Drive time

Can you drive from Chicago to Denver in one day?

Not comfortably. It is about 15 hours of pure driving on I-80 and I-76, which turns into 19 h with breaks and meals. That is too long for one safe day, so plan on 2 days and sleep in Omaha.

Distance

1,000 miles

Driving only

15 h

Breaks and meals

4 h

Door to door

19 h

How we count the time

A 15-minute stop every two hours for fuel, restrooms and a stretch, plus a 45-minute sit-down meal every four hours. Traffic, weather and construction come on top, so check the live route before you leave.

Where to split the drive

Omaha sits 470 miles in, about 7 h 3 min from Chicago, leaving 530 miles for the next morning. It is the most even split on the route and has plenty of hotels near the highway.

More on this drive

• Full drive guide
• Best places to stop
• Gas cost
• Driving it in an EV