Driving from Chicago to Columbus
Columbus lies 444 km (276 mi) south-east of Chicago, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 6 h 1 min without stops, over roughly 541 km (336 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Chicago | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 2.7 million | 913,175 |
| Elevation | 180 m (591 ft) | 242 m (794 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Postal codes | 60601–60701 | 43085–43291 |
Clocks in Columbus are 1 h ahead of Chicago right now, so a 6 h 1 min journey lands 7 h 1 min later by the destination clock.
Where to book car hire from Chicago to Columbus
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Staying in Columbus
Our booking partner lists 724 places to stay in Columbus. Of the 535 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (204), and 15 are five-star. Across 195 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 7.9 out of 10. Guests have left 98,126 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Columbus
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 Columbus from Chicago?
444 km (276 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Chicago; by road roughly 541 km (336 mi).
How long does it take to get from Chicago to Columbus by car?
About 6 h 1 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Chicago and Columbus?
Columbus is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/New_York against America/Chicago).
Where can I stay in Columbus?
Our booking partner lists 724 places to stay in Columbus, 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 13 September 2026. Hotel 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.