Drive or Fly: Monticello, IL to Waukegan, 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 CMI–ORD. At 193 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 50m

Distance

193.3 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

78 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$43

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 24m

20m in the air

Air Distance

166 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

42 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Monticello, IL → CMI 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Waukegan, IL 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Monticello, IL CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

Waukegan, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CMI 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	3h 50m	3h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$127
Carbon footprint	78 kg CO₂	42 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

193.3 mi 3h 50m

via I 57, I 94, US 41

Alternative (+21 min)

203.2 mi 4h 11m

via I 55, I 294, I 74

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