The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Washington DC drive are South Bend, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The distance from Chicago to Washington DC by car is 697 miles, with a 10h52m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Washington DC road trip itinerary
The Chicago to Washington DC drive takes you from Illinois to the capital of the US.
Five great things to do in Chicago
- 🏙️ Marvel at the skyscrapers – on a Chicago River architecture cruise.
- 🖼️ Take an interiors architecture tour – to see stunning glass art and mosaics.
- 🍕 Taste Chicago’s favourite dishes – on a city favourites food tour.
- 🌆 Visit the Willis Tower observation deck – and see the city from above.
- 🕵️ Discover Chicago’s gangster heritage – on a crime and mob tour.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a crime and gangsters tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods.
Key Chicago attractions such as the Chicago Architecture Center, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Shedd Aquarium and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry are worth visiting. But save time for smaller delights like the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and the Tiffany Dome in Preston Bradley Hall.
Recommended Chicago hotels include the Club Quarters Central Loop for astonishingly good value. Also consider the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile for its amazing, historic pool, and the entertainingly science-themed Hotel EMC2.
Why book the Go City Chicago Explorer Pass?
- 🏙️ Skydeck Chicago & 360 CHICAGO: Get high-altitude views of the city from its most famous observation decks, including the glass-bottomed “Ledge” at Willis Tower.
- ⛴️ Architecture River Cruise: Experience Chicago’s world-renowned skyline from the water on a Shoreline Sightseeing cruise, one of the city’s most popular activities.
- 🦕 World-Class Museums: Choose from premier institutions like the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Adler Planetarium, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
- 💰 Save up to 40%: Pay one flat price for your choice of 2 to 7 attractions and enjoy significant savings compared to purchasing individual tickets at each gate.
- 📱 Total Flexibility: You have 60 days to use your pass once it’s activated at your first attraction, and your digital pass is easily managed directly from your smartphone.
Washington DC has an enormous range of tours, experiences and attractions available. You could happily spend weeks in the Smithsonian Museums alone. Top choices, however, include the nighttime monuments and memorials tour, small group guided visits to the Capitol and National Library of Congress and Lincoln assassination tours that visit Fords Theatre.
There are several underrated Washington DC attractions to add in to the itinerary if you have time. I like the National Museum of the American Indian, Lincoln’s Cottage and Dumbarton Oaks next to Rock Creek Park.
Memorable Washington DC accommodation options include the Willard, where Martin Luther King Jr wrote his I Have A Dream speech. There’s also the Watergate Hotel, a luxurious conversion of the offices from the Watergate scandal.
5 Washington DC experiences worth booking
- 🏛️ Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the US Capitol Building, with the Library of Congress or Supreme Court included.
- 🏡 Combine George Washington’s Mount Vernon with Old Town Alexandria on a history-packed day tour.
- 🕊️ Take a guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery, including the Changing of the Guard.
- 🚲 Visit the monuments and memorials of the National Mall on a bike tour that gets you closer than the bus routes.
- 🍽️ Go on a tasting tour of Georgetown’s top foodie highlights.
Chicago to Washington DC distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Washington DC is 697 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 10 hours and 52 minutes. The quickest route is via the I-90, I-76, I-70 and I-270.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Washington DC road trip itinerary are South Bend, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Chicago to Washington DC drive: South Bend, Indiana
South Bend is one of those towns that’s just fun to hang out in. It’s a university city, and the student life gives it the bulk of its energy. Notre Dame University tours take in the campus and key buildings such as the hugely impressive Basilica of Notre Dame.
For car-lovers, however, the key attraction in South Bend is the Studebaker National Museum. Studebaker Cars were made here until 1963. The museum tells their story and has plenty of classics on display.
Best stops between Chicago and Washington DC: Cleveland, Ohio
Top attractions in Cleveland include the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center and Cleveland History Center. Alternatively, try the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes and ghostly tales after dark.
5 Great Cleveland Experiences to Book
- 👻 Cleveland Ghost Tour: Hear spooky stories from the city’s past and explore haunted landmarks on a guided evening walking tour.
- 🌲 Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Link together the best viewpoints and trails on a self-drive visit with a comprehensive smartphone audio guide.
- 🎸 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Explore the history of music legends through iconic artifacts and immersive exhibits at this world-famous lakeside museum.
- 🌮 Ohio City Neighborhood Food Tour: Experience one of the city’s trendiest districts through multiple food tastings and expert drink pairings.
- 🍎 West Side Market Food Tour: Get to know the best local stalls and the history of Cleveland’s oldest operating indoor/outdoor market.
Chicago to Washington DC road trip attractions: Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is surprisingly beautiful – take a ride up the Duquesne Incline for the best views out over the city, Point State Park and Fort Pitt. After that, check out the Warhol Museum, National Aviary or the Nationality Rooms in the gigantic Cathedral of Learning.
Pittsburgh experiences include guided whiskey-themed walks and craft beer sampling on a multi-brewery tour.
For Pittsburgh hotels with great reviews, try the Italian villa-style Priory Hotel or the often good value Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown.
5 great Pittsburgh experiences worth booking
- 🏙️ Take an incredibly well-reviewed private Pittsburgh highlights tour.
- 🍽️ Go on a downtown food tour, with 6 fantastic food and drink stops.
- 👻 Hear spooky tales in the evening on a Pittsburgh ghost tour.
- 🥃 Discover Pittsburgh’s whiskey-soaked history – with two cocktails thrown in.
- 🛴 Visit Pittsburgh’s top photo stops – on a fun-packed Segway tour.
More Washington DC travel
Other Washington DC travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- The most impressive memorials on the National Mall – including the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
- What to expect at the National Postal Museum.
- Plan your visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Guide to the National Building Museum in Washington DC.
- National Mall bus tour vs bike tour: What’s the best way to see Washington DC’s monuments and memorials?
