Fourth of July road trip

Chicago to New Orleans for Fourth of July

Distance

925 mi

Driving

14 hrs + traffic

Halfway

Memphis

The next Fourth of July lands on Sunday, July 4, 2027. On I-55, the heaviest traffic usually hits the two days before the Fourth and the day after. Fireworks nights fill small-town rooms first, so lock your overnight early.

Book the halfway night early

Memphis sits about 530 miles from Chicago and 395 miles from New Orleans. Holiday weekends sell out the rooms near the highway first.

• Stays in Memphis
• Stays in New Orleans

Along the way

• Beale Street and Graceland
• Mississippi Blues Trail markers
• Lake Pontchartrain causeway

Full drive guide for this route