Chicago to Tulsa road trip: Best stops, drive time & distance
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Tulsa road trip itinerary are Springfield IL, St Louis and Springfield MO. The distance from Chicago to Tulsa by car is 690 miles, with a 10h5m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Tulsa road trip itinerary
The Chicago to Tulsa drive takes you from Illinois to Oklahoma – and a considerable stretch of the way along Route 66.
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.
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.
Tulsa’s big ticket attraction is the Philbrook Museum of Art, but you’ll get more of a local cultural education at the Woody Guthrie Center.
Alternatively, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum has a decent planetarium and Gathering Place is a great park with play areas on the Arkansas River. The classic photo stop, though, is at the enormous Golden Driller Statue.
For Tulsa accommodation deals, hunt here.
Chicago to Tulsa distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Tulsa is 690 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 10 hours and five minutes. The quickest route is usually down the I-55 and I-44.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Tulsa road trip itinerary are Springfield IL, St Louis and Springfield MO.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the individual sections of the journey.
Best stops between Chicago and Tulsa: Springfield IL
The capital of Illinois is more than a little obsessed with Abraham Lincoln. Springfield plays host to Lincoln’s former law offices and home, and his tomb is in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The centrepiece attraction of Springfield, however, is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. It’s expensively assembled, enormous, reverent and utterly riveting if you’ve got even the slightest interest in Lincoln and the American Civil War.
Chicago to Tulsa road trip attractions: St Louis
St Louis is one of America’s great crossroads cities. The major landmark is the 630ft-tall Gateway Arch, which visitors can go to the top of. Other top attractions include the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden and Busch Stadium.
Good St Louis experiences include highlight-packed trolley tours, true crime walking tours and small group tours that include going to the top of the St Louis Arch and a Mississippi River cruise.
For St Louis accommodation with personality, try the Last Hotel or the Pennywell.
Chicago to Tulsa drive: Springfield MO
Springfield is the third biggest city in Missouri, and packs an impressive amount in. Top of most visitor’s lists is the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. The aquarium is the best section, but the rest is a quirky celebration of model animals. It flits from penguins in the Antarctic to elephants on the African savanna.
Other options include the Route 66 Car Museum, the Dickerson Park Zoo, the Mizumoto Japanese Garden and craft beer tours.
For something totally bizarre, head to the Pythian Castle, built in 1913 by an order of knights. You can visit on a history tour or a nighttime ghost tour.
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 Omaha | 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 Washington DC | Chicago to Wichita | Chicago to Wisconsin Dells.
More Tulsa road trips
Tulsa to Albuquerque | Tulsa to Amarillo | Atlanta to Tulsa | Tulsa to Denver | Houston to Tulsa | Tulsa to Kansas City | Memphis to Tulsa | Tulsa to Nashville | Tulsa to New Orleans | Tulsa to Oklahoma City | Tulsa to San Antonio | St Louis to Tulsa | Springfield MO to Tulsa | Wichita to Tulsa.