Drive or Fly: New Lenox, IL to Peoria, 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 MDW–PIA. At 134 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 32m

Distance

134.6 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

54 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$30

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 55m

12m in the air

Air Distance

102 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Lenox, IL → MDW 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIA → Peoria, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

New Lenox, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Peoria, IL PIA — General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW and PIA. 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	2h 32m	2h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$124
Carbon footprint	54 kg CO₂	26 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

134.6 mi 2h 32m

via I 55, I 74, I 80

Shortest (+6 min)

124.1 mi 2h 38m

via I 55, US 24, I 80

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