How far is Boston, MA from Chicago, IL?
The driving distance from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL is about 991 miles (1594.9 km), with a travel time of about 18h 41m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 849.8 miles (1367.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 37h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 18h 41m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Borough of Pennsylvania
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Boston and Chicago.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boston and Chicago.
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1
Start on Tremont Street
1.2 km · 3 min · Tremont Street
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2
Continue on Tremont Street
92 m · 15 sec · Tremont Street
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3
Continue on Tremont Street
147 m · 21 sec · Tremont Street
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4
Turn right onto Marginal Road
96 m · 13 sec · Marginal Road
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5
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll West
753 ft · 12 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike
54.8 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Wilbur Cross Highway
33.6 mi · 40 min · Wilbur Cross Highway
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8
Keep slight right
8 mi · 9 min
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9
Keep slight right
15.1 mi · 19 min
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10
Keep slight left
45.8 mi · 56 min
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11
Keep slight right
128.8 mi · 2 hr 32 min
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12
Take the exit slight left toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
1.2 mi · 2 min
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13
Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway
35 mi · 42 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
1.1 km · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
272 mi · 4 hr 54 min · Keystone Shortway
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16
Keep slight right
4.5 mi · 5 min
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West, I 76 East
2550 ft · 1 min
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18
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Cleveland
2349 ft · 1 min
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19
Merge slight left onto Ohio Turnpike
31.1 mi · 33 min · Ohio Turnpike
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Ohio Turnpike
187.4 mi · 3 hr 21 min · Ohio Turnpike
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21
Continue on Indiana Toll Road
155.7 mi · 2 hr 49 min · Indiana Toll Road
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22
Turn straight onto Indiana Toll Road
963 ft · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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23
Merge slight right onto Indiana Toll Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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24
Continue on Chicago Skyway
2.9 mi · 5 min · Chicago Skyway
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25
Turn straight onto Chicago Skyway
724 ft · 18 sec · Chicago Skyway
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26
Merge slight left onto Chicago Skyway
4.1 mi · 6 min · Chicago Skyway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Chicago Skyway
1987 ft · 31 sec · Chicago Skyway
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28
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
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29
Take the exit slight right toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
1620 ft · 40 sec
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30
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
74 m · 7 sec · South Ruble Street
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31
Turn slight left
23 m · 5 sec
-
32
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
887 ft · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue
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33
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street
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34
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road
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35
Turn left
46 m · 11 sec
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36
Turn right
794 ft · 58 sec
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37
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Boston and Chicago.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Keystone Shortway
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
272 mi · 04h 54m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Boston and Sunny near Chicago.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Boston to Chicago?
The road trip is about 991 miles (1594.9 km) and usually takes 18h 41m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Reynoldsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 489.9 miles from Boston and 501.2 miles from Chicago.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 849.8 miles (1367.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 141.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $151.07 one way or $302.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 310.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Boston and Chicago, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Boston and Sunny near Chicago.
Stop Ideas Near Reynoldsville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Reynoldsville.
Tyrone
Altoona Transportation Center
Johnstown
Latrobe station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Boston and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 849.83 mi (1367.67 km).
#1 Boston
The twenty-first most populous city in the United States and the center of the Boston metropolitan area.
| Population | 691,531 |
| Coordinates | 42.3584300, -71.0597700 |
| Altitude | 14 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Chicago
The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,677,643 |
| Coordinates | 41.850033, -87.6500523 |
| Altitude | 179 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chicago (-87.650052, 41.850033)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1595 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 33h 01m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 24h 46m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 19h 49m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 16h 31m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 09m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.32 | $151.07 | $302.14 |
| Mid-grade | $4.94 | $172.72 | $345.43 |
| Premium | $5.37 | $187.72 | $375.44 |
| Diesel | $6.32 | $221.15 | $442.30 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Massachusetts · Oct 13, 2026