How much is the train ticket from Chicago to St. Louis?

The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to St. Louis start at $42. The average price for this train route is around $49. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the train ride from Chicago to St. Louis?

The average train trip from Chicago to St. Louis takes 5h 1m and covers 423 km. The quickest train gets you there in 3h 46m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the Chicago to St. Louis route?

Several major train operators serve this route, with 5 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to St. Louis?

The earliest train from Chicago to St. Louis departs at 7:15am. The latest train departs at 7:10pm.

Train Chicago to St. Louis from $39 | Refundable Tickets

Next train departures

Next departures for Chicago to St. Louis on December 12
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	7:10pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 59m	12:09am	Gateway Station	Cheapest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	Fastest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	1:52pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 15m	7:07pm	Gateway Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to St. Louis on December 13
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	5:20pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 3m	10:23pm	Gateway Station	Cheapest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	Fastest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	1:52pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 15m	7:07pm	Gateway Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to St. Louis on December 14
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	CheapestFastest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	1:52pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 15m	7:07pm	Gateway Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to St. Louis on December 15
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	7:10pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 59m	12:09am	Gateway Station	Cheapest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	Fastest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	1:52pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 15m	7:07pm	Gateway Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to St. Louis on December 16
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	CheapestFastest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	1:52pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 15m	7:07pm	Gateway Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to St. Louis on December 17
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	CheapestFastest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	1:52pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 15m	7:07pm	Gateway Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to St. Louis on December 18
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	Cheapest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	Fastest
Train	7:15am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	4h 46m	12:01pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	9:50am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 1m	2:51pm	Gateway Station	No tags
Train	1:52pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	5h 15m	7:07pm	Gateway Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 1:59 PM CST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to St. Louis

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as a good way to reach St. Louis. The journey takes about 5 hours 1 minute, and with fares starting at just $42, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5train per day

5h 1mAverage Duration

423 kmDistance

38kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$45 - $391	Average Duration8h 15m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$42 - $138	Average Duration5h 1m	CO₂ emissions 38kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in Chicago and St. Louis?

Chicago

A
Union Station
225 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

St. Louis

A
Gateway Station
430 S 15th St, St Louis, MO 63103
Visit page

Train companies

Amtrak

4/55,637 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Customers have shared positive experiences regarding their recent trips. They appreciated the quiet and smooth rides, comfortable seating with ample space to relax or sleep, and efficient senior customer assistance. Additionally, travelers noted that the train was very clean and enjoyed improved food quality compared to previous journeys.

Amtrak Chicago St. Louis recent customer reviews

My trip experience was very quiet and smooth. I was in comfort and had plenty of space where I could relax and get some sleep. My trip was 4 1/2 hours.

Rosemarie H.

May 24, 2024

Everything was fine, senior customer assistance, smooth ride,nice seating all good

Samuel S.

November 14, 2023

The trip was the fastest available option. The train was very clean. I like how they announced for people to respect others and keep noise down by using headphones etc. I believe there was Wi-Fi available, I didn’t need though. It was a great Amtrak experience I had compared to my past Amtrak travels, I remember from more than 2-3 years back. The food was also better than I remembered.

Bonnie D.

July 15, 2023

US train and bus companies:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Chicago to St. Louis by train

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 train ticket from Chicago to St. Louis?
The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to St. Louis start at $42. The average price for this train route is around $49. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the train ride from Chicago to St. Louis?
The average train trip from Chicago to St. Louis takes 5h 1m and covers 423 km. The quickest train gets you there in 3h 46m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the Chicago to St. Louis route?
Several major train operators serve this route, with 5 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to St. Louis?
The earliest train from Chicago to St. Louis departs at 7:15am. The latest train departs at 7:10pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

12-09

$56

12-10

$56

Today

$56

12-12

$80

12-13

$80

12-14

$80

12-15

$56

12-16

$56

The cheapest trip from Chicago to St. Louis was searched and found on Dec 9, 2025 with a price of $56

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Chicago to St. Louis, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $56 to $556 for a train ticket from Chicago to St. Louis based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $56 which is on 2025-12-15.

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to St. Louis?

The train is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel time8h 15m	Avg Price$73	Daily Departures13
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel time5h 1m	Avg Price$49	Daily Departures5

The best way to travel between Chicago and St. Louis is by train. By choosing the train, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $49 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $42. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to St. Louis, choose the train, as it will take you from Chicago to St. Louis in about 5h 1m —that's the fastest way to get there!