Drive or Fly: Waukegan, IL to South Beloit, 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–RFD. At 80 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 44m

Distance

80.8 mi

Total Cost

$53

CO2

33 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$18

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 18m

7m in the air

Air Distance

61 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → ORD 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RFD → South Beloit, IL 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

South Beloit, IL RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD and RFD. 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

5h 3m

2h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$21

CO2

6 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → Glenview Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 145m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → South Beloit, IL 88m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From Glenview Amtrak Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

To Columbus Amtrak Station 59 mi, ~88m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	1h 44m	3h 18m	5h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$53	$122	$21
Carbon footprint	33 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	6 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 12, 2026.

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