How to travel from New Orleans to Chicago, United States of America

The distance between New Orleans and Chicago is around 925 miles (1,488km) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 5h 20m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from New Orleans to Chicago by bus, plane, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out ChicagoNew Orleans if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
bus
+
plane
+

Bus and Plane

Take the bus to Baton Rouge then fly from Baton Rouge (BTR) to Chicago Midway (MDW).

  • Duration5h 20m
  • Flight time3h 25m
  • Typical cost
    $440
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
train
+

Train

Take the train to Chicago Union Station.

  • Duration19h 30m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    $120
3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Atlanta and then to Chicago.

  • Duration1 day 1h
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    $175
Operated by

Greyhound USA

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Chicago.

  • Duration15h 10m
  • Distance925 miles (1,488km)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between New Orleans and Chicago

There are several options for getting from New Orleans to Chicago by bus, plane, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around $120 and will take around 19h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately $440.

The distance between New Orleans and Chicago is around 925 miles (1,488km). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 835 miles (1,344km)

It takes around 5h 20m to get from New Orleans and Chicago by bus and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 15h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from New Orleans to Chicago is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 5h 20m and will set you back approx $440.

The cheapest way to travel between New Orleans and Chicago, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around $120 for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between New Orleans and Chicago. It typically takes around 19h 30m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between New Orleans and Chicago with no changeovers required. The train runs twice daily and takes 19h 30m.

Amtrak run train services between New Orleans and Chicago. Trains depart twice daily and will take around 19h 30m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from New Orleans and Chicago. It typically takes around 1 day 1h and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from New Orleans to Chicago. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Atlanta. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 1h.

Greyhound USA run regular bus services between New Orleans and Chicago. Buses run twice daily and take around 1 day 1h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from New Orleans to Chicago. We recommend that you take the bus to Baton Rouge then fly from Baton Rouge (BTR) to Chicago Midway (MDW). instead which will take 5h 20m.

The closest major airport to Chicago is Midway International Airport (MDW) (MDW) which is approximately 14km (9 miles) from Chicago. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) (ORD) and South Bend Regional (SBN) (SBN) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from New Orleans and Chicago. The distance is around 925 miles (1,488km) by road and it will take around 15h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from New Orleans to Chicago is to take the bus and then fly which takes, on average, 5h 20m and will usually cost around $440.

How do I get from New Orleans to Chicago

Compare travel optionsbetween New Orleans and Chicago

Transport options from New Orleans to Chicago
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus and Plane
5h 20m
$440
6 times a week1,831km (1,138 miles)
Train
19h 30m
$120
twice daily1,500km (932 miles)
Bus
1 day 1h
$175
twice daily1,999km (1,242 miles)
Drive
15h 10m
$90
on demand1,488km (925 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between New Orleans and Chicago

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Chicago

The following major airports near Chicago offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United States of America and internationally.

MDW
Midway International Airport (MDW)
International Airport
Distance
9 miles (14km) from Chicago
ORD
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
International Airport
Distance
16 miles (26km) from Chicago
SBN
South Bend Regional (SBN)
Domestic Airport
Distance
69 miles (110km) from Chicago