Chicago to Ottawa by bus
Ottawa lies 1,039 km (646 mi) north-east of Chicago, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
A coach takes about 18 h 53 min including stops, over roughly 1,268 km (788 mi) of road.
| Chicago | Ottawa | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | Canada |
| Population | 2.7 million | 1 million |
| Elevation | 180 m (591 ft) | 71 m (233 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-4 (America/Toronto) |
Clocks in Ottawa are 1 h ahead of Chicago right now, so a 18 h 53 min journey lands 19 h 53 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Ottawa
Crossing from United States into Canada: money changes from the Dollar to the Dollar (CAD); the dialling code becomes +1; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q533806.
Where to book buses from Chicago to Ottawa
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Ottawa
Our booking partner lists 225 places to stay in Ottawa. Of the 118 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (57), and 1 are five-star. Across 106 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.3 out of 10. Guests have left 134,689 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Ottawa
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Ottawa from Chicago?
1,039 km (646 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Chicago; by road roughly 1,268 km (788 mi).
How long does it take to get from Chicago to Ottawa by bus?
About 18 h 53 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Chicago and Ottawa?
Ottawa is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/Toronto against America/Chicago).
What currency do I need in Ottawa?
The Dollar (CAD).
Where can I stay in Ottawa?
Our booking partner lists 225 places to stay in Ottawa, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.