How much does a train ticket cost from Chicago to Washington?

The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Washington start from CHF 60. The average price for this train route is around CHF 143. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from Chicago to Washington?

The average train journey time from Chicago to Washington is 23h 49m, covering a distance of 959 km. The fastest train gets you there in 17h 30m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the Chicago to Washington route?

Several major train operators run on this route with 3 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to Washington?

The earliest train from Chicago to Washington departs at 17:55. And the latest train departs at 21:30.

Train Chicago to Washington from CHF 67 | Refundable Tickets

Next available departures

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 3 May
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
21:30	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 4h	03:00	Union Station	No tags
21:30	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 4h	03:00	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 4 May
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 5 May
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 6 May
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 7 May
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
17:55	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	18:44	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 8 May
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
		18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
		18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 9 May
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
17:55	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	18:44	Union Station	No tags
17:55	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	18:44	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 10 May
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	CheapestFastest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 52m	19:32	Union Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 03:07 CDT.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Chicago to Washington

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the Bus stands out as a good way to reach Washington. The journey takes about 20 hours 35 minutes and with fares starting at just CHF 55, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

46bus per day

20h 35mAverage duration

957 kmDistance

24kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceCHF 55 - CHF 234	Average duration20h 35m	CO₂ emissions 24kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceCHF 60 - CHF 537	Average duration23h 49m	CO₂ emissions 87kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in Chicago and Washington, DC, US?

Chicago

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

Washington, DC, US

A
Union Station
6 Union Station Dr NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA
Visit page

Train Companies

Amtrak

4.1/55,792 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.5

Wi‑Fi3.6

According to customer feedback, Amtrak has been praised for its overall service quality. However, there have been concerns raised about significant delays causing inconvenience and stress. Some passengers also mentioned issues with the cafe's snack options not meeting expectations.

Amtrak Chicago Washington recent customer reviews

I'm not happy about the almost 2hours delay. It created unnecessary anxiety and led to stress. Will appreciate it if Amtrak us always on time as I experienced over 1hour delay on August 22nd from UTICA TO CHICAGO which is unnecessary.

Gafaru O.

31 August 2023

The train was an hour late and the cafe lacked the one advertised snack that I could eat (vegetables with hummus) so I went hungry. They also served Lipton as if it was tea for people to drink. Otherwise, everything else was good.

Chip C.

27 December 2022

US train companies: Amtrak, Amtrak Acela, Brightline

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Chicago to Washington, DC, US by train

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

How much does a train ticket cost from Chicago to Washington?
The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Washington start from CHF 60. The average price for this train route is around CHF 143. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Chicago to Washington?
The average train journey time from Chicago to Washington is 23h 49m, covering a distance of 959 km. The fastest train gets you there in 17h 30m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the Chicago to Washington route?
Several major train operators run on this route with 3 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to Washington?
The earliest train from Chicago to Washington departs at 17:55. And the latest train departs at 21:30.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

01/05

CHF 206

02/05

CHF 142

Today

CHF 206

04/05

CHF 206

05/05

CHF 172

06/05

CHF 172

07/05

CHF 172

08/05

CHF 172

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Washington, DC, US was searched and found on 2 May 2026 with a price of CHF 142

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

You can expect to pay from CHF 142 to CHF 1,318 for a train ticket from Chicago to Washington, DC, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at CHF 172, which is on 2026-05-05.