A road trip from New York to Chicago take you between two of the three most populous cities in the United States.
An 800 mile road trip from New York to Chicago takes you from “The Big Apple” in New York, through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, to “The Windy City” in Illinois, past some of the most unique towns, cities, and landscapes in the U.S.
If you’re planning to take this incredible adventure yourself, I highly recommend reading on.
A Road Trip From New York To Chicago: How Far Is It, How Long Will It Take To Get There & What Is The Best Route?
The most direct route for a road trip from New York to Chicago covers 790 miles and takes 12 hours to complete. This option will see you leave New York City on any of the bridges or tunnels heading west to New Jersey, joining the I-95 and heading south.
Join the I-280 where it begins and follow it for its entire 18 mile duration. You will then merge with the I-80, which will take you 735 miles, to Gary, Indiana, where you switch to the I-90 for the final few miles of your journey.
However, for those looking to truly make the most of their journey, the best route for a road trip from New York to Chicago is a little longer, coming in at 855 miles and just over 13 hours.
This route will see you setting off by picking up the I-78 where it begins, at the entrance to the Holland Tunnel, and following it to the New Jersey Turnpike. Here, you’ll exit onto the I-95 and take it south for 85 miles, until you reach Philadelphia.
Use Exit 22 to join I-676 going west, which will take you across the Schuylkill River, before merging with the I-76. Stay on the I-76 for 370 miles, until you reach the town of North Jackson, Ohio, where you’ll use Exit 218 on the Ohio Turnpike to join the I-80 going west.
The I-80 and I-90 join together outside Amherst and follow the same route for a while. When they eventually separate at Exit 21, continue following the I-90, which will take you the rest of the way to your destination in Chicago.
Best Places To Stop On A Road Trip From New York To Chicago
With a road trip from New York to Chicago clocking in at a minimum of 12 hours, the vast majority of people are going to want to make some overnight stops. This will allow them to break up the driving and give them a chance to see the sights along the way.
While there are certainly plenty of great options available, the following two destinations are what we believe are the best places to stop on a road trip from New York to Chicago, due to the sheer quantity and quality of attractions they have to offer.
Philadelphia
Settled in 1682, Philadelphia is among the oldest cities in the United States, as well as its 6th most populous.
Affectionately nicknamed the “City Of Brotherly Love”, it was founded by famed writer William Penn and is a hub for a number of industries, such as entertainment, sports, and transport.
The city boasts a huge variety of both amenities and attractions that will appeal to people with a wide range of different interests, including legendary sporting and musical venues, as well as iconic locations.
However, perhaps the most famous of all is Independence National Historical Park.
The location of the adoption of both the American Constitution and Declaration Of Independence, as well as the home of legendary sites like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, it is a fabulous place to stop and soak in the nation’s history on your journey.
Best Hotel To Stay At In Philadelphia – Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, An IHG Hotel
The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia is a stunning, 4 star hotel, located on the edge of Independence National Historical Park. Just yards from Independence Hall and with a view of the Liberty Bell, it is the perfect location from which to do some historic exploration.
The hotel itself is stylishly decorated and offers features including business and fitness centres, a 24 hour front desk, lounge, restaurant, and complimentary bicycle rentals.
Rooms boast luxurious linens and furniture, as well as amenities like flat screen TVs, minibars, bathrobes, and hairdryers. The entire property is pet friendly and Wi-Fi is available throughout. Private parking is also available for an additional fee.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily in the restaurant, while brunch is also available of a weekend. The lounge then provides a great range of drinks and cocktails in a sophisticated environment with stunning views of the city.
Pittsburgh
The 3rd largest and 2nd most populous city in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is commonly referred to as “Steel City”, due to a combination of its legendary steel industry and 446 bridges.
Its incredible collection of architecture, historic locations, sports teams, and various other attractions and amenities make it the perfect place for a longer stop on a road trip.
It is also an ideal choice for those looking to delve a little deeper into the culture of Pennsylvania as, while still a major city, it has a more authentic feel than the tourist heavy atmosphere found in many parts of Philadelphia.
Best Hotel To Stay At In Pittsburgh – Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel
A historic, 4 star hotel, the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel is the epitome of style and sophistication. Set in the iconic Fulton Building, it features a gym, business centre, bar, and 2 restaurants serving American grill and brasserie dishes, all of which boast fabulous décor.
The rooms themselves are equally well modelled, and contain features like 32 inch flat screen TVs, iPod docks, and tea and coffee making facilities, as well as stunning views of the city.
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout this pet friendly hotel, while parking is offered for an additional fee.
Best Time For A Road Trip From New York To Chicago
The best time for a road trip from New York to Chicago is from early June to mid-September.
With Chicago being known for its bitterly cold temperatures, thanks in large part to the powerful winds across Lake Michigan that earned it the “Windy City” nickname, you want to visit when it is warm.
Early June to mid-September is the warmest stretch of the year in Chicago. Visiting during this period will provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy everything the route and destination have to offer, without constantly worrying about trying to stay warm or dry.
Top Attractions On A Road Trip From New York To Chicago
With such a great amount of driving on a road trip from New York to Chicago, it is important you have enough planned to do and see if you hope to keep things entertaining.
While there are plenty of options along the route, the following are what we consider the absolute top attractions on a road trip from New York to Chicago and should appeal to visitors of all different tastes and interests.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is New Jersey’s most populous city and the largest city in the New York Metropolitan Area outside of New York. One of America’s largest transport hubs, visitors regularly make use of its numerous air, rail, and sea ports, to avoid the higher prices common in New York City.
Founded in 1666, its collection of beautiful, historic buildings, such as the Newark Museum Of Art, Jewish Museum Of New Jersey, Mount Olive AME Church, and The Cathedral Basilica Of The Sacred Heart, are just what you would expect from one of the country’s oldest cities.
With attractions including the Justice Sculpture, Dock Bridge, and Branch Brook Park, it is an ideal stop for those interested in architecture, art, history, and culture.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is home to the largest Amish population in the United States, which gives you the chance to experience a unique and iconic culture on your journey.
Sights like their legendary horse drawn buggies driving down the street and traditional farming techniques being used in the fields will transport you back to a bygone era.
With establishments where you can hire an Amish guide to show you around and explain what you are seeing and why they choose to live in the simpler way that they do, a stop off in Lancaster is something simply not to be missed when travelling through this part of the country.
Tuscarora State Forest
Tuscarora State forest covers more than 96,000 acres in south central Pennsylvania, with sweeping landscapes dominated by deep valleys and towering ridges.
Featuring various types of trees and plants, as well as dedicated wilderness and conservation areas, it is a great place for nature lovers to take a scenic stroll or drive.
Perhaps the greatest attraction though is its iconic population of golden eagles, with people travelling from far and wide hoping to spot one of the legendary creatures.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the 8th newest and 9th smallest national park in the United States. However, its 51 square miles (132 square kilometres) are densely packed with farmland, forests, hills, and waterfalls, along the banks of the Cuyahoga River.
With a vibrant collection of wildlife that includes beavers, coyotes, moles, muskrats, otters, racoons, minks, opossums, red and grey foxes, skunks, white tailed deer, bats, and over 250 species of birds, including nesting bald eagles, it gives you more chance to enjoy its inhabitants than most of its rivals.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is the 2nd most populous city in Ohio and 15th largest city in the United States overall.
It is perhaps best known for its incredible views, as the city sits on the southern bank of Lake Erie. You can even hire a boat and take the opportunity to get a closer look at the vistas on offer.
For those who would rather remain on dry land, attractions like the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, a wonderful botanical garden, and a huge collection of museums and galleries will ensure everyone has plenty to keep them occupied during their stay in Cleveland.
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the second smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area, at 9,910 square miles (25,700 square kilometres) and smallest by water volume, containing 116 cubic miles (480 cubic kilometres) of water.
However, despite that, it is still an incredibly large body of water, filled with aquatic wildlife and boasting stunning scenery. It is a perfect place for nature lovers to get their fill, without having to venture too far from the city or their route.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the 4th largest city in the state of Ohio and a destination famous for its history with jazz music. Having produced some of the greatest jazz musicians in history, you will find galleries and museums dedicated to the style.
This gives visitors the perfect opportunity to learn about both the evolution of the genre and the performers themselves.
Then, of an evening, you will find countless jazz bars, where you can have a drink while listening to classic tunes or watch some of the next generation of artists perform live.
Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park is 2nd newest and 5th smallest national park in the United States. The park is almost completely dominated by the 25 miles of sand dunes along the south-eastern edge of Lake Michigan that give it its name.
While the arid landscape isn’t ideal for wildlife, Indiana Dunes is still home to a number of rare or endangered flora and fauna.
You will find plants like the American columbo, mead’s milkweed, pitcher’s thistle, pink corydalis, shooting star, Virginia snake root, and white baneberry, as well as animals such as bald eagles, Indiana bats, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, piping plovers, and rufa red knots.
This makes it a great destination for a truly unique experience, in terms of both the activities you can enjoy and the wildlife you can see.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan has the 2nd largest water volume and 3rd largest surface area of the Great Lakes, at 1,180 cubic miles and 22,300 square miles (4,900 cubic metres and 58,000 square metres), respectively.
The only one of the Great Lakes located entirely in the United States and the largest lake in the world located in a single country, it is a fabulous place to enjoy, whether you want to take in the wildlife, relax on its shores, or explore its expansive waters by boat.
Conclusion
A road trip from New York to Chicago is a fabulous journey between two of the most famous cities in America.
While there is an incredible number of things to do and see along the way, you should now hopefully have a much better idea of how to plan out the perfect travel itinerary.
From historic and cultural attractions in the cities and towns to the wildlife and landscapes of the more rural areas, there is truly something to please everyone along the way.
So, the quicker you start getting everything booked, the quicker you can get out there and experience it all for yourself.