United StatesUnited StatesChicago to Los Angeles shipping route.
3,470 km by rail, about 4.8 days in transit.
Rail Distance Between Cities: Chicago and Los Angeles
Rail Freight Distance on the map, along the rail network.
ChicagoRailLos AngelesRail freight transit time
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rail Freight Distance | 3,470 km (2,156 mi) |
| Straight line | 2,804 km |
| Transit time | 4.8 days |
| Assumption | 30 km/h average freight speed |
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About the Chicago to Los Angeles shipping route by rail
Chicago to Los Angeles by rail freight: 3,470 km of track, west from the United States.
At an average 30 km/h for a freight train, stops and crew changes included, the transit time is about 4.8 days. Terminal handling at both ends comes on top.
Rail freight suits heavy, high volume cargo that is not urgent: containers, steel, chemicals, grain, cars. Per tonne it emits far less CO2 than trucking the same distance. Most shipments still need a truck for the first and last mile to the rail terminals in Chicago and Los Angeles.
By road the same trip is 3,248 km and takes a truck about 3.6 days.
Of 17 rail routes from Chicago in this directory, Los Angeles is the 15th shortest. Closer destinations: Seattle (3,381 km), Mexico City (3,307 km) and Monterrey (2,401 km).
FAQ
What is the rail distance from Chicago to Los Angeles?
3,470 km by rail (2,804 km in a straight line).
What is the rail freight transit time from Chicago to Los Angeles?
About 4.8 days at an average 30 km/h for a freight train, stops included. Border and terminal times vary.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Los Angeles to Chicago has its own page with the same distance and route.
More rail freight distance
- Chicago to Kansas City684 km
- Chicago to
Toronto785 km - Chicago to Memphis842 km
- Chicago to Atlanta1,167 km
- Chicago to Montreal1,312 km
- Chicago to New York1,396 km
- Seattle to Los Angeles1,960 km
- Denver to Los Angeles2,048 km
- Vancouver to Los Angeles2,208 km
- Dallas to Los Angeles2,315 km
- Laredo to Los Angeles2,439 km
Monterrey to Los Angeles2,483 km
How we count: rail distance on the freight network, 30 km/h average including stops. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all rail distance between cities or the Shipping Routes Directory.