Compare: Atlanta→New York (1,200 km) vs Atlanta→Chicago (948 km). Atlanta → Chicago wins by 252 km (21%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
1,200 km
746 miles · Flight: ~2h · Drive: ~19h 30min
948 km
589 miles · Flight: ~1h 41min · Drive: ~15h 24min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 252 km (21%) · Flight time difference: ~19 min
Verdict
Atlanta → Chicago is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 252 km (21%) shorter, saves about 19 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 64 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Atlanta → New York only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Atlanta → Chicago is the shorter route at 948 km, which is 252 km (21%) shorter than Atlanta → New York. You would save approximately 19 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Atlanta → New York | Atlanta → Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,200 | 948 |
| Distance (miles) | 746 | 589 |
| Flight time | ~2h | ~1h 41min |
| Driving time | ~19h 30min | ~15h 24min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,560 km | ~1,232 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 47° (NE) | 343° (NNW) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~306 kg | ~242 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~267 kg | ~211 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$156 USD | ~$123 USD |
Flying from Atlanta to New York produces roughly 306 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Atlanta → Chicago flight emits about 242 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 64 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 3 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 267 kg and 211 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Atlanta to New York route covers 1,200 km (746 miles), staying within North America. Atlanta (population: 498,715) is located in South, United States, while New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States.
The Atlanta to Chicago route covers 948 km (589 miles), remaining within North America. Atlanta (population: 498,715) is in South, United States, and Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is in Midwest, United States.
Flying from Atlanta to New York takes approximately 2h, while Atlanta to Chicago takes 1h 41min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 19h 30min for the first route and 15h 24min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Atlanta, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between New York and Chicago as a destination.
The 252 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,560 km and 1,232 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 328 km of driving.
New York (United States) has a population of 8,336,817 and is located in the Northeast region of North America. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Chicago (United States) has a population of 2,693,976 and is situated in Midwest, North America. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching New York (United States) — a city of 8,336,817 in the Northeast region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,200 km, it makes sense when New York itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,560 km of road and a fuel cost band around $156 USD. The initial bearing is 47° (NE), so a great-circle flight leaves Atlanta heading roughly NE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Chicago (United States) — a city of 2,693,976 in the Midwest region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 948 km, saving about 19 min of flying and around 64 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,232 km of road and a fuel cost in the $123 USD range. Departing Atlanta, the great-circle bearing toward Chicago is 343° (NNW).
Atlanta (33.75°, -84.39°) and New York (40.71°, -74.01°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Atlanta (33.75°, -84.39°) and Chicago (41.88°, -87.63°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Chicago is closer at 948 km, which is 252 km (21%) shorter.
1,200 km (746 miles). Flight: ~2h.
948 km (589 miles). Flight: ~1h 41min.
Flying to Chicago is faster at ~1h 41min, saving about 19 min compared to New York.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 7, 2026.