A road trip from Philadelphia to Chicago takes you between two of the six most populous cities in the United States.
A 760-mile road trip from Philadelphia to Chicago takes you from “The City of Brotherly Love” in Pennsylvania, through Ohio and Indiana, to “The Windy City” in Illinois. Along the way, you will pass some of the most unique and exciting towns, cities, and landscapes the United States has to offer.
If you intend to make this amazing drive yourself, I highly suggest reading on to ensure you don’t miss anything along the way.
A Road Trip From Philadelphia To Chicago: How Far Is It, How Long Will It Take To Get There, & What Is The Best Route?
A road trip from Philadelphia to Chicago covers 760 miles (1223 kilometres) and takes 11 hours and 45 minutes to drive.
There are several routes of a similar length that you can use, but the best one will see you set off heading west on I-76. Follow this to Exit 327, then continue heading west on US Route 202 until you reach Malvern Hunt. Here, you will merge onto US Route 30, still going west, and follow it to Roseville.
Join Pennsylvania Route 283 where it begins and follow it for its entire 29-mile (47-kilometre) duration, before merging back onto I-76. Stay on the I-76 until you pass Youngstown, Ohio, then use Exit 218 on the Ohio Turnpike to join the I-80 going west.
Follow I-80 to where it merges with I-90 near Amherst, then continue to do so until they separate again at Exit 21. At this point, you will stay with the I-90 and take it the rest of the way to your destination in Chicago, Illinois.
Best Time For A Road Trip From Philadelphia To Chicago
The best time for a road trip from Philadelphia to Chicago is between early June and mid-September. As Chicago is known for the icy cold temperatures that the powerful winds across Lake Michigan produce, which earned it the nickname “Windy City”, most people will want to visit when it’s warm.
This window is the warmest period of the year in Chicago, as well as along most of our route. That means making the drive at this time provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy everything both your journey and the destination have to offer, without worrying about trying to stay warm or dry all the time.
Best Place To Stop On A Road Trip From Philadelphia To Chicago
With a road trip from Philadelphia to Chicago taking at least 11 hours and 45 minutes to drive, most people will want to break it into more manageable chunks to ensure they can enjoy everything there is to see and do along the way.
While there are several great places along our suggested route to make a longer stop, none have more to offer than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which also happens to be conveniently located near the halfway point of our route.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the 3rd largest and 2nd most populous city in Pennsylvania. Founded in November 1758, it is known as the “Steel City”, thanks to a combination of its lengthy history with the steel industry and the 446 bridges that can be found dotted throughout it.
The city boasts an incredible collection of architecture, historic locations, sports teams like the Steelers of the NFL and Pirates of MLB, and many other attractions and amenities that will appeal to everyone from your average tourist to a die-hard road tripper.
It is also an ideal place to visit for anyone who wants to dive a bit deeper into the culture and history of the state of Pennsylvania.
This is because while it is still a major city, it has a more authentic feel than what you will find in many parts of Philadelphia, due to the presence of fewer crowds and tourists.
Best Hotel To Stay At In Pittsburgh – Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel
The Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel is a stunning, historic, pet-friendly, 4-star hotel that epitomises the height of style and sophistication in the city.
Located in the iconic Fulton Building, it has fabulous décor throughout and boasts amenities like a gym, bar, business centre, and 2 restaurants serving American grill and brasserie dishes. Free Wi-Fi is offered throughout the property, and parking is available for an additional fee.
In the rooms, you will find a similar level of style and quality in both the décor and amenities. Each one is kitted out with features like comfortable furnishings and linens, a 32-inch flat screen TV, iPod docks, and tea and coffee making facilities, and most offer stunning views of the city.
Top Attractions On A Road Trip From Philadelphia To Chicago
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a unique destination, as it boasts the largest Amish population you will find anywhere in the United States. This makes it a perfect opportunity to see one of the nation’s most unusual and iconic cultures.
A trip to Lancaster, as well as surrounding towns like Intercourse and Ronks, will give you the chance to see things like their legendary horse-drawn buggies, traditional attire, old-fashioned farming techniques, and handmade crafts, foods, and wares.
If you want to dive deep into their culture, you’ll find many establishments offering the services of Amish guides. These people will show you around and explain exactly what you are seeing, why things are done this way, and even give some insight into why people still opt to live in this simpler way in modern times.
Tuscarora State Forest
Tuscarora State Forest is a sprawling natural area that covers over 96,000 acres of south-central Pennsylvania. Its landscapes are dominated by deep valleys and towering ridges, and boast countless species of trees and plants, as well as multiple dedicated wilderness and conservation areas.
It is even home to a moderately sized population of the region’s iconic golden eagles, making it one of the best places to visit for anyone wanting to see one of these legendary creatures in person. Even if not, it is still a fantastic place to stop for any nature lovers who want to take a scenic walk or drive.
Canton, Ohio
Canton is located in northeast Ohio and is the 8th most populous city in the state. A charming, mid-sized city with a rich blend of history and culture, it is best known as the birthplace of the National Football League.
Home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it is a must-visit destination for sports fans, particularly if you happen to be travelling during the annual Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. This takes place across the first weekend in August each year and features parades, concerts, and football-centric events.
Other attractions in the city include the Canton Museum of Art, Canton Palace Theatre, and McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, which features the tomb of President William McKinley.
There are even natural attractions to enjoy, such as the Stark Parks system, which offers extensive hiking, biking, and nature trails, while the Canton Arts District downtown is a hub for galleries, shops, eateries, live music, art demonstrations, and food trucks.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Established on October 11th, 2000, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the 8th newest national park in the United States, while its 51 square-mile (132 square-kilometre) area makes it the 9th smallest.
Don’t let its size fool you, though; it features a stunning and diverse range of landscapes, such as forests, farmland, hills, and waterfalls, which are all nestled along the banks of the Cuyahoga River.
It also plays home to an incredible variety of wildlife, with species such as beavers, coyotes, moles, muskrats, otters, racoons, minks, opossums, red and grey foxes, skunks, white tailed deer, bats, and over 250 species of birds, including nesting bald eagles, all living in harmony within its borders.
This makes it another fantastic place on the route to take a walk and embrace the region’s natural side.
Cleveland, Ohio
The 2nd most populous city in Ohio and 15th largest city in the United States, Cleveland is a destination best known for the incredible watery views that can be enjoyed from its position on the south bank of Lake Erie.
Boasting attractions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a wonderful botanical garden, and a huge range of museums and galleries, Cleveland has plenty to offer for a city not always known as a tourist destination.
Lake Erie
Covering 9,910 square miles (25,700 square kilometres) makes Lake Erie the second smallest of North America’s Great Lakes by surface area, and its 116 cubic miles (480 cubic kilometres) of water makes it the smallest by water volume.
While this may make it sound small in comparison, it is still an immense body of water that runs along the shore of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York in the United States, and Ontario in Canada.
It boasts an incredible array of aquatic wildlife, making it a fantastic destination for nature lovers, while its stunning scenery, beaches, and selection of water-based activities make it equally suitable for those seeking a relaxing or fun-filled stop by the water.
Toledo, Ohio
The 4th largest city in Ohio, Toledo is best known for its historical links to jazz music, as many of the greatest jazz musicians in history have hailed from here, such as Art Tatum.
Jazz fans will be delighted to find several galleries and museums dedicated to the style where they can appreciate the music and artists while learning about the evolution of the genre. You can then head to some of the many jazz bars dotted around the city to hear a combination of classic songs and modern jazz anthems played live.
Indiana Dunes National Park
The 2nd newest and 5th smallest national park in the United States, Indiana Dunes National Park is home to 25 miles of sand dunes that stretch along the south-east edge of Lake Michigan. While admittedly not the best National Park for wildlife spotting, it is a great stop for those interested in seeing some rare or endangered plants and even a few animals.
Rare plant species present in the park include the American columbo, mead’s milkweed, shooting star, pitcher’s thistle, pink corydalis, Virginia snake root, and white baneberry, while the animals that call it home include bald eagles, Indiana bats, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, piping plovers, and rufa red knots.
Even if you aren’t interested in wildlife, the sandy expanse and stunning lake views still make it an ideal spot for anyone wanting to frolic in the sand or take a dip in the water.
Lake Michigan
The 2nd largest of North America’s Great Lakes by water volume with 1,180 cubic miles (4,900 cubic metres) of water, and the 3rd largest by surface area at 22,300 square miles (58,000 square metres), Lake Michigan is bordered by Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
This makes it the only one of the group to be located entirely in the United States, and the largest lake on Earth to be located in a single country. A fabulous place to enjoy spotting wildlife, relaxing on its shores, or exploring its waters by boat, it marks your final opportunity to enjoy a little nature before you reach the big city.
Conclusion
A road trip from Philadelphia to Chicago is an amazing drive between two of America’s most famous cities, and it has something to offer for everyone. This guide should hopefully have provided all the information you need to make the journey perfect when you set off on it yourself, from when to go and which route to take, to where to stay and what to see along the way.
We even have a separate guide to the best areas to stay in Chicago when you arrive, to make that part just as easy. That means all you have left to do is start getting everything booked, so you can look forward to experiencing it all for yourself as soon as possible.
On a personal note, I would like to dedicate this article to my amazing dog Luosto, who sadly passed away at the age of 12 on the afternoon I was writing this piece. She will forever be in our hearts.
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