- 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
$268
Average price
$327
Fastest journey
1 d 2 h 30 m
Average duration
1 d 6 h 5 m
Buses per day
13
Distance
1512 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Houston, 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 Houston, TX to Chicago, IL will cost around $327 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $268.
It's difficult to get from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL without transferring at least 2 times.
·
FlixBus+
·
· · +
· ·
· · +
FlixBus
· ·
· ·
· ·
· ·
· · Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the flight with prices starting from $34. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 7h 0m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a flight costs an average of $34, and a train costs an average of $191.
Distance: 939 miles (1512 km)
| Bus | Most popular Flight | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$249 Average price | $247 Average price Cheapest | $404 Average price | $217 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
25h 40m Average total duration 25h 10m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 10h 0m Average total duration Fastest 7h 0m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 24h 34m Average total duration 24h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 16h 14m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL:
A flight is $2 (€2) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL costing on average $249 (€204).
A flight is $157 (€129) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL costing on average $404 (€331).
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Train takes on average 24h 4m.
Bus takes on average 25h 10m.
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 01:50AM | Arrival Time 04:20AM | Duration 26h30 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $169 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:00AM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 32h45 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $191 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:35AM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 37h35 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $186 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:15AM | Arrival Time 03:15PM | Duration 31h00 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $191 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 30h05 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $168 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:25AM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 29h40 | Departure days Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $166 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 11:10AM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 33h00 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $238 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:15PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 30h55 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $195 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:40PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 30h30 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $195 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:10PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 30h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $183 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:15PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 38h45 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $261 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:55PM | Arrival Time 05:45AM | Duration 34h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $200 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:35PM | Arrival Time 04:20AM | Duration 32h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $159 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:00PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 34h00 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $175 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:50PM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 38h55 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $168 |
The table below shows live departures for Houston, TX to Chicago, IL buses for today, Tuesday, July 7. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
· · + FlixBus | 6:55 PM Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station), TX | 34h50 | 5:45 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 7:35 PM Houston, Gray St Parking (Bus Station), TX | 32h45 | 4:20 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 7:35 PM Houston, Gray St Parking (Bus Station), TX | 36h25 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 3 transfers | |
· | 10:00 PM Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station), TX | 34h00 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 1 transfer | |
| Wednesday, July 8 | |||||
· · | 1:50 AM Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station), TX | 26h30 | 4:20 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
· · | 1:50 AM Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station), TX | 30h10 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 2 transfers | |
· · | 5:00 AM Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station), TX | 32h45 | 1:45 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 2 transfers | |
· · +![]() | 6:35 AM Houston, Southwest Fwy (Chevron), TX | 49h25 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 3 transfers | |
· · +![]() | 6:35 AM Houston, Southwest Fwy (Chevron), TX | 37h35 | 8:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
· · | 8:15 AM Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station), TX | 31h00 | 3:15 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 11:10 AM Houston, Gray St Parking (Bus Station), TX | 33h00 | 8:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
· · | 2:10 PM Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station), TX | 30h00 | 8:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 5:15 PM Houston, Gray St Parking (Bus Station), TX | 38h45 | 8:00 AM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus+ · · | 5:15 PM Houston, Gray St Parking (Bus Station), TX | 39h10 | 8:25 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 3 transfers | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
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.
Buses from Houston, TX to Chicago, IL run on average 17 times per day, taking around 25h 10m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $117 (€96) but you can travel from only $34 (€28) by flight.
The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:50. The fastest bus covers the 939 miles (1512 km) distance in 29h 10m.
Distance 939 miles (1512 km) |
Average bus duration 25h 10m |
Cheapest ticket price $117 (€96) |
Buses per day 17 |
Fastest bus 29h 10m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:50 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 28 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 Houston, 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.

Most Houston, TX to Chicago, IL buses use the Houston, Harrisburg Blvd (Greyhound Bus Station) to Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station station pair, with some services arriving at Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak). Use this guide to compare Houston, TX and Chicago, IL bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need