Drive or Fly: South Elgin, IL to Quincy, 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–UIN. At 280 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 36m

Distance

280.5 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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 13m

26m in the air

Air Distance

216 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

55 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Elgin, IL → ORD 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

UIN → Quincy, IL 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

South Elgin, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Quincy, IL UIN — Quincy Regional Airport Baldwin Field 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and UIN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 23m compared to driving

+ 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

5h 2m

3h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Route

Illinois Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Elgin, IL → Naperville Amtrak Station 25m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 227m

Arrival 10m

Quincy Amtrak Station → Quincy, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $42) $42

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

Stations

From Naperville Amtrak Station 17 mi, ~25m drive

To Quincy Amtrak Station 3 mi, ~10m 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	5h 36m	3h 13m	5h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$184	$42
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	55 kg CO₂	12 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 17, 2026.

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