Drive or Fly: Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, 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 RFD–ORD. At 61 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 9m

Distance

61 mi

Total Cost

$48

CO2

25 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$13

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

5m in the air

Air Distance

42 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cortland, IL → RFD 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Des Plaines, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Cortland, IL RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Des Plaines, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RFD and ORD. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	1h 9m	2h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$48	$122
Carbon footprint	25 kg CO₂	11 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 16, 2026.

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