Drive or Fly: Waukegan, IL to West Elsdon, 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–MDW. At 43 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 6m

Distance

43.8 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

18 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10

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 55m

5m in the air

Air Distance

40 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → ORD 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDW → West Elsdon, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

West Elsdon, IL MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORD 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

2h 4m

50m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0150

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukegan, IL → Chicago (Cumberland Farms) (CUA6) 39m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 50m

Arrival 10m

Chicago Bus Station (CHD6) → West Elsdon, IL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From CUA6 — Chicago (Cumberland Farms) 26 mi, ~39m drive

To CHD6 — Chicago Bus Station 7 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	1h 6m	2h 55m	2h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$45	$122	$1
Carbon footprint	18 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	1 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 15, 2026.

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