Drive or Fly: Waukegan, IL to Richmond, 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–MKE. At 30 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

45m

Distance

30.2 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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 41m

3m in the air

Air Distance

25 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → ORD 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Richmond, IL 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Richmond, IL MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 39 mi, ~58m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and MKE. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 28m

38m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Hiawatha Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → Glenview Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 38m

Arrival 10m

Sturtevant Amtrak Station → Richmond, IL 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Glenview Amtrak Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

To Sturtevant Amtrak Station 26 mi, ~40m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	45m	3h 41m	2h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$9
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	3 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

30.2 mi 44m

via US 12; IL 59, IL 120

Shortest (+0 min)

30.1 mi 45m

via IL 173, US 41

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