Compare: Toronto→New York (550 km) vs Toronto→Chicago (701 km). Toronto → New York wins by 151 km (22%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated May 30, 2026
550 km
342 miles · Flight: ~1h 11min · Drive: ~8h 56min
✓ Shorter route
701 km
436 miles · Flight: ~1h 23min · Drive: ~11h 23min
Difference: 151 km (22%) · Flight time difference: ~12 min
Verdict
Toronto → New York is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 151 km (22%) shorter, saves about 12 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 39 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Toronto → Chicago only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Toronto → New York is the shorter route at 550 km, which is 151 km (22%) shorter than Toronto → Chicago. You would save approximately 12 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Toronto → New York | Toronto → Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 550 | 701 |
| Distance (miles) | 342 | 436 |
| Flight time | ~1h 11min | ~1h 23min |
| Driving time | ~8h 56min | ~11h 23min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~715 km | ~911 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 125° (SE) | 256° (WSW) |
| Time-zone shift | None | -1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~140 kg | ~179 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~122 kg | ~156 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$72 USD | ~$91 USD |
Flying from Toronto to New York produces roughly 140 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Toronto → Chicago flight emits about 179 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 39 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 122 kg and 156 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Toronto to New York route covers 550 km (342 miles), staying within North America. Toronto (population: 2,731,571) is located in Ontario, Canada, while New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States.
The Toronto to Chicago route covers 701 km (436 miles), remaining within North America. Toronto (population: 2,731,571) is in Ontario, Canada, and Chicago (population: 2,693,976) is in Midwest, United States.
Flying from Toronto to New York takes approximately 1h 11min, while Toronto to Chicago takes 1h 23min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 8h 56min for the first route and 11h 23min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Toronto, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between New York and Chicago as a destination.
The 151 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 715 km and 911 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 196 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. It is also the shorter option at 550 km, which translates to a 12 min flight-time saving and roughly 39 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 715 km of road and a fuel cost band around $72 USD. The initial bearing is 125° (SE), so a great-circle flight leaves Toronto heading roughly SE.
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 701 km, it remains the obvious pick when Chicago is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Toronto are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 911 km of road and a fuel cost in the $91 USD range. Departing Toronto, the great-circle bearing toward Chicago is 256° (WSW).
Toronto (43.65°, -79.38°) and New York (40.71°, -74.01°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Toronto (43.65°, -79.38°) 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.
New York is closer at 550 km, which is 151 km (22%) shorter.
550 km (342 miles). Flight: ~1h 11min.
701 km (436 miles). Flight: ~1h 23min.
Flying to New York is faster at ~1h 11min, saving about 12 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.