Denver to Chicago road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best road trip stops on the Denver to Chicago drive are North Platte NE, Omaha NE and Des Moines IA. The distance from Denver to Chicago by car is 1,005 miles, with a 14h11m driving time.
Planning a Denver to Chicago road trip itinerary
A Denver to Chicago road trip connects the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to Lake Michigan in Illinois.
Top Denver experiences include Rocky Mountain National Park day tours, downtown Denver food tours and chilling guided ghost walks around the Cheeseman Park cemetery.
Also worth considering are whiskey and history tours, guided mountain hikes and craft beer tours.
Memorable Denver accommodation options include the charming Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast and the strikingly stylish Ramble.
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.
Denver to Chicago distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Denver to Chicago is 1,005 miles. You can expect a driving time of around 14 hours and 11 minutes.
The quickest route is along the I-76, I-80 and I-88.
The best stops to add to a Denver to Chicago road trip are North Platte NE, Omaha NE and Des Moines IA.
Best stops between Denver and Chicago: North Platte, Nebraska
North Platte NE is officially home to the largest railroad yard in the world, and you can get a panoramic view over the Bailey Yard from the Golden Spike Tower. Exhibits within the tower celebrate the Union Pacific Railroad, which operates across 23 states.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bill Ranch was the former home of William Cody. Better known as Buffalo Bill, Cody was one of the great characters of the Wild West – a buffalo hunter, a Pony Express rider and a shameless showman.
Denver to Chicago road trip attractions: Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the biggest city in Nebraska, and has a handful of solid attractions rather than anything truly great.
The Durham Museum has a rather eclectic set of exhibits, but the setting is marvellous – in the art deco Union Station. On a sunny day, meanwhile, the Heartland of America Park offers great views of the Missouri River.
Top Omaha experiences include electric bike rentals, scavenger hunts and the Henly Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Omaha hotels with excellent guest ratings include the Cambria and the Kimpton Cottonwood.
Denver to Chicago drive: Des Moines, Iowa
Good things to do in Des Moines include the Adventureland Resort theme park, the Science Center of Iowa and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
Also worth a look are the Iowa State Capital, Des Moines Art Center and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.
For Des Moines accommodation with great reviews, try the Hotel Fort and the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel.
More Denver road trips
Denver to Albuquerque | Amarillo to Denver | Denver to Arches National Park | Denver to Aspen | Atlanta to Denver | Denver to Beaver Creek | Denver to Breckenridge | Denver to Cedar Rapids | Denver to Cheyenne | Cincinnati to Denver | Denver to Colorado Springs | Denver to Copper Mountain | Dallas to Denver | Denver to Des Moines | Denver to El Paso | Denver to Estes Park | Denver to Flagstaff | Denver to Fort Collins | Denver to Frisco CO | Denver to Garden of the Gods | Denver to Glenwood Springs | Denver to Granby CO | Grand Junction to Denver | Houston to Denver | Denver to Idaho Springs | Indianapolis to Denver | Kansas City to Denver | Denver to Keystone | Denver to Laramie.
Denver to Madison WI | Denver to Moab | Nashville to Denver | Oklahoma City to Denver | Denver to Omaha | Philadelphia to Denver | Denver to Phoenix | Denver to Pikes Peak | Denver to Pittsburgh | Pueblo CO to Denver | Denver to Salt Lake City | Denver to San Antonio | Denver to Santa Fe | Denver to Scottsdale | Denver to Sedona | Denver to Silverthorne | Denver to Springfield MO | Denver to St Louis | Denver to Topeka | Tucson to Denver | Tulsa to Denver | Denver to Vail | Denver to Wichita | Denver to Winter Park CO.
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 | 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 Tulsa | Chicago to Washington DC | Chicago to Wichita | Chicago to Wisconsin Dells.