Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 68–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Sunny71°F DeKalb8 AM CDT Mostly sunny70°F Dixon8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Illinois–Iowa line9:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Iowa City10:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny68°F Des Moines12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny71°F Adair1 PM CDT Mostly sunny72°F Omaha2:15 PM CDT Partly sunny71°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 61–67°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Chance of rain showers63°F DeKalb8 AM CDT Chance of rain showers62°F Dixon8:45 AM CDT Chance of rain showers61°F Illinois–Iowa line9:30 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers63°F Iowa City10:30 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers63°F Des Moines12:15 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers66°F Adair1 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers67°F Omaha2:15 PM CDT Mostly cloudy65°F - ThuOct 15
CautionChance of thunderstorms near Chicago around 7 AM CDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms57°F DeKalb8 AM CDT Rain showers likely55°F Dixon8:45 AM CDT Rain showers likely55°F Illinois–Iowa line9:30 AM CDT Rain showers58°F Iowa City10:30 AM CDT Rain showers60°F Des Moines12:15 PM CDT Light rain showers64°F Adair1 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers65°F Omaha2:15 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers64°F - FriOct 16
CautionGusts to 31 mph near DeKalb around 8 AM CDT. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Partly sunny53°F DeKalb8 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Dixon8:45 AM CDT Partly sunny47°F Illinois–Iowa line9:30 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F Iowa City10:30 AM CDT Partly sunny52°F Des Moines12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Adair1 PM CDT Mostly sunny55°F Omaha2:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny57°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 37–60°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F DeKalb8 AM CDT Sunny37°F Dixon8:45 AM CDT Sunny37°F Illinois–Iowa line9:30 AM CDT Sunny44°F Iowa City10:30 AM CDT Sunny47°F Des Moines12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Adair1 PM CDT Sunny57°F Omaha2:15 PM CDT Sunny60°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 41–67°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F DeKalb8 AM CDT Mostly sunny42°F Dixon8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny41°F Illinois–Iowa line9:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny49°F Iowa City10:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F Des Moines12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny61°F Adair1 PM CDT Mostly sunny63°F Omaha2:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny67°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F DeKalb8 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Dixon8:45 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Illinois–Iowa line9:30 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers54°F Iowa City10:30 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers58°F Des Moines12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Adair1 PM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Omaha2:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny72°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Chicago (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Chicago, ILStart 594 ftelevation
- DeKalb, ILMile 63 · 1 h 5 min 879 ftelevation
- Dixon, ILMile 102 · 1 h 40 min 713 ftelevation
- Illinois–Iowa lineState line · Mile 159 · 2 h 33 min 650 ftelevation
- Iowa City, IAMile 221 · 3 h 30 min 665 ftelevation
- Des Moines, IAMile 330 · 5 h 10 min 810 ftelevation
- Adair, IAMile 388 · 6 h 3 min 1,451 ftelevation
- Omaha, NEMile 468 · 7 h 19 min 1,065 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Chicago, Des Moines and Omaha.
| Month | Chicago 658 ft | Des Moines 957 ft | Omaha 982 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 32° / 19° | 3.6 | 31° / 14° | 2.7 | 34° / 15° | 2.2 |
| Feb | 36° / 22° | 3.1 | 36° / 18° | 3.2 | 39° / 19° | 2.3 |
| Mar | 47° / 31° | 1.5 | 49° / 30° | 1.2 | 52° / 30° | 0.7 |
| Apr | 59° / 40° | 0.4 | 62° / 41° | 0.4 | 64° / 41° | 0.3 |
| May | 71° / 51° | 0 | 72° / 52° | 0.1 | 75° / 53° | 0.1 |
| Jun | 80° / 61° | 0 | 82° / 62° | 0 | 84° / 63° | 0 |
| Jul | 85° / 66° | 0 | 86° / 66° | 0 | 88° / 68° | 0 |
| Aug | 83° / 65° | 0 | 84° / 64° | 0 | 86° / 66° | 0 |
| Sep | 76° / 57° | 0 | 77° / 55° | 0 | 79° / 56° | 0 |
| Oct | 63° / 45° | 0.1 | 63° / 43° | 0.2 | 66° / 43° | 0.2 |
| Nov | 48° / 34° | 0.5 | 48° / 30° | 0.8 | 50° / 30° | 0.7 |
| Dec | 37° / 24° | 2.2 | 36° / 20° | 2.4 | 38° / 20° | 1.9 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP (USW00094846, 658 ft); DES MOINES INTL AP (USW00014933, 957 ft); OMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD (USW00014942, 982 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska rather than repeat them.
- Illinois · IDOTGetting Around Illinois road conditions
- Iowa · Iowa DOTIowa 511 road conditions
- Nebraska · NDOTNebraska 511 road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Chicago to Omaha with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Chicago to Omaha?
468 miles, about 7½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-88 and I-80. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Adair, at 1,451 ft. It comes at mile 388, about 6 h 3 min of driving after you leave Chicago.
How cold is Omaha in January?
Omaha averages a high of 34°F and a low of 15°F in January (1991–2020 normals).