Chicago to Omaha road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Omaha drive are Dixon IL, Iowa City and Winterset IA. The distance from Chicago to Omaha by car is 466 miles, with a 7h driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Omaha road trip itinerary
A Chicago to Omaha road trip takes you from Illinois’ great American city to the largest city in Nebraska.
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.
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.
Top Omaha experiences include electric bike rentals, scavenger hunts and the Henly Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Chicago to Omaha distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Omaha is 466 miles. You can expect a driving time of around seven hours. The quickest route is along the I-88 and I-80.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Omaha road trip itinerary are Dixon IL, Iowa City and Winterset IA.
For more attraction suggestions, please visit the guides for the individual legs of the journey.
Chicago to Omaha drive: Dixon, Illinois
Two famous American names got started around Dixon, Illinois. One is former president Ronald Reagan, who was born in Illinois. Between 1920 and 1924, he lived at what is now the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. It’s a simple family house that is now on the National Register of Historic Places and open to visitors.
The other is John Deere, who was a handyman and toolmaker in the village of Grand Detour, just to the north of Chicago. His workshop would eventually morph into a tractor and agricultural machinery empire.
At the John Deere Historic Site, you can now watch blacksmithery demonstrations at a replica of Deere’s workshop and tour the original family home.
Things to between Chicago and Omaha: Iowa City
Iowa City is the former capital of Iowa, and is home to several historic attractions.
Highlights of Iowa City include the Old Capitol Building, Iowa’s first capitol now turned into a museum, and the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History.
You can also visit Mormon Handcart Park, which commemorates the early Mormon pioneers who crossed the country with just wooden, hand-pulled carts.
Chicago to Omaha road trip stops: Winterset
Winterset, Iowa, is best known as the birthplace of John Wayne. A short detour south of the I-80 will bring you to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, which celebrates America’s most famous movie cowboy. It is stuffed full of Wayne Memorabilia.
Between the town and the highway, there are a couple of places to try Iowa-made drinks. The Covered Bridges Winery and Winterset Cidery are open to visitors for tastings.
You can also do Bridges of Madison County tours here.
More Chicago road trips
Albany NY to Chicago | Ann Arbor to Chicago | Chicago to Asheville | Chicago to Aspen | Chicago to Atlanta | Chicago to Baltimore | Chicago to Birmingham AL | Bloomington IL to Chicago | Chicago to Boston | Chicago to Buffalo | Cedar Rapids to Chicago | Charlotte to Chicago | Chattanooga to Chicago | Cincinnati to Chicago | Cleveland to Chicago | Chicago to Colorado Springs | Columbus OH to Chicago | Davenport IA to Chicago | Dayton OH to Chicago | Denver to Chicago | Des Moines to Chicago | Detroit to Chicago | Chicago to Fargo | Fort Wayne to Chicago | Chicago to Gatlinburg | Grand Rapids to Chicago | Chicago to Green Bay | Indianapolis to Chicago | Iowa City to Chicago | Chicago to Jacksonville | Kalamazoo to Chicago | Kansas City to Chicago | Chicago to Knoxville.
Lafayette IN to Chicago | Lansing MI to Chicago | Chicago to Lexington KY | Chicago to Lincoln NE | Chicago to Little Rock |Louisville to Chicago | Chicago to Madison WI | Chicago to Memphis | Chicago to Milwaukee | Chicago to Minneapolis | Moline IL to Chicago | Chicago to Nashville | Chicago to New Orleans | New York City to Chicago | Chicago to Niagara Falls.
Chicago to Peoria IL | Chicago to Pigeon Forge | Chicago to Pittsburgh | Chicago to Philadelphia | Chicago to Richmond VA | Rockford IL to Chicago | Chicago to San Antonio | Scranton to Chicago | Chicago to Sheboygan | Chicago to Springfield IL | South Bend to Chicago | St Louis to Chicago | Syracuse to Chicago | Toledo to Chicago | Chicago to Tulsa | Chicago to Washington DC | Chicago to Wichita | Chicago to Wisconsin Dells.
More Omaha road trips
Atlanta to Omaha | Omaha to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Omaha | Denver to Omaha | Omaha to Des Moines | Houston to Omaha NE | Omaha to Kansas City | Omaha to Minneapolis | Omaha to Nashville | North Platte to Omaha | Omaha to Oklahoma City | Omaha to Phoenix | Omaha to Salt Lake City | Omaha to St Louis.