Chicago to Columbus by bus
Columbus lies 1,070 km (665 mi) south of Chicago, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
A coach takes about 19 h 27 min including stops, over roughly 1,306 km (811 mi) of road.
| Chicago | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 2.7 million | 206,922 |
| Elevation | 180 m (591 ft) | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Postal codes | 60601–60701 | 31901–31999 |
Clocks in Columbus are 1 h ahead of Chicago right now, so a 19 h 27 min journey lands 20 h 27 min later by the destination clock.
Where to book buses from Chicago to Columbus
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Staying in Columbus
Live rooms and prices for Columbus are in the search below.
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?
1,070 km (665 mi) in a straight line, south of Chicago; by road roughly 1,306 km (811 mi).
How long does it take to get from Chicago to Columbus by bus?
About 19 h 27 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 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.