The cheapest and fastest buses from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL
Cheapest price
$136
Average price
$164
Fastest journey
21 h 15 m
Average duration
22 h 50 m
Buses per day
4
Distance
1069 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Philadelphia, PA 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 Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL will cost around $164 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $136.
Of the 4 buses that leave Philadelphia, PA for Chicago, IL on Sun, Jan 11, 4 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, Jan 11 the direct buses cover the 1069 km distance in an average of 22 h 50 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 21 h 15 m .
On Sun, Jan 11 the slowest buses will take 1 d 10 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.








Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €83. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 33m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.3 - 1.0kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €83, and a flight costs an average of €62.
Distance: 664 miles (1069 km)
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
€124 Average price Cheapest | €182 Average price | €188 Average price |
20h 35m Average total duration 20h 5m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 22h 46m Average total duration 22h 16m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 33m Average total duration Fastest 3h 33m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
1.1 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions | 0.3 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 3.2 - 6.4kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:55AM | Arrival Time 11:35PM | Duration 20h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $222 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 26h00 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $170 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 24h10 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $168 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 20h55 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $169 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 22h45 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $169 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 12:05PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 20h55 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $168 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:05PM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 19h05 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $167 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:45PM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 25h25 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $177 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 25h10 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $177 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 21h40 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $168 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 26h35 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $221 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:00PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 25h05 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $168 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:30PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 24h35 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $170 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:45PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 24h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $169 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:00PM | Arrival Time 11:35PM | Duration 26h35 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $159 |
Live departures
Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL bus times
The table below shows live departures for Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL buses for today, Saturday, January 10. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
undefined · undefined | 8:55 AM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 20h40 | 5:35 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 1 transfer | |
+ FlixBus | 12:00 PM Philadelphia, Schuylkill Ave (Cira Centre South), PA | 24h10 | 12:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 1 transfer | |
+ FlixBus+ undefined · undefined | 12:00 PM Philadelphia, Schuylkill Ave (Cira Centre South), PA | 26h00 | 2:00 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus | 3:15 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 20h55 | 12:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
FlixBus · FlixBus+ undefined · undefined | 3:15 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 22h45 | 2:00 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 3 transfers | |
+ FlixBus | 5:05 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 19h05 | 12:10 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 1 transfer | |
undefined · undefined | 5:05 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 20h55 | 2:00 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+ undefined · undefined · undefined | 6:45 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 25h25 | 8:10 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 3 transfers | |
FlixBus+ undefined · undefined | 6:45 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 21h15 | 4:00 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
undefined · undefined · undefined | 7:00 PM Philadelphia, Schuylkill Ave (Cira Centre South), PA | 21h00 | 4:00 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
undefined · undefined · undefined · undefined | 7:00 PM Philadelphia, Schuylkill Ave (Cira Centre South), PA | 25h10 | 8:10 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 3 transfers | |
undefined · undefined | 10:30 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 21h40 | 8:10 PM Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL | 1 transfer | |
undefined · undefined | 10:30 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 17h30 | 4:00 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus+![]() | 11:30 PM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 26h35 | 2:05 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 1 transfer | |
| Sunday, January 11 | |||||
undefined · undefined · undefined | 1:00 AM Philadelphia, Schuylkill Ave (Cira Centre South), PA | 25h05 | 2:05 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 2 transfers | |
undefined · undefined | 1:30 AM Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA | 24h35 | 2:05 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 1 transfer | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL by train, bus, or flight
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.
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Journey information
Overview: Bus from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL
Buses from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL run on average 16 times per day, taking around 20h 5m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $103 (€83) but you can travel from only $77 (€62) by flight.
The earliest bus runs at 01:45, the last at 23:45. The fastest bus covers the 664 miles (1069 km) distance in 17h 30m.
Distance 664 miles (1069 km) |
Average bus duration 20h 5m |
Cheapest ticket price $103 (€83) |
Buses per day 16 |
Fastest bus 17h 30m |
First bus 01:45 |
Last bus 23:45 |
Bus providers: Greyhound, FlixBus from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, ILYou can travel by bus between Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL with Greyhound, FlixBus for as low as $77 (€62). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
Greyhound
FAQs: Bus from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Philadelphia, PA 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.

- Greyhound
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Millennium Park, a public park known for its modern art installations and the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture
- Art Institute of Chicago, a renowned museum housing an extensive collection of art from around the world
- Navy Pier, a popular entertainment destination featuring rides, restaurants, and lakefront views
- Willis Tower Skydeck, an observation deck offering panoramic views of the city from one of the tallest buildings in the Western Hemisphere
- Field Museum, a natural history museum with vast exhibits including the famous T. Rex skeleton, Sue.
- Museum of Science and Industry, an interactive museum featuring exhibits on science, technology, and industry
- Explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Chicago, such as Wicker Park and Lincoln Park, known for their unique shops and eateries
- Take a river cruise to see the city's iconic architecture from a different perspective
- Attend a live performance at the historic Chicago Theatre
- Enjoy a day at Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the U. S. Offering free admission.
- 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.
To find the cheapest bus tickets for your trip from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL, follow these tips:
Start your search now and compare ticket prices to find the best deal!
- 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 Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL
Most popular bus connections from Philadelphia, PA
More options for your journey from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL
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