Drive or Fly: Elgin, IL to Guilford, 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 ORD–DBQ. At 123 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 47m

Distance

123.4 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

50 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

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

3h 14m

13m in the air

Air Distance

107 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DBQ → Guilford, IL 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Elgin, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Guilford, IL DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and DBQ. 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

4h 25m

2h 3m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) (NEM6) 27m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 123m

Arrival 10m

Dixon Reagan Transit Center (DIX6) → Guilford, IL 90m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From NEM6 — Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) 18 mi, ~27m drive

To DIX6 — Dixon Reagan Transit Center 60 mi, ~90m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 47m	3h 14m	4h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$124	$7
Carbon footprint	50 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	4 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 12, 2026.

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