To SNG6 — Springfield SMTD Transfer Center 40 mi, ~59m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 18m	2h 57m	3h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$57	$124	$8
Carbon footprint	41 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂	4 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

101.7 mi 2h 18m

via I 74, US 136, I 55 Business

Shortest (+0 min)

94.2 mi 2h 18m

via US 136, I 74

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