Drive or Fly: Stickney, IL to Arlington Heights, 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 MDW–ORD. At 25 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

46m

Distance

25.3 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

10 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 26m

3m in the air

Air Distance

21 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Stickney, IL → MDW 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORD → Arlington Heights, IL 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Stickney, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Arlington Heights, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDW and ORD. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 22m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0150S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Stickney, IL → Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) 12m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Chicago (Cumberland Farms) (CUA6) → Arlington Heights, IL 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From CHD6 — Chicago Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To CUA6 — Chicago (Cumberland Farms) 10 mi, ~15m 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	46m	2h 26m	1h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$1
Carbon footprint	10 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	1 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

25.3 mi 45m

via I 90, 1st Avenue Cutoff, Des Plaines River Road

Alternative (+6 min)

27.5 mi 52m

via US 14, South Pulaski Road, North Northwest Highway

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