Compare: Denver→Los Angeles (1,336 km) vs Denver→Chicago (1,478 km). Denver → Los Angeles wins by 142 km (10%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated May 30, 2026
1,336 km
830 miles · Flight: ~2h 10min · Drive: ~21h 43min
✓ Shorter route
1,478 km
918 miles · Flight: ~2h 21min · Drive: ~24h 1min
Difference: 142 km (10%) · Flight time difference: ~11 min
Verdict
Denver → Los Angeles is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 142 km (10%) shorter, saves about 11 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 36 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Denver → Chicago only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Denver → Los Angeles is the shorter route at 1,336 km, which is 142 km (10%) shorter than Denver → Chicago. You would save approximately 11 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Denver → Los Angeles | Denver → Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,336 | 1,478 |
| Distance (miles) | 830 | 918 |
| Flight time | ~2h 10min | ~2h 21min |
| Driving time | ~21h 43min | ~24h 1min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,737 km | ~1,921 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 246° (WSW) | 75° (ENE) |
| Time-zone shift | -1h | +1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~341 kg | ~377 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~297 kg | ~328 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$174 USD | ~$192 USD |
Flying from Denver to Los Angeles produces roughly 341 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Denver → Chicago flight emits about 377 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 36 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 297 kg and 328 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Denver to Los Angeles route covers 1,336 km (830 miles), staying within North America. Denver (population: 727,211) is located in Mountain, United States, while Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States.
The Denver to Chicago route covers 1,478 km (918 miles), remaining within North America. Denver (population: 727,211) is in Mountain, United States, and Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is in Midwest, United States.
Flying from Denver to Los Angeles takes approximately 2h 10min, while Denver to Chicago takes 2h 21min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 21h 43min for the first route and 24h 1min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Denver, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Los Angeles and Chicago as a destination.
The 142 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 1,737 km and 1,921 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 184 km of driving.
Los Angeles (United States) has a population of 3,979,576 and is located in the West Coast region of North America. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
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 Los Angeles (United States) — a city of 3,979,576 in the West Coast region of North America. It is also the shorter option at 1,336 km, which translates to a 11 min flight-time saving and roughly 36 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,737 km of road and a fuel cost band around $174 USD. The initial bearing is 246° (WSW), so a great-circle flight leaves Denver heading roughly WSW.
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. Even though it is the longer route at 1,478 km, it remains the obvious pick when Chicago is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Denver are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,921 km of road and a fuel cost in the $192 USD range. Departing Denver, the great-circle bearing toward Chicago is 75° (ENE).
Denver (39.74°, -104.99°) and Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) sit with a time-zone shift of -1 hour. Denver (39.74°, -104.99°) and Chicago (41.88°, -87.63°) have a +1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Los Angeles is closer at 1,336 km, which is 142 km (10%) shorter.
1,336 km (830 miles). Flight: ~2h 10min.
1,478 km (918 miles). Flight: ~2h 21min.
Flying to Los Angeles is faster at ~2h 10min, saving about 11 min compared to Chicago.
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.