Drive or Fly: North Madison, IN to Gary, IN?

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 CVG–GYY. At 241 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 54m

Distance

241.5 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

98 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 42m

26m in the air

Air Distance

221 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Madison, IN → CVG 66m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GYY → Gary, IN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

North Madison, IN CVG — Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport 44 mi, ~66m drive

Gary, IN GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CVG and GYY. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 47m

7h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$46

CO2

13 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Madison, IN → Cincinnati Union Terminal 78m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 453m

Arrival 10m

Dyer Amtrak → Gary, IN 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $46) $46

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

Stations

From Cincinnati Union Terminal 52 mi, ~78m drive

To Dyer Amtrak 10 mi, ~16m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 37m

6h on road

Total Cost

$27

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US0100

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Madison, IN → Louisville Bus Station (LUD6) 62m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 360m

Arrival 10m

Gary Bus Station (GRY6) → Gary, IN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From LUD6 — Louisville Bus Station 41 mi, ~62m drive

To GRY6 — Gary Bus Station 1 mi, ~10m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 54m	3h 42m	9h 47m	7h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$184	$46	$27
Carbon footprint	98 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	14 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, 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 14, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from North Madison, IN to Gary, IN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.