How far is Boulder, CO from Chicago, IL?
The driving distance from Boulder, CO to Chicago, IL is about 1020.2 miles (1641.9 km), with a travel time of about 18h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 926.8 miles (1491.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 36h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MST.
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 04m.
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.
City in Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Boulder and Chicago.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boulder and Chicago.
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1
Start on the route
27 m · 7 sec
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2
Turn right onto 19th Street
44 m · 14 sec · 19th Street
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3
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
3210 ft · 2 min · Arapahoe Avenue
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4
Turn right onto 28th Street
1.2 km · 2 min · 28th Street
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5
Turn straight onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3.4 mi · 4 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.7 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.6 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
3170 ft · 42 sec · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Northwest Parkway, Interlocken Loop
1460 ft · 29 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Parkway, RTD Park-n-Ride, Louisville
67 m · 8 sec
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11
Turn left onto Interlocken Loop
650 ft · 24 sec · Interlocken Loop
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12
Continue on Northwest Parkway
9.5 mi · 10 min · Northwest Parkway
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13
Continue on E-470
11.3 mi · 11 min · E-470
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14
Take the exit slight right toward 120th Avenue
2365 ft · 56 sec
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15
Turn left onto East 120th Avenue
718 ft · 28 sec · East 120th Avenue
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16
Turn left onto E 470 Toll North
1885 ft · 48 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto E-470
2403 ft · 27 sec · E-470
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
1.1 mi · 2 min
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19
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
168.3 mi · 2 hr 48 min · Heartland Expressway
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20
Merge slight left
474.5 mi · 8 hr 11 min
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21
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
14.4 mi · 17 min
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22
Keep slight left
173.2 mi · 3 hr 9 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
1895 ft · 54 sec
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24
Continue straight
43.8 mi · 47 min
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25
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
91 mi · 1 hr 41 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
6 mi · 8 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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27
Merge slight right onto Eisenhower Expressway
13.2 mi · 18 min · Eisenhower Expressway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
616 ft · 15 sec
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29
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
1203 ft · 29 sec
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30
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway
1.2 km · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward 18th Street
1398 ft · 34 sec
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32
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
963 ft · 30 sec · South Union Avenue
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33
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
154 m · 13 sec · South Canalport Avenue
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34
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street
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35
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road
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36
Turn left
46 m · 11 sec
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37
Turn right
794 ft · 58 sec
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Boulder and Chicago.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Heartland Expressway
Merge slight left
474 mi · 08h 11m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving Boulder and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Chicago.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Boulder to Chicago?
The road trip is about 1020.2 miles (1641.9 km) and usually takes 18h 04m 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?
Waverly is a useful midpoint, sitting about 509.1 miles from Boulder and 511.1 miles from Chicago.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 926.8 miles (1491.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 93.4 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 MST. 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 $153.00 one way or $306.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 319.9 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Boulder and Chicago, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Boulder and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Chicago.
Stop Ideas Near Waverly
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 Waverly.
Lincoln
Omaha
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Boulder and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 926.79 mi (1491.52 km).
#1 Boulder
The most populous city in Boulder County, Colorado.
| Population | 107,645 |
| Coordinates | 40.0149900, -105.2705500 |
| Altitude | 1624 |
| 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: 1642 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 33h 59m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 25h 30m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 20h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 17h 00m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.25 | $153.00 | $306.00 |
| Mid-grade | $4.66 | $167.62 | $335.23 |
| Premium | $4.98 | $179.39 | $358.78 |
| Diesel | $6.44 | $231.91 | $463.82 |
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 Colorado · Nov 01, 2026