How much is the bus ticket from Chicago to San Diego?

The cheapest bus tickets from Chicago to San Diego start from $118. The average price for this route is around $286. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Chicago to San Diego?

The average bus trip duration from Chicago to San Diego is 2d 7h, covering a distance of 1727 miles (2785 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 2d 5h and is operated by Greyhound .

Which bus companies service the Chicago to San Diego route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 22 buses available per day, including services from Greyhound , FlixBus .

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

The earliest bus departs from Chicago to San Diego at 12:15am. And the latest bus departs at 11:50pm.

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

A bus trip from Chicago to San Diego generates an estimated 70 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Chicago to San Diego?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Greyhound , with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on 87387 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Chicago to San Diego?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company FlixBus has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.7.

Which bus company has the most timely service from Chicago to San Diego?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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 Chicago to San Diego?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is FlixBus , with a cleanliness rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.

Bus Chicago to San Diego from $121 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Chicago to San Diego on December 4
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	11:50pm	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	2d 15h	1:40pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	5:10pm	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	2d 2h	5:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	12:01pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	2d 4h	2:10pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	No tags
	Bus	10:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	2d 9h	5:45pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	2d 3h	6:10pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to San Diego on December 5
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	10:00pm	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	3d 2h	10:15pm	Downtown SD (Seaport)	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	5:10pm	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	2d 2h	5:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	Fastest
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	12:01pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	2d 4h	2:10pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	No tags
	Bus	10:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	2d 9h	5:45pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	2d 3h	6:10pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to San Diego on December 6
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	12:01pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	2d 4h	2:10pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	5:10pm	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	2d 2h	5:35pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	Fastest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	Bus	4:30pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	2d 3h	6:10pm	San Diego (Old Town-FlixBus)	No tags
	Bus	10:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	2d 9h	5:45pm	Greyhound Bus Stop	No tags
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus	Bus	12:01pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	2d 3h	1:40pm	UCSD Health La Jolla Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 10:25 AM CST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to San Diego

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach San Diego. The journey takes about 2 days, 7 hours 45 minutes and with fares starting at just $118, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

22bus per day

2d 7hAverage Duration

1727 milesDistance

70kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$118 - $682	Average Duration2d 7h	CO₂ emissions 70kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$186 - $1,645	Average Duration2d	CO₂ emissions 254kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and San Diego?

Stops in Chicago

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

Stops in San Diego

A
Mission Valley Sheraton
1433 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
B
Old Town Courtyard Marriot
2435 Jefferson St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
C
Downtown Holiday Inn
1617 1st Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
D
Greyhound Station
1313 National Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
E
Market St. & Park Blvd
601 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
F
San Ysidro McDonald's
727 E San Ysidro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92173, USA

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/587,412 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

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.

FlixBus

3.5/511,503 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

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, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Chicago to San Diego, CA, US by bus

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 bus ticket from Chicago to San Diego?
The cheapest bus tickets from Chicago to San Diego start from $118. The average price for this route is around $286. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Chicago to San Diego?
The average bus trip duration from Chicago to San Diego is 2d 7h, covering a distance of 1727 miles (2785 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 2d 5h and is operated by Greyhound.
Which bus companies service the Chicago to San Diego route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 22 buses available per day, including services from Greyhound, FlixBus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Chicago to San Diego?
The earliest bus departs from Chicago to San Diego at 12:15am. And the latest bus departs at 11:50pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Chicago to San Diego?
A bus trip from Chicago to San Diego generates an estimated 70 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Chicago to San Diego?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Greyhound, with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on 87387 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Chicago to San Diego?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company FlixBus has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.7.
Which bus company has the most timely service from Chicago to San Diego?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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 Chicago to San Diego?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is FlixBus, with a cleanliness rating of 4.1 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

11/30

$587

12/01

$495

Today

$460

12/03

$394

12/04

$434

12/05

$361

12/06

$206

12/07

$176

The cheapest trip from Chicago to San Diego, CA, US was searched and found on Dec 7, 2025 with a price of $176

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

You can expect to pay from $176 to $660 for a bus ticket from Chicago to San Diego, CA, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $176 which is on 2025-12-07.