How far is Chicago O'Hare International Airport, IL from Denver International Airport, CO?
The driving distance from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, IL to Denver International Airport, CO is about 996.6 miles (1603.8 km), with a travel time of about 17h 52m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 886.2 miles (1426.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 35h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 17h 52m.
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.
Village in Nebraska, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport.
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1
Start on the route
25 m · 13 sec
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2
Turn sharp left onto Baggage Road
19 m · 6 sec · Baggage Road
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Baggage Road
96 m · 29 sec · Baggage Road
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4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Concourse Service Road
1.3 km · 5 min · Concourse Service Road
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5
Turn right onto Main Service Road
1431 ft · 2 min · Main Service Road
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6
Continue on Main Service Road
1536 ft · 2 min · Main Service Road
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7
Turn right onto Cargo Tunnel Road
2476 ft · 3 min · Cargo Tunnel Road
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8
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Cargo Road
2699 ft · 3 min · South Cargo Road
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9
Turn right
77 m · 18 sec
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10
Continue on South Access Road
609 ft · 34 sec · South Access Road
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11
Continue on South Access Road
1.4 mi · 4 min · South Access Road
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12
Turn right onto Irving Park Road
1983 ft · 33 sec · Irving Park Road
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13
Turn left onto North York Road
2 mi · 4 min · North York Road
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14
Continue on North York Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · North York Street
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15
Turn right onto Lake Street
1569 ft · 34 sec · Lake Street
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16
Turn slight right
45 m · 8 sec
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17
Take the ramp right toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
3 mi · 4 min
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
1648 ft · 40 sec
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19
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora
2633 ft · 50 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
1.2 km · 60 sec · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
25.1 mi · 30 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
69.5 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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24
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
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25
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
37.8 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
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26
Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward I 80: Des Moines
1949 ft · 48 sec
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28
Keep slight right
1.1 km · 1 min
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29
Merge slight left
185.9 mi · 3 hr 23 min
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30
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min
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31
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
23.7 mi · 26 min
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32
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West Express: Council Bluffs, Omaha
355.4 mi · 6 hr 3 min
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33
Keep slight right to continue on I 76 West: Denver
169.3 mi · 2 hr 49 min
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34
Take the exit slight right toward E470 Toll South: Limon
1.6 km · 2 min
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35
Merge slight left onto E-470
6.9 mi · 7 min · E-470
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36
Take the exit slight right toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boulevard
1099 ft · 17 sec
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37
Keep slight left to continue on Denver International Airport, Peña Boulevard East
3061 ft · 52 sec
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38
Keep slight right to continue on Denver International Airport
2814 ft · 1 min
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39
Keep slight left
2837 ft · 48 sec
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40
Merge slight left onto Peña Boulevard
3.7 mi · 5 min · Peña Boulevard
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41
Keep slight right to continue on Terminal East
1.2 mi · 2 min · Terminal East
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Terminal East Departures
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 80 West Express
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West Express: Council Bluffs, Omaha
355 mi · 06h 03m
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 Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Denver International Airport.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Denver International Airport?
The road trip is about 996.6 miles (1603.8 km) and usually takes 17h 52m 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?
Greenwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 497.3 miles from Chicago O'Hare International Airport and 499.3 miles from Denver International Airport.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 886.2 miles (1426.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 110.4 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 CDT. 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 $132.63 one way or $265.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 312.6 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Denver International Airport.
Stop Ideas Near Greenwood
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 Greenwood.
Lincoln
Omaha
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport. Straight-line distance: 886.17 mi (1426.16 km).
#1 Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is a place in Illinois, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 41.9795900, -87.9044600 |
| Altitude | 201 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Denver International Airport
Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 39.8589100, -104.6732600 |
| Altitude | 1637 |
| Country | United States |
End: Denver International Airport (-104.67326, 39.85891)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1604 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 33h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 24h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 19h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 16h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $132.63 | $265.25 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $149.58 | $299.16 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $163.68 | $327.36 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $186.54 | $373.08 |
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 Illinois · Aug 26, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.