Drive or Fly: Marcus, IL to Elkhorn Grove, 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 DBQ–RFD. At 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 6m

Distance

35.4 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 43m

3m in the air

Air Distance

26 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marcus, IL → DBQ 47m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RFD → Elkhorn Grove, IL 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Marcus, IL DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 31 mi, ~47m drive

Elkhorn Grove, IL RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DBQ and RFD. 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

4h 9m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Carl Sandburg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marcus, IL → Kewanee Amtrak Station 97m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Mendota Amtrak Station → Elkhorn Grove, IL 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Kewanee Amtrak Station 65 mi, ~97m drive

To Mendota Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~67m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 6m	3h 43m	4h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$9
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	3 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 16, 2026.

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