United StatesUnited StatesLos Angeles to Chicago shipping route.
3,470 km by rail, about 4.8 days in transit.
Rail Distance Between Cities: Los Angeles and Chicago
Rail Freight Distance on the map, along the rail network.
Los AngelesRailChicagoRail 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 Los Angeles to Chicago shipping route by rail
Los Angeles to Chicago by rail freight: 3,470 km of track, north east 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 Los Angeles and Chicago.
By road the same trip is 3,248 km and takes a truck about 3.6 days.
Of 16 rail routes from Los Angeles in this directory, Chicago is the 11th shortest. Closer destinations: Memphis (3,040 km), Mexico City (3,034 km) and Kansas City (2,786 km).
FAQ
What is the rail distance from Los Angeles to Chicago?
3,470 km by rail (2,804 km in a straight line).
What is the rail freight transit time from Los Angeles to Chicago?
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 Chicago to Los Angeles has its own page with the same distance and route.
More rail freight distance
- Los Angeles to Seattle1,960 km
- Los Angeles to Denver2,048 km
- Los Angeles to
Vancouver2,208 km - Los Angeles to Dallas2,315 km
- Los Angeles to Laredo2,439 km
- Los Angeles to
Monterrey2,483 km - Kansas City to Chicago684 km
- Toronto to Chicago785 km
- Memphis to Chicago842 km
- Atlanta to Chicago1,167 km
- Montreal to Chicago1,312 km
- New York to Chicago1,396 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.