The best road trip stops on the Columbus OH to Chicago drive are Dayton OH, Indianapolis and Lafayette IN. The distance from Columbus OH to Chicago by car is 356 miles, with a 5h28m driving time.
Planning a Columbus OH to Chicago road trip itinerary
The Columbus OH to Chicago drive takes you from the capital of Ohio to the biggest city in Illinois.
Columbus is the capital of Ohio, and has a series of worthy attractions. None are top tier must-sees, but several are pretty darned good.
In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.
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.
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.
Columbus OH to Chicago distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Columbus OH to Chicago is 356 miles. That makes for a driving time of around five hours and 28 minutes. Note that this is along the quickest route – via the I-70 and I-65 – not the shortest route via Fort Wayne.
The best stops on the Columbus OH to Chicago road trip are Dayton OH, Indianapolis and Lafayette IN.
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.
Columbus OH to Chicago road trip attractions: Dayton OH
Dayton, Ohio, isn’t a massive city, but it has more than played its part in history. It was here that Orville and Wilbur Wright created the first plane capable of manned, sustained flight. The original Wright Cycle Company Shop that still stands is not where the Wright Flyer was made – that was a future incarnation of the company HQ – but it was home to their bicycle business.
In Dayton, you can also visit the SunWatch Indian Village, a recreated Native American village, and the National Museum of the US Air Force.
Best stops between Dayton OH and Chicago: Indianapolis
The capital of Indiana marries big city energy with country charm.
Top attractions in Indianapolis include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Worthwhile Indianapolis experiences include a Fountain Square food tour and a walking tour around the city’s highlights.
Columbus OH to Chicago drive: Lafayette IN
Lafayette IN is home to the Prophetstown State Park at the confluence of the Tippecanoe and Wabash rivers. This park offers a series of walking trails and picnic areas, but there are two major points of difference. The first is the Farm at Prophetstown. This shows visitors how farming was done in the 1920s.
Secondly, there’s the Aquatic Center which comes with a body flume, tube slide and lazy river.
More Chicago travel
Other Chicago travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What you need to know before visiting the Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park.
- Visiting Chicago from Indiana: Guide to the Indianapolis to Chicago drive and South Bend to Chicago drive.
- Visiting Chicago from Ohio: Guides to the Cincinnati to Chicago drive, Cleveland to Chicago drive and Toledo to Chicago drive.
- Visiting Chicago from Pennsylvania: Guide to the Scranton to Chicago drive.
- Road trips from Chicago: The best stops on the Chicago to Pittsburgh drive and Chicago to Washington DC drive.
