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Drive or Fly: Lynwood, IL to Elgin, 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 GYY–ORD. At 60 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 28m

Distance

60.8 mi

Total Cost

$48

CO2

25 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$13
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

6m in the air

Air Distance

52 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lynwood, IL → GYY 14m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 6m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
ORD → Elgin, IL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Lynwood, IL GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive
Elgin, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GYY and ORD. 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 1h 28m 2h 50m
Total cost (1 person) $48 $122
Carbon footprint 25 kg CO2 13 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
60.8 mi 1h 28m

via I 294, US 20, I 80; I 294

Alternative (+4 min)
70.9 mi 1h 32m

via I 294, I 90, I 80; I 294

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