Drive or Fly: Lockport, IL to Benton, 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–MWA. At 280 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 23m

Distance

280.7 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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 28m

30m in the air

Air Distance

252 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lockport, IL → MDW 31m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MWA → Benton, IL 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lockport, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

Benton, IL MWA — Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW and MWA. 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	5h 23m	3h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$185
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	64 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

280.7 mi 5h 22m

via I 57, US 45; US 52, CH 62

Alternative (+50 min)

315.2 mi 6h 12m

via US 51, I 39; US 51, I 80

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