Drive or Fly: Spring Valley, IL to Elmhurst, 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 UIN–ORD. At 282 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 45m

Distance

282.5 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

114 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

2h 53m

25m in the air

Air Distance

211 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spring Valley, IL → UIN 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Elmhurst, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Spring Valley, IL UIN — Quincy Regional Airport Baldwin Field 12 mi, ~18m drive

Elmhurst, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 52m 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 23m

4h 1m on rail

Total Cost

$45

CO2

13 kg

Route

Carl Sandburg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spring Valley, IL → Quincy Amtrak Station 32m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 241m

Arrival 10m

La Grange Amtrak → Elmhurst, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $45) $45

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

Stations

From Quincy Amtrak Station 21 mi, ~32m drive

To La Grange Amtrak 7 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 45m	2h 53m	5h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$183	$45
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	54 kg CO₂	13 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 15, 2026.

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