Drive or Fly: Decatur, IL to Lockport, 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 DEC–MDW. At 150 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 1m

Distance

150.9 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

61 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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

16m in the air

Air Distance

130 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Decatur, IL → DEC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Lockport, IL 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Decatur, IL DEC — Decatur Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Lockport, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DEC and MDW. 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 13m

1h 38m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Decatur, IL → Lincoln Amtrak Station 45m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 98m

Arrival 10m

Joliet Gateway Center → Lockport, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Lincoln Amtrak Station 30 mi, ~45m drive

To Joliet Gateway Center 5 mi, ~10m 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	3h 1m	2h 57m	3h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125	$23
Carbon footprint	61 kg CO₂	33 kg CO₂	7 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 14, 2026.

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