Chicago → New Orleans

1 a dayfastest 19h42AmtrakNight train

Direct trains · no change

20:05 → 15:47⁺¹
City of New Orleans 59 Night train
Chicago Union Station → New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal · via Memphis
19h4218 stops
Runs: DailyAmtrak ↗

Local times at each station. Times from official open data: Amtrak (file of 26 Oct 2026). Checked Mon 26 Oct 2026; they cover 26 Oct to 22 Nov 2026. Timetables change, so check with the operator before you travel. How we build this.

Door to door vs flying

Overnight: leave 20:05, arrive 15:47

The plane is 13h13 quicker on paper, but the night train uses your night instead of a day and saves a hotel.

Train · fastest direct19h53

To Chicago Union Station1 min
Before departure10 min
City of New Orleans 5919h42

Plane · nonstop MDW to MSY6h40

To Midway (MDW)40 min
Check-in & security2h00
Flight MDW to MSY2h35
Landing to exit35 min
From MSY50 min

From city centre to city centre unless you pick otherwise. Getting to stations and airports: typical public-transport times (estimates). Airport: check-in & security 2h before, 35 min to get out after landing. Flight time is typical for the distance.

Flying instead? Chicago → New Orleans

3 airlines fly it nonstop. Book direct on the airline's own site:

American AirlinesORD→MSYBook direct ↗
Southwest AirlinesMDW→MSYBook direct ↗
United AirlinesORD→MSYBook direct ↗

Compare on picktheflight ↗