Is there a way to reach Chicago from Washington without flying?

Both buses and trains are available for traveling between these two cities. Both are practical and sustainable ways to travel to Chicago. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

How long does it take to get to Chicago from Washington by bus?

Traveling from Washington to Chicago takes about 1d on average, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 18h with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 594 miles (958 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Washington and Chicago?

Washington and Chicago are 594 miles (958 km) apart.

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

If you're headed to Chicago from Washington, chances are that your bus will depart from Union Station and arrive at Downtown Greyhound Station. These are the main departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can find others that could fit better into your travel plans.

What is the most affordable way to get from Washington to Chicago?

You can save a lot of money on your trip from Washington to Chicago by choosing to travel by bus. The lowest price for the bus on this route is $52.

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

The bus ticket costs $95 on average. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $52 to $287, so it's good to do your research before booking.

What are the best sights and things to do in Chicago?

Once in Chicago, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Cloud Gate, Lincoln Park Zoo, Museum of Contemporary Art, Navy Pier and The Field Museum.

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Washington to Chicago?

Yes, it is possible to take an overnight bus from Washington to Chicago. Make sure to pack a blanket and a snack to make your trip more comfortable.

Washington (DC), US to Chicago Bus Tickets

TodayMay 23

from $198

TomorrowMay 24

from $138

SunMay 25

from $130

MonMay 26

from $110

TueMay 27

from $94

WedMay 28

from $84

ThuMay 29

from $95

FriMay 30

from $94

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 24 at 11:55pm
Departure city: Washington
Departure location: Union Station
Arrival time: May 25 at 8:05pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 21h 10m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 24 at 6:00am
Departure city: Washington
Departure location: Union Station
Arrival time: May 24 at 11:40pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 18h 40m
Departure time: May 24 at 6:00am
Departure city: Washington
Departure location: Union Station
Arrival time: May 24 at 11:40pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 18h 40m
Departure time: May 24 at 11:45am
Departure city: Washington
Departure location: Union Station
Arrival time: May 25 at 6:10am
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus
Greyhound Lines, Inc. + FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 19h 25m
Departure time: May 24 at 5:50am
Departure city: Washington
Departure location: Union Station
Arrival time: May 25 at 7:55am
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: 537-517 W. Jackson Blvd
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1d 3h

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from Washington to Chicago.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$52 - $287	Average Duration1d	CO₂ emissions 24kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$100 - $1,079	Average Duration1d	CO₂ emissions 87kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends taking the bus from Washington to Chicago

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 1 day, 40 minutes and with fares starting at just $52, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

35bus per day

1d Average Duration

$52Cheapest ticket

24kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Washington to Chicago: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$95

Average bus trip duration1d

Number of daily buses35

Earliest bus departure12:40am

Distance591 miles (952 km)

Latest bus departure11:55pm

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/586,997 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 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.

November 28, 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.

May 17, 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.

August 14, 2018

FlixBus

3.5/58,728 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, Tornado Bus, Los Limousines, Valley Transit, Tufesa, Wanda Coach

Washington to Chicago Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Washington to Chicago. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable bus companies that cover bus service from Washington to Chicago.

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

Where are the popular stops in Washington and Chicago?

Stops in Washington

A - Union Station

B - Dupont Circle

C - Metro Center Station

D - L’Enfant Plaza

E - 10th Street NW

F - Foggy Bottom

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

Frequently asked questions for your trip Washington (DC), US - Chicago

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

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

05/21

$147

05/22

$161

Today

$191

05/24

$130

05/25

$122

05/26

$102

05/27

$96

05/28

$89

The cheapest trip from Washington to Chicago was searched and found on May 28, 2025 with a price of $89

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

You can expect to pay from $89 to $286 for a bus ticket from Washington to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $89 which is on 2025-05-28.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Washington and Chicago!

From miles long of beauteous natural landscapes to impressive man-crafted sights, you're bound to be in for a visual treat on your bus trip from Washington to Chicago.

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

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Washington to Chicago while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

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.

The Superbus, created by a Dutch engineer is the world's fastest bus with 250 km/h. Too bad it's only a prototype for now.

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

What's the cheapest way to go from Washington to Chicago?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time1d	Avg Price$95	Daily Departures35
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time1d	Avg Price$183	Daily Departures2

Will you be returning to Washington by bus?

Bus from Washington to Chicago

You can also go to Chicago by train

Train from Washington to Chicago

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. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. Busbud partners with safe and reliable bus companies throughout the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others so you can buy tickets without a worry.

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 2 ways to go from Washington to Chicago.

Bus Washington to Chicago: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Washington to Chicago Bus

Where are the popular stops in Washington and Chicago?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Washington (DC), US - Chicago

Is there a way to reach Chicago from Washington without flying?

How long does it take to get to Chicago from Washington by bus?

What is the distance between Washington and Chicago?

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

What is the most affordable way to get from Washington to Chicago?

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

What are the best sights and things to do in Chicago?

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from Washington to Chicago?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

What's the cheapest way to go from Washington to Chicago?

Will you be returning to Washington by bus?

You can also go to Chicago 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 Washington

Buses Leaving from Washington

Buses Going to Washington

Popular Buses Connecting Chicago

Buses Leaving from Chicago

Buses Going to Chicago

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers