How can I travel from St Louis to Chicago without flying?

You have the option of traveling from one city to the other by either bus or train. Either way you choose, you'll be sure to reach your destination in the most practical and sustainable way. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

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

The travel time from St Louis to Chicago is about 10h 15m, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 6h with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 260 miles (419 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the travel distance from St Louis to Chicago?

About 260 miles (419 km) separate St Louis and Chicago.

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

The majority of buses traveling from St Louis to Chicago start their journey at Gateway Station and wind up at Downtown Greyhound Station. These are the main pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, but you could find others that could be a better fit for your travel plans.

How much are the bus tickets from St Louis to Chicago?

The average price of a one-way ticket from St Louis to Chicago is $57. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $33 and $187, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

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 Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum, Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Conservatory and Shedd Aquarium.

Is there an overnight bus from St Louis to Chicago?

Yes, you can take a night bus to go from St Louis to Chicago. Don't forget to bring a snack and a blanket to help you stay comfortable through the night.

St Louis to Chicago Bus Tickets

TodayMay 14

from $36

TomorrowMay 15

from $42

FriMay 16

from $49

SatMay 17

from $36

SunMay 18

from $43

MonMay 19

from $40

TueMay 20

from $25

WedMay 21

from $25

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 15 at 4:00pm
Departure city: St Louis
Departure location: Gateway Station
Arrival time: May 15 at 10:25pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h 25m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 15 at 4:00pm
Departure city: St Louis
Departure location: Gateway Station
Arrival time: May 15 at 10:00pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h
Departure time: May 15 at 2:30am
Departure city: St Louis
Departure location: Gateway Station
Arrival time: May 15 at 2:35pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 12h 5m
Departure time: May 15 at 4:00pm
Departure city: St Louis
Departure location: Gateway Station
Arrival time: May 15 at 10:00pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan
Operated by: FlixBus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h
Departure time: May 15 at 8:10am
Departure city: St Louis
Departure location: STL Airport
Arrival time: May 15 at 8:30pm
Destination city: Chicago
Destination location: Chicago
Operated by: Burlington Trailways
Vehicle: BusDuration: 12h 20m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from St Louis to Chicago.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$33 - $187	Average Duration10h 15m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Most eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$30 - $98	Average Duration5h 5m	CO₂ emissions 38kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastest

Busbud recommends taking the train from St Louis to Chicago

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 5 hours 5 minutes and with fares starting at just $30, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5train per day

5h 5mAverage Duration

$30Cheapest ticket

38kgCO₂ emissions

Bus St Louis to Chicago: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$57

Average bus trip duration10h 15m

Number of daily buses11

Earliest bus departure2:30am

Distance262 miles (422 km)

Latest bus departure11:45pm

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/586,978 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 St Louis Chicago recent customer reviews

My trip was changed then cancelled and the next bus took 2 hrs . My connection to complete my trip made me arrive at my final destination at 4 am to an empty station where I couldn't get any assistance. Couldn't get a taxi at that hour there. It was a very horrible experience.

Raydell W.

July 3, 2023

My first time from along time to many stops little confusing if we were close or what time we really will be in Chicago in all Ok!

Shelia S.

July 18, 2019

Very professional and courteous. Actually, quite a bit more professional and less stressful than air travel presently. Pleasantly surprised!

Laura M.

October 18, 2018

FlixBus

3.5/58,618 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.

Burlington Trailways

4/518 reviews

Staff5

Timeliness5

Cleanliness5

Wifi5

Amtrak

4/55,118 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Users have praised the service for being on time, comfortable, and convenient with friendly conductors. However, there were concerns about inconsistent behavior from staff towards passengers of different races during ticket checks and upon arrival.

Amtrak St Louis Chicago recent customer reviews

Smooth ride. The man who did our tickets from St. Louis we noticed after checking white people's tickets he said thanks and have a great day. To black people he said nothing. Then upon arriving in Chicago that man offered no one a hand down or said goodbye.

Yvonne H.

September 27, 2024

Fabulous! Train is the way to go for this distance!! On time, comfortable, friendly conductors, and SO convenient!

Kendra H.

April 3, 2024

Good but train was cancelled and coming with bus. I pay too much money

Anshul P.

December 23, 2024

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

St Louis to Chicago Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from St Louis 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 St Louis to Chicago.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Chicago from St Louis, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in St Louis and Chicago?

Stops in St Louis

A - Gateway Station

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 St Louis - Chicago

How can I travel from St Louis to Chicago without flying?
How long does it take to get to Chicago from St Louis by bus?
What is the travel distance from St Louis to Chicago?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from St Louis to Chicago?
How much are the bus tickets from St Louis to Chicago?
What are the best sights and things to do in Chicago?
Is there an overnight bus from St Louis 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

05/12

$54

05/13

$45

Today

$36

05/15

$42

05/16

$49

05/17

$36

05/18

$43

05/19

$40

The cheapest trip from St Louis to Chicago was searched and found on May 14, 2025 with a price of $36

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

You can expect to pay from $36 to $228 for a bus ticket from St Louis to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $36 which is on 2025-05-17.

Usually Burlington Trailways, 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.

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 St Louis 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 St Louis to Chicago.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from St Louis to Chicago.

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

Did you know?

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

The word 'bus' is an abbreviation of 'omnibus" which means 'for all' in Latin as buses were meant to be transportation for everybody.

Will you be returning to St Louis by bus?

Bus from St Louis to Chicago

You can also go to Chicago by train

Train from St Louis to Chicago

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

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 St Louis to Chicago.

Bus St Louis to Chicago: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

St Louis to Chicago Bus

Where are the popular stops in St Louis and Chicago?

Frequently asked questions for your trip St Louis - Chicago

How can I travel from St Louis to Chicago without flying?

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

What is the travel distance from St Louis to Chicago?

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

How much are the bus tickets from St Louis to Chicago?

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

Is there an overnight bus from St Louis to Chicago?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to St Louis 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 St Louis

Buses Leaving from St Louis

Buses Going to St Louis

Popular Buses Connecting Chicago

Buses Leaving from Chicago

Buses Going to Chicago

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers