Drive or Fly: Cicero, IL to Alton, 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 MDW–STL. At 279 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 22m

Distance

279 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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

29m in the air

Air Distance

241 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cicero, IL → MDW 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Alton, IL 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Cicero, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Alton, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 22m 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 24m

3h 44m on rail

Total Cost

$47

CO2

16 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cicero, IL → Summit Amtrak 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 224m

Arrival 10m

Alton Amtrak Station → Alton, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $47) $47

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

Stations

From Summit Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Alton Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m 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	5h 22m	3h	5h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$185	$47
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	61 kg CO₂	16 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 12, 2026.

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