Drive or Fly: Decatur, IL to Marion, 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–MWA. At 162 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 12m

Distance

162.9 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

66 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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 37m

17m in the air

Air Distance

146 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Decatur, IL → DEC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MWA → Marion, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Marion, IL MWA — Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DEC and MWA. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 53m

4h 10m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Decatur, IL → Springfield SMTD Transfer Center (SNG6) 55m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 250m

Arrival 10m

Carbondale Intermodal Station (CDI6) → Marion, IL 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From SNG6 — Springfield SMTD Transfer Center 37 mi, ~55m drive

To CDI6 — Carbondale Intermodal Station 15 mi, ~23m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 12m	2h 37m	5h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$126	$16
Carbon footprint	66 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	8 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: FlixBus 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 15, 2026.

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