Drive or Fly: Metropolis, IL to Berwyn, 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 PAH–MDW. At 361 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 50m

Distance

361 mi

Total Cost

$115

CO2

146 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$80

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 59m

39m in the air

Air Distance

329 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

84 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Metropolis, IL → PAH 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Berwyn, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Metropolis, IL PAH — Barkley Regional Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Berwyn, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PAH and MDW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 51m compared to driving

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

11h 48m

10h 55m on road

Total Cost

$37

CO2

20 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Metropolis, IL → Paducah Bus Station (PAD6) 16m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 655m

Arrival 10m

Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) → Berwyn, IL 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From PAD6 — Paducah Bus Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To CHD6 — Chicago Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m 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	6h 50m	2h 59m	11h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$115	$188	$37
Carbon footprint	146 kg CO₂	84 kg CO₂	20 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 12, 2026.

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