How far is Chicago, IL from Boulder, CO?
The driving distance from Chicago, IL to Boulder, CO is about 1018.7 miles (1639.5 km), with a travel time of about 18h 05m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 926.8 miles (1491.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 36h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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 05m.
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.
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chicago and Boulder.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago and Boulder.
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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 left onto West Cermak Road
1.3 km · 2 min · West Cermak Road
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3
Turn right onto South Ashland Avenue
1.7 mi · 3 min · South Ashland Avenue
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4
Turn left onto West Van Buren Street
900 ft · 29 sec · West Van Buren Street
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5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 290 West
650 ft · 16 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Eisenhower Expressway
12.1 mi · 16 min · Eisenhower Expressway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
25.1 mi · 30 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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9
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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10
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
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11
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
37.8 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
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12
Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 80: Des Moines
1949 ft · 48 sec
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14
Keep slight right
1.1 km · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left
185.9 mi · 3 hr 23 min
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
23.7 mi · 26 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West Express: Council Bluffs, Omaha
355.4 mi · 6 hr 3 min
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 76 West: Denver
167.8 mi · 2 hr 48 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward 136th Avenue
2055 ft · 36 sec
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21
Turn right onto East 136th Avenue
1240 ft · 32 sec · East 136th Avenue
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22
Turn left onto Buckley Road
2 mi · 4 min · Buckley Road
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23
Turn left onto East 120th Avenue
2578 ft · 1 min · East 120th Avenue
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24
Turn left onto E 470 Toll North
1885 ft · 48 sec
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25
Merge slight left onto E-470
12.6 mi · 13 min · E-470
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26
Continue on Northwest Parkway
8.3 mi · 9 min · Northwest Parkway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward US 36 West: Boulder
1651 ft · 42 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto Denver–Boulder Turnpike
1.4 mi · 2 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.4 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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30
Keep slight right to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.2 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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31
Keep slight left to continue on Denver–Boulder Turnpike
2.3 mi · 3 min · Denver–Boulder Turnpike
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32
Continue on 28th Street
1.2 km · 2 min · 28th Street
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33
Turn left onto Arapahoe Avenue
1 km · 2 min · Arapahoe Avenue
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34
Turn right onto 19th Street
44 m · 11 sec · 19th Street
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35
Turn left
27 m · 5 sec
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chicago and Boulder.
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.
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Chicago and Chance Light Rain near Boulder.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chicago to Boulder?
The road trip is about 1018.7 miles (1639.5 km) and usually takes 18h 05m 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 508.3 miles from Chicago and 510.4 miles from Boulder.
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 91.9 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 CST. 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 $170.37 one way or $340.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 319.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Chicago and Boulder, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Chicago and Chance Light Rain near Boulder.
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 Chicago and Boulder. Straight-line distance: 926.79 mi (1491.52 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 Boulder
The most populous city in Boulder County, Colorado.
| Population | 107,645 |
| Coordinates | 40.0149900, -105.2705500 |
| Altitude | 1624 |
| Country | United States |
End: Boulder (-105.27055, 40.01499)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1639 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 33h 56m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 25h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 20h 22m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 16h 58m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 33m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 42m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.74 | $170.37 | $340.73 |
| Mid-grade | $5.36 | $192.80 | $385.60 |
| Premium | $5.92 | $212.75 | $425.50 |
| Diesel | $6.64 | $238.74 | $477.49 |
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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