Drive or Fly: Joliet, IL to Central City, 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 MDW–BLV. At 244 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 41m

Distance

244.8 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

99 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

26m in the air

Air Distance

213 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joliet, IL → MDW 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLV → Central City, IL 57m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Joliet, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

Central City, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 38 mi, ~57m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW and BLV. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	4h 41m	4h
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$184
Carbon footprint	99 kg CO₂	54 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 12, 2026.

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