Road trip cost
At 1156 miles and roughly 18 hr 36 min of driving, the route from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX is a long-haul trip. Budget for multiple fuel stops, food, and possibly an overnight stay — gas alone can run well over a hundred dollars depending on your vehicle.
1156 mi
18 hr 36 min
3
5
3 suggested fuel stops
Key takeaway
Drive intensity
Consider an overnight stop.
Pre-filled with the Chicago → Austin distance.
Estimated Trip Cost
$0.00
Per Person
$0.00
Gallons
0.00gal
Total miles: 1,156 (one way).
We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.
Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.
Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 1156-mile route.
$130.05
one way · ~41.3 gal
$142.44
one way · ~41.3 gal
$158.95
one way · ~41.3 gal
A typical 28 MPG sedan with a 12.5-gallon tank covers about 350 miles per fill-up. Plan 3 stops along the way and fuel up before any remote stretches.
Assuming a realistic 230-mile highway range, plan 5 DC fast-charging stops. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America have strong coverage on most US corridors.
Midpoint
Springfield, MO
Roughly halfway between Chicago and Austin. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.
Route personality
Cross-country haulToll corridorOvernight-friendlyChicago, IL
Austin, TX
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov)
Tropical storms can cause sudden closures and price spikes — check NOAA before long Southeast or Gulf drives.
Winter
Snow, ice and chain-control zones from late November through March — carry an emergency kit.
Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.
A one-way drive uses about $142 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.
Tolls are likely on parts of the route — usually under $20 each way, but a transponder saves time.
Comfort matters more than MPG on this distance. A larger sedan, hybrid SUV, or full-size SUV for families works well.
Very high — strongly consider an overnight stop rather than pushing through in a single day.
At 18 hr 36 min of driving, splitting the trip across two days is safer and more enjoyable. Budget hotels along the route typically run $70–$130/night.
This 1156-mile route between Chicago, IL and Austin, TX is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 18 hr 36 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.
The drive is about 1156 miles and takes roughly 18 hr 36 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.
In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 41.3 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 52.5 gallons.
At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $142.44 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.
A typical gas sedan needs about 3 fuel stops one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 5 DC fast-charges.
Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.
Springfield, MO is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.
Estimated 1156-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.
Cheapest to drive
57 MPG · hybrid
~$70
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest EV
134 MPGe · ev
~$46
est. one-way charging cost
See full breakdownBest sedan
37 MPG · sedan
~$108
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest SUV for comfort
33 MPG · suv
~$121
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest truck for cargo
26 MPG · truck
~$153
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownRelated routes
Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.
Reverse drive
Austin to Chicago driving cost
1156 mi · 18.6 h
Other road trip cost estimates that start in Chicago, IL.
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Longer connected routes leaving Austin, TX — great for multi-day road trip planning.
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