- Must visit
Art Institute Of Chicago
One of the world’s leading art museums, famous for Impressionist masterpieces, American art, and major special exhibitions.
Cheapest price
$270
Average price
$344
Fastest journey
1 d 1 h 15 m
Average duration
1 d 4 h 36 m
Buses per day
16
Distance
1573 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL will cost around $344 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $270.
It's difficult to get from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL without transferring at least 2 times.
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FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $108. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 54m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.5 - 1.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $108, and a flight costs an average of $59.
Distance: 977 miles (1573 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$242 Average price Cheapest | $253 Average price | $295 Average price | $230 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
23h 55m Average total duration 23h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 28h 39m Average total duration 28h 9m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 54m Average total duration Fastest 3h 54m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 16h 51m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
1.6 - 3.9kg CO2 emissions | 0.5 - 1.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 4.7 - 9.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL:
A bus is $11 (€9) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL costing on average $253 (€208).
A bus is $53 (€43) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL costing on average $295 (€242).
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Bus takes on average 23h 25m.
Train takes on average 28h 9m.
You'll arrive about {timeSavings} sooner ({durationInMinutes} by bus vs {drivingDurationInMinutes} by car) and save roughly {savingsAmount} compared to fuel and tolls ({cheapestPrice} vs {drivingPriceInCents}). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by {directProviders}.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:45AM | Arrival Time 09:10AM | Duration 31h25 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $194 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:05AM | Arrival Time 04:20AM | Duration 25h15 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $151 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:50AM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 40h25 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $246 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:55AM | Arrival Time 09:20AM | Duration 29h25 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $263 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 04:10AM | Arrival Time 09:20AM | Duration 29h10 | Departure days Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $239 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:10AM | Arrival Time 09:10AM | Duration 28h00 | Departure days Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $258 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:55AM | Arrival Time 03:15PM | Duration 31h20 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $151 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:05AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 28h55 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Sat | Cheapest price $108 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:05AM | Arrival Time 10:10AM | Duration 25h05 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $298 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 30h45 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $155 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:50AM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 30h15 | Departure days Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $155 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 12:55PM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 31h20 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $313 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:55PM | Arrival Time 09:15PM | Duration 31h20 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $341 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 42h00 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $186 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:05PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 41h55 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $163 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:15PM | Arrival Time 04:20AM | Duration 38h05 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $152 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:20PM | Arrival Time 09:05PM | Duration 30h45 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $209 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:25PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 29h45 | Departure days Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $182 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:50PM | Arrival Time 09:05PM | Duration 30h15 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $239 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:40PM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 43h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $262 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:50PM | Arrival Time 02:10AM | Duration 34h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $125 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 04:05AM | Duration 35h05 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $241 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:05PM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 42h25 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $165 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:40PM | Arrival Time 09:10AM | Duration 39h30 | Departure days Mon, Sat | Cheapest price $126 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:40PM | Arrival Time 10:10AM | Duration 39h30 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $350 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:55PM | Arrival Time 09:20AM | Duration 38h25 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Sat | Cheapest price $181 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:40PM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 43h50 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $286 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:40PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 46h30 | Departure days Mon, Wed | Cheapest price $304 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:25PM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 40h20 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $232 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:40PM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 40h30 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $230 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:40PM | Arrival Time 05:30PM | Duration 43h50 | Departure days Mon, Sat | Cheapest price $273 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:35PM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 39h10 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $190 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:50PM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 38h55 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $193 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:55PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 33h05 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $345 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 11:30PM | Arrival Time 04:20AM | Duration 28h50 | Departure days Tue, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $163 |
The table below shows live departures for Austin, TX to Chicago, IL buses for today, Thursday, July 9. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
· · | 7:55 AM Austin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX | 31h20 | 3:15 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ + FlixBus | 9:20 AM Austin, South Congress Transit Center, TX | 30h45 | 4:05 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ + FlixBus | 9:50 AM Austin, E 9th St / S I-35 Frontage Rd, TX | 30h15 | 4:05 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 2:00 PM Austin, E 9th St / S I-35 Frontage Rd, TX | 38h20 | 4:20 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 4 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 2:00 PM Austin, E 9th St / S I-35 Frontage Rd, TX | 42h00 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 4 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 2:15 PM Austin, South Congress Transit Center, TX | 41h45 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 4 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 2:15 PM Austin, South Congress Transit Center, TX | 38h05 | 4:20 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 4 transfers | |
· · | 2:25 PM Austin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX | 29h45 | 8:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ + FlixBus | 3:40 PM Austin, South Congress Transit Center, TX | 43h50 | 11:30 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 9:25 PM Austin, E 9th St / S I-35 Frontage Rd, TX | 40h20 | 1:45 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 4 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 9:40 PM Austin, South Congress Transit Center, TX | 40h05 | 1:45 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 4 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 9:40 PM Austin, South Congress Transit Center, TX | 40h30 | 2:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 4 transfers | |
· +![]() | 10:55 PM Austin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX | 29h25 | 4:20 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
· +![]() | 10:55 PM Austin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX | 33h05 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 2 transfers | |
| Friday, July 10 | |||||
· · | 3:05 AM Austin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX | 28h55 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 2 transfers | |
· · | 3:05 AM Austin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX | 25h15 | 4:20 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL run on average 15 times per day, taking around 23h 25m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $108 (€89) but you can travel from only $59 (€48) by flight.
The earliest bus runs at 00:15, the last at 23:40. The fastest bus covers the 977 miles (1573 km) distance in 25h 5m.
Distance 977 miles (1573 km) |
Average bus duration 23h 25m |
Cheapest ticket price $108 (€89) |
Buses per day 15 |
Fastest bus 25h 5m |
First bus 12:15 AM |
Last bus 11:40 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 35 days |
Discover the best of Chicago — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Chicago trip today.
One of the world’s leading art museums, famous for Impressionist masterpieces, American art, and major special exhibitions.
A top natural history museum known for Sue the T. rex, ancient cultures, fossils, and broad science collections.
A large hands-on science museum with a German submarine, space exhibits, and interactive engineering displays.
Chicago’s signature downtown park, home to Cloud Gate, gardens, public art, and major seasonal events.
The city’s best-known avenue for architecture, shopping, and bustling urban energy along North Michigan Avenue.
A popular pedestrian waterfront with excellent skyline views, bridges, and easy access to boat architecture tours.
A thick, buttery crust pizza baked in a deep pan with layers of cheese, toppings, and chunky tomato sauce. It is one of Chicago’s most iconic and debated local specialties.
An all-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun topped with yellow mustard, relish, onions, tomato, pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt. It is a classic local street food served without ketchup.
Thinly sliced seasoned roast beef piled onto an Italian roll, often dipped in its juices and topped with sweet peppers or giardiniera. It is a defining working-class Chicago sandwich.
Chicago’s world-famous fine-dining restaurant known for highly creative tasting menus and theatrical presentation. It offers one of the city’s most celebrated upscale dining experiences.
A beloved casual institution best known for breaded steak sandwiches and hearty Italian-American comfort food. It has a loyal local following and an old-school atmosphere.
A legendary Chicago chain celebrated for buttery-crust deep-dish pizza and a classic casual atmosphere. One of the city’s best-known places to try this signature dish.
Chicago is pricey for hotels and dining, but budget eats and public transit help keep daily costs manageable.
Tip 18-20% at restaurants; 15-20% for taxis and rideshares; USD 1-2 per drink at bars; USD 1-2 per bag for bellhops; USD 2-5 per night for housekeeping.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Austin, TX to Chicago, IL by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Chicago, IL, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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