Drive or Fly: Tuscola, IL to Cicero, 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 CMI–MDW. At 155 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 3m

Distance

155.2 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

63 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 52m

17m in the air

Air Distance

144 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tuscola, IL → CMI 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → Cicero, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Tuscola, IL CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Cicero, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CMI and MDW. 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

3h 38m

2h 30m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus 2510

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tuscola, IL → Champaign Intermodal Trans Ctr (CPN6) 33m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 150m

Arrival 10m

Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) → Cicero, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From CPN6 — Champaign Intermodal Trans Ctr 22 mi, ~33m drive

To CHD6 — Chicago Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m 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	3h 3m	2h 52m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$126	$14
Carbon footprint	63 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	7 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 16, 2026.

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