Georgia is about a 15 to 18 hour non-stop drive from Chicago. Chicago to DC is about an hour and 15 minutes by plane. Florida is about two hours. Chicago to LA is about four hours by plane. Chicago to Portland is about 52 hours by greyhound bus. Chicago to Denver is about 18 hours by train. Chicago to New York City is about 18 to 24 hours on the greyhound bus.

Side trip depends on how you are going.