Compare: New York→Miami (1,758 km) vs New York→Chicago (1,144 km). New York → Chicago wins by 614 km (35%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated May 30, 2026
1,758 km
1,092 miles · Flight: ~2h 42min · Drive: ~28h 34min
1,144 km
711 miles · Flight: ~1h 56min · Drive: ~18h 35min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 614 km (35%) · Flight time difference: ~46 min
Verdict
New York → Chicago is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 614 km (35%) shorter, saves about 46 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 156 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose New York → Miami only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
New York → Chicago is the shorter route at 1,144 km, which is 614 km (35%) shorter than New York → Miami. You would save approximately 46 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | New York → Miami | New York → Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,758 | 1,144 |
| Distance (miles) | 1,092 | 711 |
| Flight time | ~2h 42min | ~1h 56min |
| Driving time | ~28h 34min | ~18h 35min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~2,285 km | ~1,487 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 201° (SSW) | 281° (W) |
| Time-zone shift | None | -1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~448 kg | ~292 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~391 kg | ~254 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$229 USD | ~$149 USD |
Flying from New York to Miami produces roughly 448 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The New York → Chicago flight emits about 292 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 156 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 7 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 391 kg and 254 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The New York to Miami route covers 1,758 km (1,092 miles), staying within North America. New York (population: 8,336,817) is located in Northeast, United States, while Miami (population: 467,963) is in South, United States.
The New York to Chicago route covers 1,144 km (711 miles), remaining within North America. New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States, and Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is in Midwest, United States.
Flying from New York to Miami takes approximately 2h 42min, while New York to Chicago takes 1h 56min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 28h 34min for the first route and 18h 35min for the second.
Since both routes depart from New York, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Miami and Chicago as a destination.
The 614 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 2,285 km and 1,487 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 798 km of driving.
Miami (United States) has a population of 467,963 and is located in the South region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
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 Miami (United States) — a city of 467,963 in the South region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,758 km, it makes sense when Miami itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 2,285 km of road and a fuel cost band around $229 USD. The initial bearing is 201° (SSW), so a great-circle flight leaves New York heading roughly SSW.
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 1,144 km, saving about 46 min of flying and around 156 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,487 km of road and a fuel cost in the $149 USD range. Departing New York, the great-circle bearing toward Chicago is 281° (W).
New York (40.71°, -74.01°) and Miami (25.76°, -80.19°) sit in the same approximate time zone. New York (40.71°, -74.01°) 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.
Chicago is closer at 1,144 km, which is 614 km (35%) shorter.
1,758 km (1,092 miles). Flight: ~2h 42min.
1,144 km (711 miles). Flight: ~1h 56min.
Flying to Chicago is faster at ~1h 56min, saving about 46 min compared to Miami.
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.