Chicago to Fargo road trip: Drive time, distance & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Fargo drive are Wisconsin Dells, Minneapolis and Alexandria MN. The distance from Chicago to Fargo by car is 643 miles, with a 9h25m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Fargo road trip itinerary
The Chicago to Fargo drive takes you from the biggest city in Illinois to North Dakota.
Chicago’s skyscrapers, music scene and massive collection of cultural attractions make it arguably the most exciting city in the US to visit.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Recommended Chicago hotels include the Club Quarters Central Loop for astonishingly good value. Also consider the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile for its amazing, historic pool, and the entertainingly science-themed Hotel EMC2.
Fargo ND is best known from the Coen Brothers film and subsequent TV series, but it is not quite as bleak as portrayed. The North Dakota State University is here, which gives Fargo a bit of life.
Top attractions include the Fargo Air Museum, which is spread over two plane-filled hangars, the Plains Art Museum and the Red River Zoo. The latter has a focus on cold climate species.
Top Fargo accommodation options include the Kelly Inn and Suites, plus the Radisson Blu.
Chicago to Fargo distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Fargo is 643 miles. That makes for a driving time of around nine hours and 25 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-90 and I-94.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Fargo road trip itinerary are Wisconsin Dells, Minneapolis and Alexandria MN.
For more suggestions, see the guides to the Chicago to Minneapolis drive and Minneapolis to Fargo drive.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Chicago and Fargo drive: Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells is home to several theme parks, the most notable of which is the Noah’s Ark Water Park. This is the biggest water park in the United States. Kids – and big kids – can spend hours learning to surf and tackling rollercoaster-esque water slides.
When not tackling slides and rides, you can try a haunted history trolley tour through the city.
Best stops between Chicago and Fargo: Minneapolis
Top attractions in the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul include the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Basilica of St Mary and Minnehaha Falls.
Minneapolis has a big craft brewing scene, and one of the best ways to explore is on a craft breweries tour. Alternatively, take a walking tour through the city’s vast Skyway network of enclosed bridges and food tours.
Other MSP experiences include St Paul’s historic gangster-era caves, Twin Cities ghost tours and St Paul walking tours.
The Minneapolis hotels with the best visitor reviews are the Element in the Warehouse District and the AC by Marriott in the West End.
Chicago to Fargo road trip attractions: Alexandria MN
The Legacy of the Lakes Museum in Alexandria MN looks at the Minnesotan people’s relationship with the hundreds of lakes across the state. In particular, there’s a gorgeous collection of wooden boats.
The Runestone Museum was built around the Kensington Runestone. This inscribed stone was supposedly left by 14th century Scandinavian explorers, but it may well be an elaborate hoax. The museum has plenty of other Nordic-themed artifacts, however. These include the replica of a 40ft Viking trading ship.
Lake Brophy County Park offers the best views of the town, with picnic tables and hiking trails in summer, plus a sledding hill in winter.
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