Drive or Fly: Joliet, IL to Gage Park, 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–MDW. At 33 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

57m

Distance

33.2 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

13 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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

2h 50m

3m in the air

Air Distance

27 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joliet, IL → MDW 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Gage Park, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Gage Park, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW and MDW. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 25m

25m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joliet, IL → Joliet Gateway Center 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Summit Amtrak → Gage Park, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Joliet Gateway Center 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Summit Amtrak 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 48m

45m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joliet, IL → Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) (NEM6) 28m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) → Gage Park, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From NEM6 — Naperville (Route 59 Metra Station) 19 mi, ~28m drive

To CHD6 — Chicago Bus 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	57m	2h 50m	1h 25m	1h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$5	$3
Carbon footprint	13 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	2 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: Amtrak GTFS, 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

33.2 mi 56m

via I 55, IL 53, West 55th Street

Alternative (+1 min)

39.3 mi 58m

via I 80, I 57, South Western Avenue

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