Drive or Fly: Elgin, IL to Pontoon Beach, 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–STL. At 294 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 32m

Distance

294.1 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

119 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

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 24m

30m in the air

Air Distance

247 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

63 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Pontoon Beach, IL 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Pontoon Beach, IL STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and STL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 8m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 32m	3h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$185
Carbon footprint	119 kg CO₂	63 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

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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

294.1 mi 5h 32m

via I 55, I 355, US 20

Shortest (+0 min)

281.6 mi 5h 32m

via I 55, IL 47, CR 83

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