Is there a way to reach New Orleans from Chicago without flying?

You can take a bus or a train to go from Chicago to New Orleans. Both are convenient and eco-friendly ways to travel to New Orleans. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

How long is the bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans?

The average travel time from Chicago to New Orleans is about 1d 3h, although the fastest bus will take 18h 40m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 832 miles (1342 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Chicago and New Orleans?

The distance separating Chicago and New Orleans is 832 miles (1342 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to New Orleans?

If you're headed to New Orleans from Chicago, chances are that your bus will leave from Downtown Greyhound Station and arrive at Union Passenger Terminal. These are the primary departure and arrival locations on this route, but you could find others that could be a better fit for your travel plans.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Chicago to New Orleans?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. The lowest price for the bus on this route is $74.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans?

You can expect to pay around $124 for a bus ticket. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $74 to $296, so it's good to do your research before booking.

What are the best sights and things to do in New Orleans?

Once in New Orleans, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Garden District, New Orleans Streetcars, The Cabildo, Louisiana Children's Museum and The National WWII Museum.

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Chicago to New Orleans?

Certainly! You can indeed opt for an overnight bus from Chicago to New Orleans. Make sure to pack a blanket and a snack to make your trip more comfortable.

Chicago to New Orleans Bus Tickets

TodayMay 19

from $130

TomorrowMay 20

from $122

WedMay 21

ThuMay 22

FriMay 23

from $122

SatMay 24

SunMay 25

MonMay 26

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 20 at 9:15am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: May 21 at 5:55am
Destination city: New Orleans
Destination location: New Orleans Bus Station
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 20h 40m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 20 at 10:30pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: May 21 at 5:20pm
Destination city: New Orleans
Destination location: New Orleans Bus Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 18h 50m
Departure time: May 20 at 1:00pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: May 21 at 4:55pm
Destination city: New Orleans
Destination location: New Orleans Bus Station
Operated by: FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1d 3h
Departure time: May 20 at 10:30pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: May 21 at 5:20pm
Destination city: New Orleans
Destination location: New Orleans Bus Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 18h 50m
Departure time: May 20 at 9:45am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan
Arrival time: May 21 at 5:55am
Destination city: New Orleans
Destination location: New Orleans Bus Station
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 20h 10m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to New Orleans.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$74 - $296	Average Duration1d 3h	CO₂ emissions 33kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$128 - $344	Average Duration23h 42m	CO₂ emissions 122kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends taking the train from Chicago to New Orleans

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach New Orleans. The journey takes about 23 hours 42 minutes and with fares starting at just $128, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2train per day

23h 42mAverage Duration

$128Cheapest ticket

122kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Chicago to New Orleans: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$124

Average bus trip duration1d 3h

Number of daily buses10

Earliest bus departure5:45am

Distance824 miles (1328 km)

Latest bus departure11:50pm

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/586,989 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

Greyhound Chicago New Orleans recent customer reviews

Terminal bus are a mess. Bus are not comfortable. People are not nice. My first and last time with this company

Melanie C.

May 27, 2019

If everything is ok at that point (which is not granted), I will arrive literally 12 hours late in New Orleans, losing the first night of the accommodation that was already payed for, among other obvious inconveniences.

Paul C.

November 7, 2018

Staff was courteous.

Onterio S.

February 22, 2019

FlixBus

3.5/58,674 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Los Limousines, Tornado Bus, Valley Transit, Tufesa, Wanda Coach

Chicago to New Orleans Bus

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from Chicago to New Orleans.

Bus service from Chicago to New Orleans will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

Discover how much the bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and New Orleans?

Stops in Chicago

A - Downtown Greyhound Station

B - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

C - Polk St & Canal St

D - Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave

E - Cumberland CTA

F - Turimex California Ave

Stops in New Orleans

A - Union Passenger Terminal

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - New Orleans

Is there a way to reach New Orleans from Chicago without flying?
How long is the bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans?
What is the distance between Chicago and New Orleans?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to New Orleans?
What is the cheapest way to travel from Chicago to New Orleans?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans?
What are the best sights and things to do in New Orleans?
Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Chicago to New Orleans?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

05/17

$193

05/18

$195

Today

$130

05/20

$122

05/21

$91

05/22

$103

05/23

$122

05/24

$115

The cheapest trip from Chicago to New Orleans was searched and found on May 21, 2025 with a price of $91

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

You can expect to pay from $91 to $317 for a bus ticket from Chicago to New Orleans based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $91 which is on 2025-05-21.

Usually Greyhound Lines, Inc. 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.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Chicago to New Orleans, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Chicago to New Orleans will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Chicago to New Orleans, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

Did you know that 80% of the buses in North America are equipped with WiFi and power outlets ? And 60% of bus travelers have used their electronic device on board during 2014.

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to New Orleans?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time1d 3h	Avg Price$124	Daily Departures10
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time23h 42m	Avg Price$150	Daily Departures2

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

Bus from Chicago to New Orleans

You can also go to New Orleans by train

Train from Chicago to New Orleans

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to New Orleans.

Bus Chicago to New Orleans: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Greyhound Chicago New Orleans recent customer reviews

Chicago to New Orleans Bus

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and New Orleans?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - New Orleans

Is there a way to reach New Orleans from Chicago without flying?

How long is the bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans?

What is the distance between Chicago and New Orleans?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to New Orleans?

What is the cheapest way to travel from Chicago to New Orleans?

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Chicago to New Orleans?

What are the best sights and things to do in New Orleans?

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Chicago to New Orleans?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to New Orleans?

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

You can also go to New Orleans by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Chicago

Buses Leaving from Chicago

Buses Going to Chicago

Popular Buses Connecting New Orleans

Buses Leaving from New Orleans

Buses Going to New Orleans

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers