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View of the Metra Electric District rail yard and downtown Chicago from the 18th Street station pedestrian bridge, Chicago
Photo: DimiTalen · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Destination template · 11 days

Chicago & New Orleans in 11 days

2 sightseeing days in Chicago, a dedicated relocation day, then 8 days in New Orleans. Includes Millennium Park and St. Louis Cathedral, with guide-listed dining suggestions.

Adapted from community travel guides · Researched Sources & notes

The stops are drawn from the guides below; daily order, times and durations are our suggested adaptation. Available map pins are approximate, not provider-verified; missing coordinates remain unset. Prices are left unknown; check tickets, opening hours and transport before booking.

Route data adapted from Wikivoyage contributors, with our own selection and suggested timing; shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source pages link to contributor histories. This is an editorial multi-day schedule; the source community has not rated this itinerary.

  • Stay in Chicago for the first 2 sightseeing days; move to New Orleans on day 3, then stay for 8 sightseeing days. Book accommodation in both bases rather than returning each night.
  • The 1344 km figure is approximate straight-line separation, not transit distance. The relocation day reserves room for travel and check-in without promising a direct service or a same-day connection. Verify the journey before booking this two-base plan.
  • City visits and restaurants are adapted from the linked retained community-guide material, not newly verified opening hours, live menus or first-hand visits. Suggested times are editable planning blocks. Check closures, reservations, accessibility and dietary needs.
  • Cover photo shows the first city. Original source and photo credits remain attached. Adapted community route selections retain CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution; source research dates remain in the individual stop and dining notes.
5 local dining picks added to this itineraryDining sources

These picks have positive travel-guide coverage or a named professional recommendation; they are not live customer ratings. Suggested times are not reservations. Confirm service days, dietary needs and prices. Other days remain open for your own food discoveries.

  • Day 1 · Russian Tea Time — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 2 · Boni Vino — Pizza, pasta. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 4 · Coop's Place — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 5 · Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar — Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 6 · Bayona — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗

Sources checked 2026-10-30. Community-guide dining data is adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; source pages link to contributor histories.

Chicago & New Orleans itinerary: 11 days at a glance

Review the original daily plan before editing below. Times and durations are suggested planning blocks; dining stops are not reservations. Your personal edits appear in the editor and downloads.

Day 1: Chicago: Millennium Park & Art Institute of Chicago

  • · Millennium Park · 120 min
  • · Art Institute of Chicago · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Russian Tea Time (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 2: Chicago: Chicago Riverwalk & Field Museum

  • · Chicago Riverwalk · 120 min
  • · Field Museum · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Boni Vino (Pizza, pasta) · 75 min

Day 3: Chicago → New Orleans: travel and check-in

  • · Relocate: Chicago → New Orleans · 600 min

Day 4: New Orleans: St. Louis Cathedral & Jackson Square

  • · St. Louis Cathedral · 90 min
  • · Transfer to Jackson Square · 30 min
  • · Jackson Square · 75 min
  • · Dinner: Coop's Place (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 5: New Orleans: National World War II Museum & Ogden Museum of Southern Art

  • · National World War II Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Ogden Museum of Southern Art · 30 min
  • · Ogden Museum of Southern Art · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar (Traditional) · 75 min

Day 6: New Orleans: Cigar Factory New Orleans & Museum & Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve

  • · Cigar Factory New Orleans & Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve · 30 min
  • · Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Bayona (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 7: New Orleans: Audubon Aquarium of the Americas & Pharmacy Museum

  • · Audubon Aquarium of the Americas · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Pharmacy Museum · 30 min
  • · Pharmacy Museum · 120 min

Day 8: New Orleans: Southern Food and Beverage Museum & Ashé Cultural Center

  • · Southern Food and Beverage Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Ashé Cultural Center · 30 min
  • · Ashé Cultural Center · 75 min

Day 9: New Orleans: New Orleans Jazz Park Visitor's Center & Headquarters area

  • · New Orleans Jazz Park Visitor's Center & Headquarters · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Louis Armstrong Park and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park · 30 min
  • · Louis Armstrong Park and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park · 120 min

Day 10: New Orleans: Musee Conti Wax Museum & Backstreet Cultural Museum

  • · Musee Conti Wax Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Backstreet Cultural Museum · 30 min
  • · Backstreet Cultural Museum · 120 min

Day 11: New Orleans: New Orleans African American Museum & Saint Augustine Church

  • · New Orleans African American Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Saint Augustine Church · 30 min
  • · Saint Augustine Church · 90 min

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Day 1
  • 10:00120m
    Chicago

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chicago/Loop (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 14:00120m
    Chicago

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chicago/Loop (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    77 E Adams St

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Sun-Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight. Recheck with the restaurant. About 0.1 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chicago/Loop (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5397543; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 2
  • 10:00120m
    Chicago

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Map pin unavailable; locate the entrance before navigating. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chicago/Loop (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 14:00120m
    Chicago

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Map pin unavailable; locate the entrance before navigating. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chicago (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    111 W Van Buren St

    Pizza, pasta. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Mon-Fri 10AM-midnight, Sat 10AM-5PM. Recheck with the restaurant. Route distance is unknown; check travel time and the entrance. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chicago/Loop (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5397543; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 3
  • 08:00600m
    Chicago → New Orleans

    Dedicated relocation day from Chicago to New Orleans; no transport is booked. The city centres are approximately 1344 km apart in a straight line, not a measured road or rail route. Choose and book a suitable flight, train, bus or ferry; confirm operating days, total door-to-door time, luggage rules and arrival before making reservations. This full-day block is reserved time, not a timetable. Move the following day if your journey needs longer.

Day 4
  • 09:3090m
    615 Pere Antoine Alley

    Check visitor access and worship times; follow site-specific dress and photography rules. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.06 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:0075m
    New Orleans

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    1109 Decatur St

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Sun-Thu 11AM-3AM, Fri Sat 11AM-4AM. Recheck with the restaurant. About 0.4 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5390971; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 5
  • 09:30120m
    945 Magazine St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Central_Business_District (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.12 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    925 Camp St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Central_Business_District (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    739 Iberville St

    Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Mon-Thu 10AM-11PM, Fri-Sun 10AM-1AM. Recheck with the restaurant. About 1.2 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5390971; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 6
  • 09:30120m
    415 Decatur St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.01 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    419 Decatur St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    430 Dauphine St

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Mon Tue 6-11PM, Wed-Sat 11:30AM-2PM and 6-11PM. Recheck with the restaurant. About 0.4 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5390971; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 7
  • 09:30120m
    New Orleans

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Central_Business_District (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.67 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    514 Chartres St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 8
  • 09:30120m
    1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Central_City (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.2 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:0075m
    1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Central_City (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 9
  • 09:30120m
    916 N Peters St

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.11 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    New Orleans

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Trem%C3%A9 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 10
  • 09:30120m
    917 Conti St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/French_Quarter (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.98 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    1531 St. Philip Street

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Trem%C3%A9 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 11
  • 09:30120m
    1418 Governor Nicholls St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Trem%C3%A9 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    New Orleans

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.22 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:0090m
    1210 Governor Nicholls St

    Check visitor access and worship times; follow site-specific dress and photography rules. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/New_Orleans/Trem%C3%A9 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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