Drive time

Can you drive from Chicago to New Orleans in one day?

Not comfortably. It is about 14 hours of pure driving on I-55, which turns into 18 h with breaks and meals. That is too long for one safe day, so plan on 2 days and sleep in Memphis.

Distance

925 miles

Driving only

14 h

Breaks and meals

4 h

Door to door

18 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

Memphis sits 530 miles in, about 8 h 1 min from Chicago, leaving 395 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