Geography of Chicago
Geography of Chicago: location, coordinates, elevation, terrain and the places around it.
Geography of Chicago
Cook County is 0 mi to the north, Indiana Dunes National Park is 34 mi to the south-east, Starved Rock State Park is 80 mi to the south-west and Milwaukee is 81 mi to the north.
Map of Chicago
Interactive map with nearby places. Switch between street, terrain and satellite views.
Coordinates: 41°52′41.2″N 87°37′47.3″W (41.8781, -87.6298)
Quick facts about Chicago
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 41°52′41.2″N 87°37′47.3″W (41.8781, -87.6298) |
| Population | 2.700.000 |
| Known for | Architecture, deep-dish and lakefront |
| Local time | 3:24 AM (UTC-05:00) |
| Best months | May, June, August, September and October |
| Climate | Continental |
Geography by airport in Chicago
1 airports mapped in this atlas
Geography by district in Chicago
2 districts and neighborhoods mapped in this atlas
Geography by zip / postal code in Chicago
1 zip and postal codes mapped in this atlas
Geography by area code in Chicago
1 area codes mapped in this atlas
Summary
Chicago is a city in Illinois. Chicago is known for Architecture, deep-dish and lakefront. It has a population of about 2.7 million.
Right now it is 61°F (16°C) in Chicago with clear. It feels like 61°F. Today runs from 60°F to 78°F. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.2/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit Chicago is May, June, August, September and October. The climate is continental. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 82°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 17°F.
The closest major airport is O'Hare International Airport (ORD), about 16 mi away. Nearby highlights include Indiana Dunes National Park, Starved Rock State Park and Lake Michigan.
In plain terms. Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 78°F is in line with the 79°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 9 AM to 12 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Chicago today at 9.3/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Climate in Chicago month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 17° | 2,9 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 40° | 25° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 51° | 34° | 4,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 59° | 43° | 4,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 67° | 51° | 2,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 79° | 64° | 5,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 82° | 68° | 5,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 79° | 66° | 3,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 75° | 61° | 3,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 64° | 50° | 3,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 50° | 38° | 2,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 38° | 27° | 2,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Explore Chicago
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Geography for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Chicago?
Chicago is a city in Illinois. Its coordinates are 41.8781, -87.6298. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Chicago right now?
It is currently 61°F (16°C) with clear. Humidity is 91% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
May, June, August, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in Chicago, which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Chicago in?
Chicago observes America/Chicago (UTC-05:00). The local time is 3:24 AM.
How many people live in Chicago?
Chicago has a population of approximately 2.7 million.
What is the nearest airport to Chicago?
The closest airports are O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 16 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Chicago?
Popular options include Indiana Dunes National Park, Starved Rock State Park and Lake Michigan.
What places are in Chicago?
Chicago covers 5 places in this atlas, including O'Hare International Airport, The Loop, Wicker Park, ZIP Code 60601 and Area Code 312.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-us) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Map tiles | OpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri. |
| Elevation | Open-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 21, 2026 at 3:24 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
