Drive or Fly: Pontiac, IL to Belleville, 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 BMI–BLV. At 198 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 45m

Distance

198.9 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 21m

21m in the air

Air Distance

178 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

45 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pontiac, IL → BMI 48m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLV → Belleville, IL 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Pontiac, IL BMI — Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal 32 mi, ~48m drive

Belleville, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BMI and BLV. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 41m

3h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$35

CO2

10 kg

Route

Lincoln Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pontiac, IL → Pontiac Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 210m

Arrival 10m

St. Louis → Belleville, IL 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From Pontiac Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To St. Louis 14 mi, ~21m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 45m	3h 21m	4h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127	$35
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	45 kg CO₂	10 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 — 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 16, 2026.

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