Drive or Fly: Waukegan, IL to Salem, IL?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for ORD–BLV. At 294 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
5h 38m
Distance
294.8 mi
Total Cost
$100
CO2
119 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
4h 25m
32m in the air
Air Distance
265 mi
Total Cost
$186
CO2
67 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between ORD and BLV. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 5h 38m | 4h 25m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $100 | $186 |
| Carbon footprint | 119 kg CO2 | 67 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via I 57, I 90; I 94, I 94; US 41
via I 57, I 55, I 294
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Waukegan, IL to Salem, IL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.