Drive or Fly: Chatsworth, IL to York, 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 BMI–CMI. At 152 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 46m

Distance

152.7 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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

4h 54m

14m in the air

Air Distance

115 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chatsworth, IL → BMI 57m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CMI → York, IL 103m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Chatsworth, IL BMI — Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal 38 mi, ~57m drive

York, IL CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 69 mi, ~103m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BMI and CMI. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 50m

1h 40m on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Saluki

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chatsworth, IL → Gilman Amtrak 23m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 100m

Arrival 10m

Mattoon Amtrak Station → York, IL 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From Gilman Amtrak 15 mi, ~23m drive

To Mattoon Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~67m 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	2h 46m	4h 54m	3h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$125	$18
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂	5 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

162.7 mi 3h 40m

via I 57, I 74, IL 1

Shortest (+0 min)

161.1 mi 3h 41m

via I 57, IL 1, IL 133

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