Drive or Fly: Portage, IN to New Pekin, 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 GYY–SDF. At 264 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 9m

Distance

264.4 mi

Total Cost

$93

CO2

107 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$58

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 28m

27m in the air

Air Distance

221 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portage, IN → GYY 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SDF → New Pekin, IN 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Portage, IN GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

New Pekin, IN SDF — Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GYY and SDF. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 26m

5h 15m on road

Total Cost

$27

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US0100

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portage, IN → Gary Bus Station (GRY6) 13m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 315m

Arrival 10m

Louisville Bus Station (LUD6) → New Pekin, IN 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From GRY6 — Gary Bus Station 9 mi, ~13m drive

To LUD6 — Louisville Bus Station 22 mi, ~33m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 9m	3h 28m	6h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$93	$184	$27
Carbon footprint	107 kg CO₂	56 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: 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

264.4 mi 5h 9m

via I 65, SR 56, SR 60

Alternative (+50 min)

281.5 mi 5h 59m

via US 31, I 65, US 30; SR 2

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Portage, IN to New Pekin, IN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.