How much is the bus ticket from San Diego to Chicago?

The cheapest bus tickets from San Diego to Chicago start from $186. The average price for this route is around $420. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from San Diego to Chicago?

The average bus travel time from San Diego to Chicago is 2d 6h, covering a distance of 2782 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 1d 23h and is operated by Amtrak .

Which bus companies service the San Diego to Chicago route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 26 buses available per day, including services from Greyhound , Amtrak , FlixBus .

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from San Diego to Chicago?

The earliest bus departs from San Diego to Chicago at 6:45am. And the latest bus departs at 7:35pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Diego to Chicago?

A bus trip from San Diego to Chicago generates an estimated 70 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from San Diego to Chicago?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5696 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Diego to Chicago?

Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Amtrak has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the best on-time performance from San Diego to Chicago?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Diego to Chicago?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus San Diego to Chicago from $193 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for San Diego to Chicago on January 9
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	1:10pm	Downtown SD (Seaport)	2d 1h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	1:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	2d	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	12:15pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 2h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 6h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	3:55pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 10h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Chicago on January 10
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	3:55pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 14h	8:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	Cheapest
	12:45pm	Santa Fe Depot	1d 23h	2:42pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Fastest
	12:45pm	Santa Fe Depot	1d 23h	2:42pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	12:15pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 2h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 6h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Chicago on January 11
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	12:45pm	Santa Fe Depot	1d 23h	2:42pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	CheapestFastest
	12:45pm	Santa Fe Depot	1d 23h	2:42pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	12:15pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 2h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 6h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	12:45pm	Santa Fe Depot	1d 23h	2:42pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Chicago on January 12
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	1:10pm	Downtown SD (Seaport)	2d 16h	8:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	1:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	2d	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	12:15pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 2h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 6h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	3:55pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 10h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Chicago on January 13
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	6:45am	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 7h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	1:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	2d	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 5h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 6h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 20h	8:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Chicago on January 14
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	6:45am	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 7h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	1:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	2d	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 5h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 6h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 20h	8:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	No tags

Next departures for San Diego to Chicago on January 15
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 10h	8:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	1:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	2d	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 5h	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	7:35pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	2d 6h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	3:55pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	2d 10h	4:10am	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 3:32 AM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to Chicago

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the Bus stands out as a good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 2 days, 6 hours 20 minutes, and with fares starting at just $186, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

26bus per day

2d 6hAverage Duration

2782 kmDistance

70kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$186 - $1,030	Average Duration2d 6h	CO₂ emissions 70kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$264 - $2,492	Average Duration1d 22h	CO₂ emissions 254kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in San Diego and Chicago?

Stops in San Diego

A
Mission Valley Sheraton
1433 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
B
Old Town Courtyard Marriot
2435 Jefferson St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
C
Downtown Holiday Inn
1617 1st Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
D
Greyhound Station
1313 National Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
E
Market St. & Park Blvd
601 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
F
San Ysidro McDonald's
727 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173, USA

Stops in Chicago

A
Downtown Greyhound Station
630 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Visit page
B
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Visit page
C
Polk St & Canal St
500-536 W Polk St, Chicago IL 60607, USA
D
Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave
2807 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60623, USA
E
Cumberland CTA
5800 N Cumberland Ave, Chicago, IL 60631, USA
F
Turimex California Ave
2139 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/587,492 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

Amtrak

4/55,715 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

FlixBus

3.5/511,966 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

US bus companies:FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Greyhound, ALSA, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about travelling from San Diego, CA, US to Chicago by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from San Diego to Chicago?
The cheapest bus tickets from San Diego to Chicago start from $186. The average price for this route is around $420. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from San Diego to Chicago?
The average bus travel time from San Diego to Chicago is 2d 6h, covering a distance of 2782 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 1d 23h and is operated by Amtrak.
Which bus companies service the San Diego to Chicago route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 26 buses available per day, including services from Greyhound, Amtrak, FlixBus.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from San Diego to Chicago?
The earliest bus departs from San Diego to Chicago at 6:45am. And the latest bus departs at 7:35pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Diego to Chicago?
A bus trip from San Diego to Chicago generates an estimated 70 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from San Diego to Chicago?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5696 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Diego to Chicago?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Amtrak has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the best on-time performance from San Diego to Chicago?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Diego to Chicago?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

01-06

$598

01-07

$597

Today

$597

01-09

$612

01-10

$297

01-11

$346

01-12

$446

01-13

$289

The cheapest trip from San Diego, CA, US to Chicago was searched and found on Jan 13, 2026 with a price of $289

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from San Diego, CA, US to Chicago, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $289 to $2,124 for a bus ticket from San Diego, CA, US to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $289 which is on 2026-01-13.

Usually Amtrak will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.