How far is Denver International Airport, CO from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, IL?
The driving distance from Denver International Airport, CO to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, IL is about 994.9 miles (1601.2 km), with a travel time of about 17h 51m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 886.2 miles (1426.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 35h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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 51m.
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.
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Denver International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
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1
Start on Terminal East Departures
2634 ft · 2 min · Terminal East Departures
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2
Continue on Terminal East Exit
2236 ft · 38 sec · Terminal East Exit
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3
Continue on Peña Boulevard
3.5 mi · 4 min · Peña Boulevard
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4
Take the exit slight right toward E470 Toll North: Boulder, Fort Collins
1.5 km · 1 min
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5
Merge slight left onto E-470
6.4 mi · 6 min · E-470
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
1.1 mi · 2 min
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7
Merge slight left onto Heartland Expressway
168.3 mi · 2 hr 48 min · Heartland Expressway
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8
Merge slight left
474.5 mi · 8 hr 11 min
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
14.4 mi · 17 min
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10
Keep slight left
173.2 mi · 3 hr 9 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
1895 ft · 54 sec
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12
Continue straight
43.8 mi · 47 min
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13
Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
91 mi · 1 hr 41 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
3128 ft · 1 min
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
2496 ft · 1 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford
1.4 km · 2 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West
1751 ft · 43 sec
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19
Merge slight left
1.9 mi · 3 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road
636 ft · 16 sec
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21
Keep slight right to continue on York Road
1093 ft · 29 sec
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22
Turn left onto North York Street
1.6 km · 2 min · North York Street
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23
Continue on South York Road
2 mi · 4 min · South York Road
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24
Turn right onto Irving Park Road
1902 ft · 31 sec · Irving Park Road
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25
Turn left onto South Access Road
1.5 mi · 4 min · South Access Road
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26
Continue on South Access Road
585 ft · 28 sec · South Access Road
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27
Turn right
47 m · 17 sec
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28
Turn left
93 m · 25 sec
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29
Turn left onto South Cargo Road
2699 ft · 3 min · South Cargo Road
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30
Turn right onto Cargo Tunnel Road
2478 ft · 3 min · Cargo Tunnel Road
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31
Turn left onto Main Service Road
1568 ft · 2 min · Main Service Road
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32
Continue on Main Service Road
1431 ft · 2 min · Main Service Road
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33
Turn left onto Concourse Service Road
1.3 km · 5 min · Concourse Service Road
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34
Turn right onto Baggage Road
86 m · 23 sec · Baggage Road
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Baggage Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Denver International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
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.
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Denver International Airport and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Denver International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport?
The road trip is about 994.9 miles (1601.2 km) and usually takes 17h 51m 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 496.5 miles from Denver International Airport and 498.5 miles from Chicago O'Hare 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 108.7 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 MDT. 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 $129.84 one way or $259.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 312 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Denver International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Denver International Airport and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Chicago O'Hare 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 Denver International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Straight-line distance: 886.17 mi (1426.16 km).
#1 Denver International Airport
Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 39.8589100, -104.6732600 |
| Altitude | 1637 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (-87.90446, 41.97959)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1601 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 33h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 24h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 19h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 16h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 24m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.70 | $129.84 | $259.67 |
| Mid-grade | $4.08 | $143.39 | $286.78 |
| Premium | $4.39 | $154.17 | $308.34 |
| Diesel | $4.74 | $166.32 | $332.63 |
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 · 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.