How much is the bus ticket from Washington to Chicago?

The cheapest bus tickets from Washington to Chicago start at R 1 051. The average price for this route is around R 1 879. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Washington to Chicago?

The average bus journey time from Washington to Chicago is 1d , covering a distance of 962 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 17h 5m and is operated by FlixBus .

Which bus companies service the Washington to Chicago route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 40 buses available per day, including services from Greyhound , FlixBus , Amtrak .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Washington to Chicago?

The earliest bus departs from Washington to Chicago at 00:05. And the latest bus departs at 23:59.

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

A bus trip from Washington to Chicago produces an estimated 24 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.

What is the best bus company from Washington 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 Washington to Chicago?

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

Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington to Chicago from R 1 065 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from Washington to Chicago on 5 January
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	17:35	Union Station	17h 25m	10:00	Downtown Greyhound Station	CheapestFastest
	03:20	Union Station	1d 7h	10:12	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
	01:00	Union Station	20h 5m	20:05	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	08:30	Bethesda - 4550 Montgomery Ave	1d 2h	10:00	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	03:20	Union Station	1d 7h	10:12	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures from Washington to Chicago on 6 January
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	17:35	Union Station	17h 25m	10:00	Downtown Greyhound Station	CheapestFastest
	03:20	Union Station	1d 7h	10:12	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
	01:00	Union Station	20h 5m	20:05	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	09:00	Arlington (Rosslyn), 1001 Wilson Blvd.	1d 2h	10:00	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	03:20	Union Station	1d 7h	10:12	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures from Washington to Chicago on 7 January
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	17:35	Union Station	17h 25m	10:00	Downtown Greyhound Station	CheapestFastest
	03:20	Union Station	1d 7h	10:12	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
	01:00	Union Station	20h 5m	20:05	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	10:55	Union Station	20h 15m	06:10	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
	03:20	Union Station	1d 7h	10:12	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures from Washington to Chicago on 8 January
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	01:00	Union Station	20h 5m	20:05	Downtown Greyhound Station	Cheapest
	17:35	Union Station	17h 25m	10:00	Downtown Greyhound Station	Fastest
	03:20	Union Station	1d 7h	10:12	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
	05:00	Union Station	19h 35m	23:35	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	10:55	Union Station	20h 15m	06:10	Downtown Greyhound Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 5:20 PM EST.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Washington 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 1 day, 25 minutes and with fares starting at just R 1 051, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

40bus per day

1d Average duration

962 kmDistance

24kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 1 051 - R 6 823	Average duration1d	CO₂ emissions 24kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 1 263 - R 26 439	Average duration1d	CO₂ emissions 87kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Washington and Chicago?

Stops in Washington

A
Union Station
6 Union Station Dr NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA
Visit page
B
Dupont Circle
1500 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Visit page
C
Metro Center Station
663 11th St NW, Washington, D.C., DC 20004, USA
Visit page
D
L’Enfant Plaza
In front of McDonald's, 400 C St SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA
E
10th Street NW
Charter bus loading zone in front of Madame Tussaud's, 610 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
F
Foggy Bottom
1905 G St NW, Washington, DC 20431, USA

Stops in Chicago

A
Downtown Greyhound Station
630 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Visit page
B
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
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

3.5/587 477 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

WiFi2.4

According to 18 reviews, Greyhound received a 2.3-star rating for this journey. Travellers were especially satisfied with the staff and the temperature, but some complained about the Wi-Fi. Greyhound ticket prices on this trip start at R 1 051

Greyhound Washington Chicago recent customer reviews

This was DEFINITELY the WORST traveling experience i will ever have, bus came 4 hours late on two different trips

Kareem A.

28 November 2019

The ride in itself was not bad, but the timing was terrible. My last connection drive was lost causing a three hour delay. The driver also made and unplanned stop and left passengers. It was the worst. Never again.

Kylah M.

17 May 2019

The bus broke during the night. We stayed 6 hours in an autogrill waiting for someone that comes to rescue us. Than we arrive to Pittsburg and they gave us a new schedule for the next day. Take the plane really

Luigi R.

14 August 2018

FlixBus

3.5/511 898 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Amtrak

4/55 701 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

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

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

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

How much is the bus ticket from Washington to Chicago?
The cheapest bus tickets from Washington to Chicago start at R 1 051. The average price for this route is around R 1 879. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Washington to Chicago?
The average bus journey time from Washington to Chicago is 1d , covering a distance of 962 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 17h 5m and is operated by FlixBus.
Which bus companies service the Washington to Chicago route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 40 buses available per day, including services from Greyhound, FlixBus, Amtrak.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Washington to Chicago?
The earliest bus departs from Washington to Chicago at 00:05. And the latest bus departs at 23:59.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Washington to Chicago?
A bus trip from Washington to Chicago produces an estimated 24 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.
What is the best bus company from Washington 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 Washington to Chicago?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Washington 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 Washington 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

02/01

R 1 859

03/01

R 2 130

Today

R 2 130

05/01

R 1 775

06/01

R 1 386

07/01

R 1 353

08/01

R 1 386

09/01

R 1 353

The cheapest trip from Washington, DC, US to Chicago was searched and found on 07 Jan 2026 with a price of R 1 353

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

You can expect to pay from R 1 353 to R 35 160 for a bus ticket from Washington, DC, US to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 1 353, which is on 2026-01-07.

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.