Drive or Fly: Northfield, IL to Arlington Heights, 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 ORD–ORD. At 12 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

22m

Distance

12.1 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

5 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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 30m

1m in the air

Air Distance

10 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Northfield, IL → ORD 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Arlington Heights, IL 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Northfield, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Arlington Heights, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD 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	22m	2h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120
Carbon footprint	5 kg CO₂	3 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

12.1 mi 22m

via Willow Road, Palatine Road

Shortest (+0 min)

12.1 mi 22m

via East Euclid Avenue, East Lake Avenue

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