Drive or Fly: Markham, IL to Bremen, 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 SPI–BLV. At 156 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 17m

Distance

156.8 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

63 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 8m

15m in the air

Air Distance

127 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Markham, IL → SPI 53m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLV → Bremen, IL 60m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Markham, IL SPI — Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

Bremen, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 40 mi, ~60m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SPI and BLV. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 20m

4h 10m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Markham, IL → Springfield SMTD Transfer Center (SNG6) 55m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 250m

Arrival 10m

Carbondale Intermodal Station (CDI6) → Bremen, IL 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From SNG6 — Springfield SMTD Transfer Center 37 mi, ~55m drive

To CDI6 — Carbondale Intermodal Station 34 mi, ~50m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 17m	4h 8m	6h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$125	$16
Carbon footprint	63 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	8 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: 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 13, 2026.

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