Drive or Fly: Galena, IL to Aurora, 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 DBQ–ORD. At 147 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 5m

Distance

147.2 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

59 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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

14m in the air

Air Distance

117 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Galena, IL → DBQ 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Aurora, IL 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Galena, IL DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Aurora, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DBQ and ORD. 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 47m

3h 38m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Galena, IL → Davenport (Ground Transportation) (DAV6) 94m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 218m

Arrival 10m

Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) (NEM6) → Aurora, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From DAV6 — Davenport (Ground Transportation) 62 mi, ~94m drive

To NEM6 — Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) 6 mi, ~10m 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	3h 5m	3h 14m	5h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125	$14
Carbon footprint	59 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	7 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 13, 2026.

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