4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest buses from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH
Cheapest price
$73
Average price
$99
Fastest journey
5 h 35 m
Average duration
7 h 34 m
Buses per day
4
Distance
405 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH will cost around $99 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $73.
Of the 4 buses that leave Chicago, IL for Cincinnati, OH on Wed, May 27, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, May 27 the direct buses cover the 405 km distance in an average of 7 h 34 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 35 m .
On Wed, May 27 the slowest buses will take 10 h 5 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus10:30 AM5h35Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station5:05 PMCincinnati, Gilbert Ave (Greyhound Bus Station), OH$731One-way0 transfers- FlixBus10:30 AM5h45Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station5:15 PMCincinnati, Short Vine St (University of Cincinnati), OH$731One-way0 transfers
· 6:10 AM10h05Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station5:15 PMCincinnati, Greyhound Bus Station, OH$1211One-way1 transfer- FlixBus+6:00 PM8h50Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station3:50 AMCincinnati, Greyhound Bus Station, OH$1301One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus10:30 AM5h35Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station5:05 PMCincinnati, Gilbert Ave (Greyhound Bus Station), OH$731One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus10:30 AM5h45Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station5:15 PMCincinnati, Short Vine St (University of Cincinnati), OH$731One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus+6:00 PM8h50Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station3:50 AMCincinnati, Greyhound Bus Station, OH$1301One-way1 transfer
- · 6:10 AM10h05Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station5:15 PMCincinnati, Greyhound Bus Station, OH$1211One-way1 transfer
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $38. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 26m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $38, and a flight costs an average of $89.
Distance: 251 miles (405 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$78 Average price Cheapest | $103 Average price | $333 Average price | $72 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 1m Average total duration 6h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 3m Average total duration 8h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 26m Average total duration Fastest 1h 26m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 4h 56m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
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 |
This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH:
A bus is $25 (€20) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH costing on average $103 (€83).
A bus is $255 (€206) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH costing on average $333 (€269).
Other travel options to Cincinnati, OH take longer:
Bus takes on average 6h 31m.
Train takes on average 8h 33m.
You'll arrive about -2h -35m sooner (6h 31m by bus vs 4h 56m by car) and save roughly $-5.77 (€-4.66) compared to fuel and tolls ($78 (€63) vs $72 (€58)). 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 FlixBus, Greyhound.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:10AM | Arrival Time 05:15PM | Duration 10h05 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $70 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 02:05PM | Duration 6h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $54 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:30AM | Arrival Time 05:05PM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $57 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 03:50AM | Duration 8h50 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $64 |
Live departures
Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH bus times
The table below shows live departures for Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH buses for today, Tuesday, May 26. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus+ | 6:00 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 8h50 | 3:50 AM Cincinnati, Greyhound Bus Station, OH | 1 transfer | |
| Wednesday, May 27 | |||||
| · | 6:10 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 10h05 | 5:15 PM Cincinnati, Greyhound Bus Station, OH | 1 transfer | |
| FlixBus | 10:30 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 5h35 | 5:05 PM Cincinnati, Gilbert Ave (Greyhound Bus Station), OH | 0 transfersDirect | |
| FlixBus | 10:30 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 5h45 | 5:15 PM Cincinnati, Short Vine St (University of Cincinnati), OH | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH by bus, train, or flight
Compare bus, train, 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.
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Why should you book Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs FlixBus?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for FlixBus, but also compare tickets for the likes of Greyhound to find the best option for your trip from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare FlixBus with all available travel options, which are bus, train and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Greyhound to find the best option for your trip from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus, train and flight to find the ideal travel option from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH
USAUSA
Buses from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH run on average 6 times per day, taking around 6h 31m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $38 (€31) if you book in advance.
There are 2 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:55, the last at 23:10. The fastest bus covers the 251 miles (405 km) distance in 5h 45m.
Distance 251 miles (405 km) |
Average bus duration 6h 31m |
Cheapest ticket price $38 (€31) |
Buses per day 6 |
Direct buses 2 |
Fastest bus 5h 45m |
First bus 12:55 AM |
Last bus 11:10 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 1 day |
Bus providers: FlixBus, Greyhound from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OHYou can travel by bus between Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH with FlixBus, Greyhound for as low as $38 (€31). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
Greyhound
FAQs: Bus from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH 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 Cincinnati, OH, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
- Greyhound
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Greyhound
- You can cancel your ticket for a refund or exchange up to 24 hours before departure, for a cancellation fee applied.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- Greyhound
- One carry-on bag up to 25 lbs (11 kg) and one checked bag up to 50 lbs (23 kg).
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- Greyhound
- $15 per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH
Most popular bus connections from Chicago, IL
More options for your journey from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular buses to and from Cincinnati, OH and Chicago, IL
Most popular bus connections to Cincinnati, OH
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