Drive or Fly: Waukegan, IL to Avena, 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–DEC. At 273 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 18m

Distance

273.2 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

110 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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

4h 35m

29m in the air

Air Distance

239 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → ORD 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DEC → Avena, IL 86m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Waukegan, IL ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

Avena, IL DEC — Decatur Airport 57 mi, ~86m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and DEC. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 18m	4h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$185
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	61 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

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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

273.2 mi 5h 17m

via I 57, I 90; I 94, I 70

Alternative (+1 min)

275.4 mi 5h 19m

via I 57, I 294, I 70

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