Drive or Fly: Elmhurst, IL to Red Bud, 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–BLV. At 308 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 59m

Distance

308.7 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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 20m

33m in the air

Air Distance

277 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elmhurst, IL → ORD 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLV → Red Bud, IL 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Elmhurst, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Red Bud, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 39m 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 59m	3h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$186
Carbon footprint	125 kg CO₂	71 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

308.7 mi 5h 58m

via I 55, IL 159, I 355

Alternative (+30 min)

334.2 mi 6h 29m

via I 57, I 70, IL 159

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