Compare: Chicago→New York (1,144 km) vs Chicago→Los Angeles (2,804 km). Chicago → New York wins by 1,660 km (59%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
1,144 km
711 miles · Flight: ~1h 56min · Drive: ~18h 35min
✓ Shorter route
2,804 km
1,742 miles · Flight: ~4h · Drive: ~45h 34min
Difference: 1,660 km (59%) · Flight time difference: ~2h 4min
Verdict
Chicago → New York is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 1,660 km (59%) shorter, saves about 2h 4min of flight time, and cuts roughly 423 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Chicago → Los Angeles only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Chicago → New York is the shorter route at 1,144 km, which is 1,660 km (59%) shorter than Chicago → Los Angeles. You would save approximately 2h 4min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Chicago → New York | Chicago → Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,144 | 2,804 |
| Distance (miles) | 711 | 1,742 |
| Flight time | ~1h 56min | ~4h |
| Driving time | ~18h 35min | ~45h 34min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,487 km | ~3,645 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 92° (E) | 262° (W) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | -2h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~292 kg | ~715 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~254 kg | ~623 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$149 USD | ~$365 USD |
Flying from Chicago to New York produces roughly 292 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Chicago → Los Angeles flight emits about 715 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 423 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 20 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 254 kg and 623 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Chicago to New York route covers 1,144 km (711 miles), staying within North America. Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is located in Midwest, United States, while New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States.
The Chicago to Los Angeles route covers 2,804 km (1,742 miles), remaining within North America. Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is in Midwest, United States, and Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States.
Flying from Chicago to New York takes approximately 1h 56min, while Chicago to Los Angeles takes 4h. If driving is an option, expect roughly 18h 35min for the first route and 45h 34min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Chicago, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between New York and Los Angeles as a destination.
The 1,660 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,487 km and 3,645 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 2,158 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.
Los Angeles (United States) has a population of 3,979,576 and is situated in West Coast, 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. It is also the shorter option at 1,144 km, which translates to a 2h 4min flight-time saving and roughly 423 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,487 km of road and a fuel cost band around $149 USD. The initial bearing is 92° (E), so a great-circle flight leaves Chicago heading roughly E.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Los Angeles (United States) — a city of 3,979,576 in the West Coast region of North America. Even though it is the longer route at 2,804 km, it remains the obvious pick when Los Angeles is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Chicago are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 3,645 km of road and a fuel cost in the $365 USD range. Departing Chicago, the great-circle bearing toward Los Angeles is 262° (W).
Chicago (41.88°, -87.63°) and New York (40.71°, -74.01°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Chicago (41.88°, -87.63°) and Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) have a -2-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
New York is closer at 1,144 km, which is 1,660 km (59%) shorter.
1,144 km (711 miles). Flight: ~1h 56min.
2,804 km (1,742 miles). Flight: ~4h.
Flying to New York is faster at ~1h 56min, saving about 2h 4min compared to Los Angeles.
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.