Chicago to Fort Lauderdale: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1168.9 miles 1881.2 km · straight line
1319.5 miles actual route 2123.5 km · driving distance
24h 53min estimated drive time
$127 - $156 estimated fuel cost
~2h 51min flight time
156° SSE bearing direction

How far is Chicago from Fort Lauderdale?

The distance from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale is 1168.9 miles (1881.2 km) as the crow flies. Fort Lauderdale is located SSE of Chicago. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1319.5 miles, taking about 24h 53min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 51min. Both are located in United States — Chicago in Illinois and Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Chicago and Fort Lauderdale. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 24h 53min $127 - $156 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 51min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~29h 52min $106–$198* Budget
Train ~32h 21min $158–$462* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Chicago & Fort Lauderdale

Quick Facts

Chicago
41.88°N, 87.63°W
America/Chicago
181m elevation
Fort Lauderdale
26.12°N, 80.14°W
America/New_York
3m elevation
Explore more routes from Fort Lauderdale

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 390 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 97 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 21.3 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM