Drive or Fly: Jeffersonville, IN to Lowell, IN?

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 SDF–GYY. At 246 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 38m

Distance

246.4 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 12m

27m in the air

Air Distance

227 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jeffersonville, IN → SDF 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GYY → Lowell, IN 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Jeffersonville, IN SDF — Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Lowell, IN GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SDF and GYY. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 55m

6h 30m on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jeffersonville, IN → Louisville Bus Station (LUD6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 390m

Arrival 10m

Merrillville (Southlake Mall) (MRLL) → Lowell, IN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From LUD6 — Louisville Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To MRLL — Merrillville (Southlake Mall) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 38m	3h 12m	7h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$184	$26
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	58 kg CO₂	14 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Jeffersonville, IN to Lowell, IN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.