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Chicago to Denver: fly or drive?

By Fly or Drive · Written with AI, checked against the sources below · Published Nov 3, 2026

Written with AI and checked against the sources listed below. Prices and schedules are as of November 3, 2026.

Quick answer

For most trips, fly. It's under 3 hours in the air compared with about 14–15 hours behind the wheel. Drive if you're moving, bringing a lot of gear or pets, or want to make a two-day road trip of it.

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The drive

Route and timing

  • The route: I-88 west out of Chicago to I-80, then I-80 across Iowa and Nebraska. Switch to I-76 near Big Springs/Ogallala, which runs straight into Denver [1].
  • Distance and time: about 1,000 miles and roughly 14–15 hours without stops. The guide recommends at least one overnight stop [1].
  • Time zone: you go from Central to Mountain time and gain an hour on the clock [1].
  • Where to break it up: the guide's suggested itinerary stops in Lincoln and North Platte, Nebraska. Services get farther apart between Kearney, North Platte, and Ogallala, so top off before those stretches [1].

Worth pulling over for

  • Iowa 80 Truckstop, Walcott, IA (I-80 Exit 284). It bills itself as the World's Largest Truckstop and has been there since 1964. It has a full-service restaurant plus fast-food counters, a dog park, EV charging, and its own trucking museum [5].
  • The Archway, Kearney, NE (I-80 Exit 275). A museum built as a bridge over the interstate. It covers about 180 years of travel along the Great Platte River Road, from the Oregon Trail to 1950s diners. Open year-round: Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 12–5 [6].
  • Sandhill cranes (spring). Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon, NE is a 3,000-acre sanctuary on the Platte River. Its crane season runs Feb 17 to April 10, with longer visitor-center hours during that window [7]. If you're driving in late winter or early spring, it's worth planning around.

Food worth pulling over for

  • A Runza. Nebraska's bread pocket filled with ground beef, cabbage, and seasonings. The first Runza opened in Lincoln in 1949, and the chain now has about 85 locations [8].
  • A Reuben in Omaha. Visit Nebraska credits the sandwich to Omaha's Blackstone Hotel in 1925. You can eat one where it started, at the Orleans Room in the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel [8].

Tolls and traffic gotchas

  • Illinois Tollway (I-88): tolling is cashless, so cash isn't accepted. Without I-PASS or E-ZPass, you pay online, by invoice (which adds $3 per toll), or through Pay By Plate, which you can set up within 14 days of your trip [4].
  • Rates change Jan 1, 2027. The Tollway is raising passenger-car tolls on that date [2]. Under the published 2027 schedule, a car with I-PASS pays $1.20 at the York, Meyers, and Aurora mainline plazas and $2.90 at DeKalb and Dixon. Pay By Plate and invoice rates are higher [3].
  • West of Illinois: Turo's route guide notes that I-80 across Iowa and Nebraska and I-76 into Colorado are toll-free. E-470 around Denver is an optional toll road [1].
  • Traffic hotspots: the same guide flags the Chicago interchanges, Des Moines, Omaha/Council Bluffs, Lincoln, and Denver's I-25/I-70/I-76 merge. It suggests leaving before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. [1].

Season and weather

  • Winter: check Nebraska 511 and COtrip before you leave [13][14]. Colorado can put its Passenger Vehicle Traction Law into effect on any state highway. When it's active, you need tires with 3/16" tread rated all-weather, M+S, or winter, or you need chains or an approved traction device. Fines start at $100 plus a $33 surcharge [12].
  • Summer: expect pop-up thunderstorms and crosswinds on the Nebraska plains [1].

Fuel and EV charging

  • Gas: AAA's averages for regular on Nov 3, 2026 were $4.68 in Illinois, $3.99 in Iowa, $4.15 in Nebraska, and $4.16 in Colorado [9]. Example: at 30 mpg (our assumption, so use your own car's figure), 1,000 miles takes about 33 gallons, or roughly $133–$156.
  • EV: Nebraska's NEVI plan centers on I-80. The first phase calls for about 30–35 DC fast-charging sites along I-80 and other designated corridors, each with at least four chargers. NDOT says the official request for proposals will go out once federal guidance and funding are finalized, so don't plan a trip around those sites yet [10]. Turo's guide says DC fast charging is common around the bigger cities, with longer gaps in rural western Nebraska [1]. Plan your stops on the DOE's AFDC Station Locator [11].

The flight

Airports and flight time

  • Chicago: O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW). United's ORD to DEN nonstops are scheduled at about 2 hr 38 min to 2 hr 58 min across 2026 [15]. Southwest's MDW to DEN flights run about 2 hr 35 min to 2 hr 50 min [16].
  • Denver: Denver International (DEN). It has East and West security on Level 6 and North Security on Level 5 [24].

Security

  • How early: DEN recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight. It has warned of longer lines at peak times, 7–11 a.m. and 2–6 p.m., during busy travel periods [24][25].
  • Checkpoint hours: West Security opens at 3:30 a.m. and closes at 1 a.m. East Security is open 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. [25].
  • After security: it's a 5–15 minute walk to your gate from East/West Security, depending on the concourse [24].
  • PreCheck: TSA says about 99% of PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes. Enrollment is $85 or less for five years [28].
  • ID: REAL ID has been enforced since May 7, 2025. Travelers without an acceptable ID pay a $45 TSA ConfirmID fee [29].

Getting to the airport in Chicago

O'Hare (ORD)Midway (MDW)
CTA trainBlue Line, 40–45 min to downtown, runs 24/7 [17]Orange Line, 20–25 min to downtown [17]
Train fare$5 'L' fare when boarding at O'Hare [18]$2.50 [18]
Taxi (CTA estimate)around $40 [17]around $25 [17]
Rideshare (CTA estimate)around $35–50, surging to $140+ [17]around $25–40, surging to $100+ [17]
ParkingEconomy Lots G/H $16/day, covered Lot F $30/day [19]. Main garage $43 for 8–24 hrs [20]Economy $15/day [21]

Heads-up: CTA has scheduled shuttle buses in place of Blue Line trains between Jefferson Park and the O'Hare-branch Harlem station on the weekends of Nov 6–9 and Nov 13–16, 2026 [17].

Getting from DEN into Denver

  • RTD A Line: about 37 minutes over 23 miles to Denver Union Station [26]. Trains run every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes early and late [26]. Fares are covered by an Airport Day Pass, $10 [27].
  • Parking at DEN (if Denver is home): Garages $35/day, Economy $20/day, Pikes Peak shuttle lot $10/day, and 61st & Peña $8/day (these rates took effect May 14, 2025) [22]. Shuttles run every 7–10 minutes, 24/7. From 61st & Peña, the A Line reaches DEN in about 11 minutes [23]. Premium Reserve costs $45/day plus a one-time $5 fee [25].

A realistic door-to-door time (the Loop to downtown Denver)

StepTimeBasis
Blue Line, downtown to O'Hare45 minCTA [17]
At the airport before departure2 hrDEN guidance [24]
Flight~2 hr 50 minScheduled block time [15]
Deplane and walk to the train~20 minOur assumption, based on DEN's 5–15 min gate walks [24]
A Line to Union Station (plus a wait of up to 15 min)~37–52 minRTD [26]
Total~6.5–7 hr elapsed (about an hour less on the clock, thanks to the time change)

Compare that with 14–15 hours of pure driving [1], which realistically means two days with an overnight stop.

The train, briefly

Amtrak's California Zephyr runs daily from Chicago through Omaha to Denver [30]. It leaves Chicago Union Station at 2:00 p.m. and arrives in Denver the next morning. The current timetable shows it leaving Denver at 8:46 a.m. [31]. It's a scenic, overnight trip, not a fast one.

When each option wins

  • Solo or couple, short trip: fly. Nothing on the road comes close to about 7 hours door to door.
  • Family of four or more with luggage: run the numbers. One tank of gas per leg against four round-trip fares can change the answer, especially if you'd otherwise rent a car in Denver.
  • Moving, hauling gear, or bringing pets: drive.
  • Late winter or early spring, with time to spare: drive and catch the cranes on the Platte [7]. Keep an eye on 511 and COtrip [13][14].
  • Midwinter on a deadline: fly. Colorado's traction law can apply on any state highway [12].
  • Flying out of Chicago on a budget: Midway's Orange Line is cheaper and quicker to downtown than the Blue Line from O'Hare [17][18].

Verdict

Fly unless the drive itself is part of the point. It takes about 7 hours door to door by air and about two days by car. Driving only pays off when you're splitting costs across a full car, carrying things you can't check, or want the Archway, a Runza, and the open plains along the way. Put in your own numbers to see where your trip lands.

Compare this trip in the calculator

More from Fly or Drive: Chicago to Denver route page · Should I fly or drive? · Drive vs. fly: the real cost · How Fly or Drive works

FAQ

How long is the drive from Chicago to Denver?

About 1,000 miles via I-80 and I-76, or roughly 14–15 hours of driving without stops. Most people split it over two days. [1]

How long is the flight from Chicago to Denver?

Nonstops are scheduled at roughly 2 hours 35 minutes to 3 hours gate to gate, depending on airline, airport (ORD or MDW), and season. [15, 16]

How do I get from Denver airport to downtown?

RTD's A Line train runs 23 miles from the airport to Denver Union Station in about 37 minutes. Fares are covered by a $10 Airport Day Pass (as of Nov 3, 2026). [26, 27]

Are there tolls driving Chicago to Denver?

Yes, on the Illinois Tollway if you take I-88 out of Chicago. Tolling is cashless, and Tollway rates rise January 1, 2027. Turo's route guide notes that I-80 across Iowa and Nebraska and I-76 into Colorado are toll-free. [1, 2, 4]

How early should I get to Denver International Airport?

DEN recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight. It says lines run longer at peak times, which it has listed as 7–11 a.m. and 2–6 p.m. [24, 25]

Sources

All accessed November 3, 2026.

  1. Turo, "Chicago to Denver drive: The complete road trip guide." https://turo.com/blog/wayfaring/chicago-to-denver-drive/
  2. Illinois Tollway, "Tolling Information Overview." https://agency.illinoistollway.com/toll-rates
  3. Illinois Tollway, Proposed Toll Rates effective January 1, 2027 (PDF). https://agency.illinoistollway.com/documents/d/guest/2026-06_proposedrates-1
  4. Illinois Tollway, "New Truck/Trailer Rates by Plaza, 2026" (PDF; cashless tolling and invoice fee notes). https://agency.illinoistollway.com/documents/d/guest/2026tollrateincrease-multipage_1125
  5. Iowa 80 Truckstop, home page. https://iowa80truckstop.com/
  6. The Archway, Kearney, NE. https://archway.org/
  7. National Audubon Society, Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary. https://rowe.audubon.org/
  8. Visit Nebraska (Nebraska Tourism Commission), "6 Traditional Nebraskan Foods." https://visitnebraska.com/trip-idea/6-traditional-nebraskan-foods
  9. AAA, Gas Prices by state (Nov 3, 2026). https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=IL, https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=IA, https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=NE, https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=CO
  10. Nebraska DOT, "National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)." https://dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/environment/nevi/
  11. U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, Station Locator. https://afdc.energy.gov/stations
  12. Colorado DOT, "Passenger Vehicle Traction and Chain Laws." https://www.codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/tractionlaw
  13. Nebraska 511. https://511.nebraska.gov/
  14. COtrip (Colorado DOT). https://www.cotrip.org/
  15. FlightMapper, United Airlines ORD–DEN schedule. https://info.flightmapper.net/route/United_Airlines_UA_ORD_DEN
  16. FlightMapper, Southwest Airlines MDW–DEN schedule. https://info.flightmapper.net/route/Southwest_Airlines_WN_MDW_DEN
  17. Chicago Transit Authority, "Rapid Transit Trains to Chicago Airports." https://www.transitchicago.com/airports/
  18. Chicago Transit Authority, "Fares." https://www.transitchicago.com/fares/
  19. Chicago Department of Aviation, O'Hare "Economy" parking. https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/parking/pages/economy.aspx
  20. Chicago Department of Aviation, O'Hare "Main Garage – Daily." https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/parking/Pages/maindaily.aspx
  21. Chicago Department of Aviation, Midway "Economy" parking. https://www.flychicago.com/midway/tofrom/parking/pages/economy.aspx
  22. Denver International Airport, "DEN to Change Parking Rates Effective May 14" (Apr 14, 2025). https://www.flydenver.com/press-release/den-to-change-parking-rates-effective-may-14/
  23. Denver International Airport, "DEN Parking Guide" (Oct 6, 2026). https://www.flydenver.com/blog/den-parking-guide-which-parking-lot-is-right-for-your-trip/
  24. Denver International Airport, "Airport Security: Wait Times & TSA Information." https://www.flydenver.com/security/
  25. Denver International Airport, "DEN Prepares for Passenger Surge During Fall Break Travel Rush" (Oct 7, 2026). https://www.flydenver.com/press-release/denver-international-airport-prepares-for-passenger-surge-during-fall-break-travel-rush/
  26. RTD Denver, "A Line" facts and figures. https://www.rtd-denver.com/open-records/reports-and-policies/facts-and-figures/a-line
  27. RTD Denver, "Day Pass." https://www.rtd-denver.com/fares-passes/passes-and-ticket-books/day-pass
  28. TSA, "TSA PreCheck." https://www.tsa.gov/precheck
  29. TSA, "REAL ID." https://www.tsa.gov/real-id
  30. Amtrak, "California Zephyr." https://www.amtrak.com/routes/california-zephyr-train.html
  31. Amtrak, California Zephyr Route Timetable (PDF, dated Nov 3, 2026). https://content.amtrak.com/content/timetable/California%20Zephyr.pdf