Drive or Fly: Des Plaines, IL to East Dubuque, 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–DBQ. At 160 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
3h 29m
Distance
160.1 mi
Total Cost
$70
CO2
65 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
2h 38m
17m in the air
Air Distance
145 mi
Total Cost
$126
CO2
37 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between ORD and DBQ. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 3h 29m | 2h 38m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $70 | $126 |
| Carbon footprint | 65 kg CO2 | 37 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 17, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via US 20, I 90, US 20; IL 84
via I 90, WI 11, WI 11; WI 69; WI 81
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Des Plaines, IL to East Dubuque, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.