How much is the train ticket from Chicago to Washington?

The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Washington start from R 1 230. The average price for this train route is around R 2 611. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure 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 48m, covering a distance of 959 km. The quickest train can get 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 R 1 170 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 26 January
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
21:30	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 4h	03:00	Union Station	CheapestFastest
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 27 January
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
17:55	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	18:44	Union Station	Cheapest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
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 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 28 January
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 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 29 January
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
17:55	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	18:44	Union Station	Cheapest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
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 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 30 January
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 31 January
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
17:55	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	18:44	Union Station	Cheapest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
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 1 February
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
21:30	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 4h	03:00	Union Station	Cheapest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	Fastest
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	13:10	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags

Next departures from Chicago to Washington on 2 February
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 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags
18:40	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 48m	19:28	Union Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 1:56 PM CST.

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 21 hours 20 minutes and with fares starting at just R 1 065, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

38bus per day

21h 20mAverage duration

949 kmDistance

24kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average priceR 1 065 - R 7 890	Average duration21h 20m	CO₂ emissions 24kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 1 230 - R 41 688	Average duration23h 48m	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

4/55 750 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

WiFi3.6

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, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

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 differ at the time of your trip.

How much is the train ticket from Chicago to Washington?
The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Washington start from R 1 230. The average price for this train route is around R 2 611. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for a better chance to secure 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 48m, covering a distance of 959 km. The quickest train can get 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

24/01

R 2 882

25/01

R 4 710

Today

R 3 524

27/01

R 2 404

28/01

R 2 404

29/01

R 2 009

30/01

R 2 404

31/01

R 2 404

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Washington, DC, US was searched and found on 29 Jan 2026 with a price of R 2 009

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 R 2 009 to R 34 002 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 R 2 009, which is on 2026-01-29.