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City of New Orleans

Chicago, IL  ●  New Orleans, LA · 934 mi · Amtrak

Long-Distance Amtrak Daily

The City of New Orleans connects Chicago, IL and New Orleans, LA over a 934-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 17 stations across 5 states.

Quick Facts

Operator
Amtrak
Service type
Long-Distance
Endpoints
Chicago ↔ New Orleans
Distance
934 mi
Frequency
Daily
Stations
17
States served
5 (IL, KY, TN, MS, LA)
Typical fare range
$85 – $425

Route guide

The City of New Orleans is a long-distance service operated by Amtrak. Trains run Daily over 934 miles of mainline track between Chicago Union Station and New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, calling at 17 intermediate and terminal stations across 5 states. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: Mississippi Delta cotton land overnight southbound; Lake Pontchartrain crossing on the trestle outside New Orleans.

History & service notes

The Illinois Central’s legendary all-day Chicago–New Orleans flyer, immortalized in the 1972 Steve Goodman song made famous by Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the City of New Orleans includes superliner sleepers, Sightseer Lounge, diner. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.

Stops along the route

Stations are listed in geographical order from Chicago to New Orleans. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

Sample fares & travel times

Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.

FromToDistanceTimeFare
Chicago Homewood 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Homewood Kankakee 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Kankakee Gilman 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Gilman Rantoul 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Rantoul Champaign 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Champaign Mattoon 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Mattoon Effingham 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Effingham Centralia 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Centralia Carbondale 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Carbondale Fulton 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Fulton Newbern 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Newbern Memphis 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Memphis Greenwood 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Greenwood Jackson 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Jackson Hattiesburg 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Hattiesburg New Orleans 58 mi 1h 20m $37 – $186
Homewood New Orleans 876 mi 17h 41m $82 – $409
Chicago Kankakee 117 mi 2h 30m $40 – $202

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Chicago, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at New Orleans. The corridor passes through cities including Chicago, Homewood, and New Orleans, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.

Trip planning tip. The City of New Orleans's lowest fares typically appear when booked 14 days or more in advance, and on midweek departures. Same-day "walk-up" fares are usually closer to the upper end of the range shown. Saver and Value buckets sell out first.

Further Reading on the City of New Orleans

  • Riding the City of New Orleans: a first-timer's full-route diary
  • Best window seats and viewing tips along the line