Trains tickets from Chicago to San Marcos, TX, US

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TodayJul 27
TomorrowJul 28
TueJul 29
from $200
WedJul 30
ThuJul 31
FriAug 1
SatAug 2
SunAug 3

Trains leaving Tuesday

One passenger / one way

  • This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
    Departure time: July 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: July 30 at
    Destination city: San Marcos
    Destination location: San Marcos Station
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
    Departure time: July 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: July 30 at
    Destination city: San Marcos
    Destination location: San Marcos Station
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • Departure time: July 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: July 30 at
    Destination city: San Marcos
    Destination location: San Marcos Station
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • Departure time: July 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: July 30 at
    Destination city: San Marcos
    Destination location: San Marcos Station
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:
  • Departure time: July 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: July 30 at
    Destination city: San Marcos
    Destination location: San Marcos Station
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: TrainDuration:

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Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to San Marcos.

Bus
Average Price$109 - $382Average Duration1d 2h
40kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars
CheapestFastestMost eco-friendly
Train
Average Price$144 - $814Average Duration1d 9h
148kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars
busbud logoBusbud recommends taking the bus from Chicago to San Marcos

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach San Marcos. The journey takes about 1 day, 2 hours 14 minutes and with fares starting at just $109, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

18bus per day
1d 2hAverage Duration
$109Cheapest ticket
40kgCO₂ emissions

Train Chicago to San Marcos, TX, US: Trip Overview

Please note, this information is subject to change.

Average ticket price$230
Average train trip duration1d 9h
Number of daily trains2
Earliest train departure7:15am
Distance1007 miles (1623 km)
Latest train departure1:52pm

Chicago to San Marcos Train

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a train from Chicago to San Marcos is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of train fares and train schedules to find the best deals.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable companies that offer train service from Chicago to San Marcos.

Discover how much the train trip from Chicago to San Marcos will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest train tickets or high-end trains.

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - San Marcos, TX, US

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found
07/25
No data
07/26
$351
Today
No data
07/28
No data
07/29
$192
07/30
No data
07/31
No data
08/01
No data
busbud logoThe cheapest trip from Chicago to San Marcos, TX, US was searched and found on Jul 29, 2025 with a price of $192

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

You can expect to pay from $192 to $699 for a train ticket from Chicago to San Marcos, TX, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $192 which is on 2025-07-29.

About Train Travel

Train Travel Tips

Taking the fastest trains allows you to travel at speeds greater than 300 km/h. Taking a trip from Chicago to San Marcos is not only much quicker but more comfortable too! You can usually travel directly to the city centre and save time while you're at it.

Whether you take a regional or high-speed train to San Marcos, you’ll help reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of your trip. As you watch the landscapes unfold before your eyes, you can tell yourself that with this choice, you are making sure they remain protected.

With up to 30x less CO2 emissions for your train journey between Chicago and San Marcos, the train is an ecological alternative to flights or personal cars.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized train travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Chicago to San Marcos.

Did you know?

Railway companies played a major role as early as 1883 in the use of time zones as we know them today.

You can find the straightest railway in the world in Australia. This railway line is 478 kilometres long and is also considered the longest and straightest railway line in the world.

The longest train journey in the world is between Europe and Asia. This long journey starts from Porto in Portugal and crosses the whole European continent to reach Hanoi in Vietnam in 12 days while traveling more than 17,000 km.

What's the cheapest way to go from Chicago to San Marcos, TX, US?

busbud logoThe train is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

The best way to travel between Chicago and San Marcos, TX, US is by train. By choosing the train, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $230 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $144. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to San Marcos, TX, US, choose the train, as it will take you from Chicago to San Marcos, TX, US in about 1d 2h - that's the fastest way to get there!

Will you be returning to Chicago by train?

Train from San Marcos, TX, US to Chicago

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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 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.

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Popular train departures from Chicago

Popular train departures to Chicago

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