Drive or Fly: Crystal Lake, IL to East Moline, IL?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for ORD–MLI. At 144 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
2h 58m
Distance
144.9 mi
Total Cost
$67
CO2
59 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 7m
15m in the air
Air Distance
121 mi
Total Cost
$125
CO2
31 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between ORD and MLI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 2h 58m | 3h 7m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $67 | $125 |
| Carbon footprint | 59 kg CO2 | 31 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via I 88; IL 110, I 39; US 51, US 20
via I 88; IL 110, CR 22, I 88; IL 92; IL 110
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Crystal Lake, IL to East Moline, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.