Thanksgiving road trip
Chicago to Denver for Thanksgiving
- Distance
- 1000 mi
- Driving
- 15 hrs + traffic
- Halfway
- Omaha
The next Thanksgiving lands on Thursday, November 26, 2026. On I-80 and I-76, the heaviest traffic usually hits the Tuesday and Wednesday before and the Sunday after. Drive Thanksgiving morning itself; roads are often the quietest of the week.
Plan this drive in XCRSNBook the halfway night early
Omaha sits about 470 miles from Chicago and 530 miles from Denver. Holiday weekends sell out the rooms near the highway first.
Total trip cost
Gas uses today's regional averages along this route. Add the nightly rate you find to see the full total.
- Gas, about 1,000 miles
- Checking prices
- Lodging, 1 night
- Add a rate
- Estimated total
- -
Along the way
- Great Platte River Road Archway
- Omaha's Old Market
- Sandhills views across Nebraska
Full drive guide for this route
More planning help
- How to plan a road trip
- Iconic road trips
- Top 10 road trips in the world
- Curated drives
- Drive to the game: team schedules
- Crew & tour lodging
- XCRSN Crew: tour & production planner
- Terms of use
- Local guide & things to do
- Where to stay
- Road trip games for kids
- Road trip I Spy
- Road trip coloring book
- Road trip gas calculator
- Fuel cost calculator
- Road trip toll calculator
- Halfway point finder
- Weather along my route
- EV road trip cost calculator
- Road trip budget & cost splitter
- Realistic drive time calculator
- Road trip packing list
- Road trip trivia & car games
- Road trip playlist generator
- RV & campervan road trip planner
- Dog-friendly road trip planner
- Pup cups & dog-friendly stops
- XCRSN Wild — moto, overland, bikepacking & trailheads
- International road trip planner
- Free trip planner widget for your website
- Send feedback
