How far is Chicago, IL from Houston, TX?
The driving distance from Chicago, IL to Houston, TX is about 1080.8 miles (1739.4 km), with a travel time of about 19h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 939.3 miles (1511.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 39h 02m 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 19h 31m.
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.
Human settlement in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chicago and Houston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago and Houston.
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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)
8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
200.8 mi · 3 hr 41 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
113.9 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Ken Gray Expressway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Memphis
1591 ft · 39 sec
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14
Merge slight left
130.8 mi · 2 hr 16 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 West: Little Rock
2829 ft · 1 min
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16
Merge slight left
117.5 mi · 1 hr 58 min
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
1096 ft · 27 sec
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I 440 West: Texarkana
1.3 km · 2 min
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19
Merge slight left onto East Belt Freeway
9.8 mi · 11 min · East Belt Freeway
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20
Continue straight
23.7 mi · 26 min
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21
Continue straight
117 mi · 1 hr 58 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward I 369 South, US 59 South: Atlanta, Houston, Shreveport
3.9 mi · 5 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward US 59 South, TX 93, FM 3527: Houston
2132 ft · 51 sec
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24
Turn right onto South Lake Drive
1.4 km · 1 min · South Lake Drive
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25
Continue on US Highway 59
18.2 mi · 20 min · US Highway 59
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26
Turn straight onto Loop 59
2.1 mi · 3 min · Loop 59
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27
Take the exit slight right toward US 59 South, TX 77 West: Marshall, Naples
820 ft · 23 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto West Main Street
2.8 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
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29
Continue straight
68.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min
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30
Take the exit right
1287 ft · 35 sec
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31
Merge slight left onto Northwest Loop
3.1 mi · 4 min · Northwest Loop
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32
Take the exit slight right
1264 ft · 18 sec
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33
Keep slight right
78 m · 7 sec
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34
Turn right
24.8 mi · 26 min
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35
At the end of the road, turn left onto North Railroad Avenue
2.6 mi · 3 min · North Railroad Avenue
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36
Continue on US Route 259
3 mi · 3 min · US Route 259
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37
Continue on US Highway 259
11.2 mi · 13 min · US Highway 259
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38
Take the exit slight right toward US 59 South: Lufkin
68 m · 6 sec
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39
Continue straight
128 m · 12 sec
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40
Continue straight
556 ft · 16 sec
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41
Turn left
32 m · 4 sec
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42
Turn right onto North US Highway 59
1.1 km · 48 sec · North US Highway 59
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43
Continue on Northwest Stallings Drive
6.4 mi · 7 min · Northwest Stallings Drive
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44
Continue on Stallings Drive
2015 ft · 26 sec · Stallings Drive
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45
Take the exit slight right
919 ft · 25 sec
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46
Turn straight
68 m · 6 sec
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47
Merge slight left onto South Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Street
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48
Continue on South US Highway 59
19.4 mi · 22 min · South US Highway 59
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49
Take the exit slight right toward South First Street
121 m · 10 sec
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50
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
1041 ft · 23 sec · South Medford Drive
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51
Turn left onto South First Street
4.1 mi · 5 min · South First Street
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52
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi · 2 min · US 59
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53
Continue on Diboll Relief Route
111 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Diboll Relief Route
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54
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
1018 ft · 25 sec
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55
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: San Antonio
1154 ft · 28 sec
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56
Merge slight left onto East Freeway
2497 ft · 35 sec · East Freeway
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57
Take the exit slight right toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
932 ft · 23 sec
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58
Turn straight onto Providence Street
599 ft · 12 sec · Providence Street
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59
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
1636 ft · 32 sec · North San Jacinto Street
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60
Continue on Fannin Street
1878 ft · 51 sec · Fannin Street
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61
Turn right onto Prairie Street
1338 ft · 48 sec · Prairie Street
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62
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
157 m · 17 sec · Louisiana Street
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63
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chicago and Houston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 57 South
Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
201 mi · 03h 41m
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 and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Houston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chicago to Houston?
The road trip is about 1080.8 miles (1739.4 km) and usually takes 19h 31m 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?
Jennette is a useful midpoint, sitting about 540.8 miles from Chicago and 540 miles from Houston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 939.3 miles (1511.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 141.5 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 $179.14 one way or $358.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 339 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Chicago and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Houston.
Stop Ideas Near Jennette
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 Jennette.
Central Station
Walnut Ridge
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chicago and Houston. Straight-line distance: 939.33 mi (1511.71 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 Houston
The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,316,120 |
| Coordinates | 29.7632800, -95.3632700 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
End: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1739 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 36h 00m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 27h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 21h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 18h 00m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 15h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 13h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.70 | $179.14 | $358.29 |
| Mid-grade | $5.32 | $202.94 | $405.89 |
| Premium | $5.87 | $223.77 | $447.53 |
| Diesel | $6.58 | $250.88 | $501.77 |
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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