Fort Wayne to Chicago drive: Distance, time & best road trip stops
The distance from Fort Wayne to Chicago by car is 162 miles, with a 3h12m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Fort Wayne to Chicago drive are Webster Lake, Indiana Dunes National Park and the Pullman National Historic Park.
Planning a Fort Wayne to Chicago road trip itinerary
The drive from Fort Wayne to Chicago takes you from northern Indiana to one of the world’s most exciting cities.
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.
The main attractions in Fort Wayne are the Froellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo.
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.
Fort Wayne to Chicago distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Fort Wayne to Chicago is 162 miles. That makes for an approximate driving time of three hours and 12 minutes. The quickest route is via the US-30 then the I-90.
The best stops on a Fort Wayne to Chicago road trip itinerary are Webster Lake, Indiana Dunes National Park and the Pullman National Historic Park.
Fort Wayne to Chicago drive: Webster Lake
In North Webster, Indiana, the Dixie is proudly billed as the oldest sternwheeler excursion boat in Indiana.
The cruises are little more than an enjoyable pootle around Webster Lake. But tickets are cheap, the cruise lasts about 75 minutes, and there’s an olde-timey sense of charm and romance.
Attractions between Fort Wayne and Chicago: Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park stretches for 15 miles along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. While it is primarily adored for its beaches, the mixture of ecosystems is fascinating for those who want to do more than just lie on the sand.
The dunes take the attention, but the hiking trails take in woodland too, and are surrounded by wildflowers in spring. Come in winter, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available.
Fishing for steelhead in the Little Calumet River is also immensely popular, while the birdwatching amongst the quiet dunes is highly productive.
Fort Wayne to Chicago road trip stops: Pullman National Historic Park
The Pullman National Historic Park on Chicago’s South Side contains the site of the former Pullman Palace Car Works shops. But it’s about the people who worked on the trains, rather than the trains themselves.
The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum looks at the African Americans who worked on the trains and moved north to Chicago, bringing jazz and blues with them.
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