Chicago to Los Angeles: Exactly 2,804 km (1,742 mi)

Chicago, United States → Los Angeles, United States

2,804
Kilometers
1,742
Miles
~4h
Flight time (est.)
~3,645 km
Rough road-length estimate

1,514 nautical miles · Direction: southwest

Quick Answer

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Los Angeles is 2,804 km (1,742 miles). Los Angeles lies roughly west of Chicago; the initial great-circle bearing is 262° (W). It is a domestic route within United States.

Coordinates & Bearing

Chicago (Midwest, United States) sits at 41.8781°N, 87.6298°W; Los Angeles (West Coast, United States) is at 34.0522°N, 118.2437°W. The initial great-circle bearing is 262° (W); on a great circle the heading changes along the way.

Travel Options: Chicago to Los Angeles

ModeFigureBasis
✈️ Flight ~4h Estimate: 800 km/h + 30 min taxi. Not a schedule; total trip time is longer.
🚗 Road ~3,645 km · ~45h 34min Rough estimate: straight line × 1.3 at 80 km/h. Not live routing.

Rough road-length estimate for Chicago to Los Angeles: about 3,645 km. This is an estimate, not a routed drive — the actual road distance depends on the road network, crossings and the route chosen.

Halfway Point

The geographic halfway point of the great-circle path between Chicago and Los Angeles lies at approximately 38.9701°N, 103.7737°W — the position that is an equal 1,402 km from each city along that path. It is a geometric midpoint, not a halfway point by road.

Time Zone Difference

Los Angeles (America/Los_Angeles) is 2 hours behind Chicago (America/Chicago) all year; daylight saving does not change the gap.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Chicago from Los Angeles?

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Los Angeles is approximately 2,804 km (1,742 miles, 1,514 nautical miles).

What direction is Los Angeles from Chicago?

Los Angeles lies roughly west of Chicago; the initial great-circle bearing is 262° (W).

How long does it take to fly from Chicago to Los Angeles?

Estimated flight time is about 4h (great-circle distance at 800 km/h plus 30 min for taxi, take-off and landing). It is not an airline schedule; total airport-to-airport trip time is longer.

Can you drive from Chicago to Los Angeles?

Rough road-length estimate for Chicago to Los Angeles: about 3,645 km. This is an estimate, not a routed drive — the actual road distance depends on the road network, crossings and the route chosen.

Is there a time difference between Chicago and Los Angeles?

Los Angeles (America/Los_Angeles) is 2 hours behind Chicago (America/Chicago) all year; daylight saving does not change the gap.

Straight-line distance uses the great-circle (Haversine) method. Flight and road figures, where shown, are estimates rather than schedules or live routing. How SnapDistance calculates distances

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