Compare: Chicago→Denver (1,478 km) vs Chicago→Dallas (1,295 km). Chicago → Dallas wins by 183 km (12%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated May 30, 2026
1,478 km
918 miles · Flight: ~2h 21min · Drive: ~24h 1min
1,295 km
805 miles · Flight: ~2h 7min · Drive: ~21h 3min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 183 km (12%) · Flight time difference: ~14 min
Verdict
Chicago → Dallas is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 183 km (12%) shorter, saves about 14 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 47 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Chicago → Denver only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Chicago → Dallas is the shorter route at 1,295 km, which is 183 km (12%) shorter than Chicago → Denver. You would save approximately 14 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Chicago → Denver | Chicago → Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,478 | 1,295 |
| Distance (miles) | 918 | 805 |
| Flight time | ~2h 21min | ~2h 7min |
| Driving time | ~24h 1min | ~21h 3min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,921 km | ~1,684 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 267° (W) | 222° (SW) |
| Time-zone shift | -1h | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~377 kg | ~330 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~328 kg | ~288 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$192 USD | ~$168 USD |
Flying from Chicago to Denver produces roughly 377 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Chicago → Dallas flight emits about 330 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 47 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 328 kg and 288 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Chicago to Denver route covers 1,478 km (918 miles), staying within North America. Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is located in Midwest, United States, while Denver (population: 727,211) is in Mountain, United States.
The Chicago to Dallas route covers 1,295 km (805 miles), remaining within North America. Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is in Midwest, United States, and Dallas (population: 1,343,573) is in South, United States.
Flying from Chicago to Denver takes approximately 2h 21min, while Chicago to Dallas takes 2h 7min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 24h 1min for the first route and 21h 3min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Chicago, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Denver and Dallas as a destination.
The 183 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,921 km and 1,684 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 237 km of driving.
Denver (United States) has a population of 727,211 and is located in the Mountain region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
Dallas (United States) has a population of 1,343,573 and is situated in South, North America. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Denver (United States) — a city of 727,211 in the Mountain region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,478 km, it makes sense when Denver itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,921 km of road and a fuel cost band around $192 USD. The initial bearing is 267° (W), so a great-circle flight leaves Chicago heading roughly W.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Dallas (United States) — a city of 1,343,573 in the South region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 1,295 km, saving about 14 min of flying and around 47 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,684 km of road and a fuel cost in the $168 USD range. Departing Chicago, the great-circle bearing toward Dallas is 222° (SW).
Chicago (41.88°, -87.63°) and Denver (39.74°, -104.99°) sit with a time-zone shift of -1 hour. Chicago (41.88°, -87.63°) and Dallas (32.78°, -96.80°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Dallas is closer at 1,295 km, which is 183 km (12%) shorter.
1,478 km (918 miles). Flight: ~2h 21min.
1,295 km (805 miles). Flight: ~2h 7min.
Flying to Dallas is faster at ~2h 7min, saving about 14 min compared to Denver.
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: May 30, 2026.