How far is Chicago, IL from Boston, MA?
The driving distance from Chicago, IL to Boston, MA is about 992.4 miles (1597.1 km), with a travel time of about 18h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 849.8 miles (1367.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 37h 30m 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 18h 45m.
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
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chicago and Boston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago and Boston.
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1
Start on the route
943 ft · 1 min
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
947 ft · 26 sec · West Cermak Road
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3
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
737 ft · 17 sec · South Halsted Street
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4
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
87 m · 6 sec · South Canalport Avenue
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5
Turn slight right
34 m · 5 sec
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6
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 East, I 94 East
139 m · 11 sec
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7
Keep slight left to continue on I 90, I 94 East: Indiana
929 ft · 23 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway
1.2 km · 48 sec · Dan Ryan Expressway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
3.8 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East
2183 ft · 53 sec
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11
Merge slight right onto Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
2612 ft · 50 sec · Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Chicago Skyway
4.5 mi · 7 min · Chicago Skyway
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13
Turn straight onto Chicago Skyway
591 ft · 14 sec · Chicago Skyway
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14
Merge slight left onto Chicago Skyway
3.1 mi · 5 min · Chicago Skyway
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15
Continue on Indiana Toll Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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16
Turn straight onto Indiana Toll Road
961 ft · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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17
Merge slight right onto Indiana Toll Road
1.8 mi · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Indiana Toll Road
153.9 mi · 2 hr 47 min · Indiana Toll Road
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19
Continue on Ohio Turnpike
141.9 mi · 2 hr 32 min · Ohio Turnpike
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Ohio Turnpike
9.2 mi · 10 min · Ohio Turnpike
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Ohio Turnpike
67.1 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Ohio Turnpike
-
22
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East
1.4 km · 2 min
-
23
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East, CR 18: Youngstown, Mahoning Avenue
1328 ft · 32 sec
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24
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Youngstown
4.5 mi · 6 min
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25
Keep slight left
272.8 mi · 4 hr 55 min
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26
Take the exit slight left toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
1.1 km · 1 min
-
27
Merge slight left
34.7 mi · 42 min
-
28
Take the exit slight right toward I-84 east, US 6 east
2101 ft · 51 sec
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29
Keep slight left
1448 ft · 35 sec
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30
Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
2050 ft · 39 sec
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31
Merge slight left
3.4 mi · 4 min
-
32
Keep slight left to continue on I 84 East: Milford
129.1 mi · 2 hr 33 min
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Waterbury
42.7 mi · 51 min
-
34
Keep slight right
14.2 mi · 19 min
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35
Keep slight left
2.3 mi · 3 min
-
36
Keep slight left to continue on I 84 East: Boston
39.7 mi · 46 min
-
37
Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike
55.6 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
-
38
Take the exit slight left toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshire, Quincy
156 m · 13 sec
-
39
Keep slight right to continue on South Station
1718 ft · 47 sec
-
40
Turn left onto Kneeland Street
525 ft · 22 sec · Kneeland Street
-
41
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
1345 ft · 53 sec · Lincoln Street
-
42
At the end of the road, turn left onto Summer Street
25 m · 4 sec · Summer Street
-
43
Turn right onto Devonshire Street
687 ft · 32 sec · Devonshire Street
-
44
Turn left onto Franklin Street
53 m · 8 sec · Franklin Street
-
45
Turn right onto Arch Street
141 m · 20 sec · Arch Street
-
46
Turn left onto Milk Street
84 m · 11 sec · Milk Street
-
47
Continue on Washington Street
737 ft · 33 sec · Washington Street
-
48
At the end of the road, turn left onto Court Street
144 m · 20 sec · Court Street
-
49
Turn left onto Tremont Street
102 m · 12 sec · Tremont Street
-
50
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Tremont Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chicago and Boston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 80 East
Keep slight left
273 mi · 04h 55m
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.
Sunny leaving Chicago and Mostly Cloudy near Boston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chicago to Boston?
The road trip is about 992.4 miles (1597.1 km) and usually takes 18h 45m 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 495.3 miles from Chicago and 497.1 miles from Boston.
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 142.6 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 $164.49 one way or $328.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 311.2 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Chicago and Boston, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chicago and Mostly Cloudy near Boston.
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 Chicago and Boston. Straight-line distance: 849.83 mi (1367.67 km).
#1 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 |
#2 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 |
End: Boston (-71.05977, 42.35843)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1597 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 33h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 24h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 19h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 16h 32m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 22m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.70 | $164.49 | $328.98 |
| Mid-grade | $5.32 | $186.34 | $372.68 |
| Premium | $5.87 | $205.46 | $410.92 |
| Diesel | $6.58 | $230.36 | $460.72 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
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