Drive or Fly: Roberts, IL to Harpster, 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–BMI. At 21 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

38m

Distance

21 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

8 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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 39m

2m in the air

Air Distance

20 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roberts, IL → BMI 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BMI → Harpster, IL 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Roberts, IL BMI — Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal 40 mi, ~59m drive

Harpster, IL BMI — Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BMI and BMI. 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

1h 53m

27m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Saluki

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roberts, IL → Gilman Amtrak 21m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 27m

Arrival 10m

Rantoul Amtrak → Harpster, IL 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From Gilman Amtrak 14 mi, ~21m drive

To Rantoul Amtrak 17 mi, ~25m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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	38m	3h 39m	1h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$6
Carbon footprint	8 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	2 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 Roberts, IL to Harpster, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.