How far is Houston, TX from Chicago, IL?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL is about 1083.1 miles (1743.1 km), with a travel time of about 17h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 939.3 miles (1511.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 34h 06m 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 03m.
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.
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and Chicago.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Chicago.
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1
Start on Louisiana Street
145 m · 20 sec · Louisiana Street
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2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
1678 ft · 1 min · Franklin Street
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3
Turn left onto San Jacinto Street
2319 ft · 49 sec · San Jacinto Street
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4
Turn straight onto Rothwell Street
106 m · 7 sec · Rothwell Street
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5
Take the ramp straight toward US 59 East, I 10 East
792 ft · 19 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto East Freeway
2732 ft · 39 sec · East Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight left toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
1.3 km · 2 min
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8
Merge slight left onto Eastex Freeway
37 mi · 43 min · Eastex Freeway
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9
Keep slight left
1.1 km · 44 sec
-
10
Continue straight
42 mi · 44 min
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11
Continue straight
36.2 mi · 41 min
-
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches
5.7 mi · 8 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on US 59 North: Nacogdoches
15.6 mi · 17 min
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14
Turn left
1.2 km · 1 min
-
15
Continue straight
1527 ft · 42 sec
-
16
Merge slight left onto Southwest Stallings Drive
5.9 mi · 7 min · Southwest Stallings Drive
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17
Continue on North US Highway 59
1.4 km · 58 sec · North US Highway 59
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18
Take the exit left
933 ft · 25 sec
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19
Continue straight
741 ft · 20 sec
-
20
Merge slight left onto US Highway 259
11.2 mi · 13 min · US Highway 259
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21
Continue on US Route 259
3 mi · 3 min · US Route 259
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22
Continue on South Railroad Avenue
2.6 mi · 3 min · South Railroad Avenue
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23
Turn right
24.9 mi · 26 min
-
24
Take the ramp left
1499 ft · 41 sec
-
25
Merge slight left onto Southwest Loop
3.1 mi · 4 min · Southwest Loop
-
26
Take the exit slight right
1409 ft · 39 sec
-
27
Turn left
68.2 mi · 1 hr 18 min
-
28
Continue straight
2.9 mi · 3 min
-
29
Turn left onto Loop 59
2.2 mi · 3 min · Loop 59
-
30
Continue on North Louise Street
14.6 mi · 16 min · North Louise Street
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31
Keep slight right
4.2 mi · 5 min
-
32
Take the exit slight right toward I 369 North, US 59 North: Texarkana, Dallas, Little Rock
4.3 mi · 5 min
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33
Keep slight right to continue on I 30 East, US 59: Little Rock
7.4 mi · 9 min
-
34
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
133.5 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Purple Heart Trail
-
35
Keep slight right to continue on East Belt Freeway
10 mi · 12 min · East Belt Freeway
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36
Take the exit right toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
1161 ft · 28 sec
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37
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Memphis
2525 ft · 1 min
-
38
Merge slight left
117.2 mi · 1 hr 58 min
-
39
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
1.2 km · 2 min
-
40
Continue on Blues Highway
130.5 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Blues Highway
-
41
Take the exit slight right toward I 57 North, US 60 East: Chicago
2749 ft · 1 min
-
42
Merge slight left
117.5 mi · 2 hr 6 min
-
43
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway
-
44
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min
-
45
Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
-
46
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
6.2 mi · 9 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
-
47
Take the exit slight right toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
1620 ft · 40 sec
-
48
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
74 m · 7 sec · South Ruble Street
-
49
Turn slight left
23 m · 5 sec
-
50
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
887 ft · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue
-
51
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street
-
52
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road
-
53
Turn left
46 m · 11 sec
-
54
Turn right
794 ft · 58 sec
-
55
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and Chicago.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 57 North
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
195 mi · 03h 34m
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 Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Houston and Sunny near Chicago.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to Chicago?
The road trip is about 1083.1 miles (1743.1 km) and usually takes 17h 03m 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 miles from Houston and 543.1 miles from Chicago.
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 143.8 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 $145.96 one way or $291.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 339.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Houston and Sunny near Chicago.
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 Houston and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 939.33 mi (1511.71 km).
#1 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 |
#2 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 |
End: (-87.650099, 41.850032)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1743 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 36h 05m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 27h 04m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 21h 39m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 18h 03m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 15h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 13h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.82 | $145.96 | $291.92 |
| Mid-grade | $4.30 | $164.50 | $329.00 |
| Premium | $4.68 | $178.95 | $357.89 |
| Diesel | $5.67 | $216.63 | $433.26 |
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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