Drive or Fly: Lancaster, IN to Terre Haute, 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–CMI. At 160 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 39m

Distance

160.5 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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

4h 55m

13m in the air

Air Distance

111 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

28 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lancaster, IN → SDF 71m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CMI → Terre Haute, IN 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Lancaster, IN SDF — Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport 47 mi, ~71m drive

Terre Haute, IN CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 61 mi, ~91m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SDF and CMI. 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

6h 42m

5h 2m on rail

Total Cost

$28

CO2

9 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lancaster, IN → Cincinnati Union Terminal 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 302m

Arrival 10m

Crawfordsville Amtrak → Terre Haute, IN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From Cincinnati Union Terminal 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Crawfordsville Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 39m	4h 55m	6h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$124	$28
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	28 kg CO₂	9 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 — 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

160.5 mi 3h 12m

via I 65, I 70, SR 250

Shortest (+1 min)

139.5 mi 3h 14m

via SR 46, I 65, I 70

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