- 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
$110
Average price
$177
Fastest journey
21 h
Average duration
1 d 1 h 53 m
Buses per day
5
Distance
993 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL will cost around $177 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $110.
Of the 5 buses that leave Richmond, VA for Chicago, IL on Sun, Jun 07, 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, Jun 07 the direct buses cover the 993 km distance in an average of 1 d 1 h 53 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 21 h .
On Sun, Jun 07 the slowest buses will take 1 d 9 h 50 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.










Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $110. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 58m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $110, and a flight costs an average of $187.
Distance: 617 miles (993 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$199 Average price Cheapest | $244 Average price | $332 Average price | $238 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
21h 50m Average total duration 21h 20m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 21h 25m Average total duration 20h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 58m Average total duration Fastest 3h 58m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 12h 4m 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 Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL:
A bus is $45 (€37) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL costing on average $244 (€198).
A bus is $134 (€109) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL costing on average $332 (€271).
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Train takes on average 20h 55m.
Bus takes on average 21h 20m.
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 01:25AM | Arrival Time 01:05AM | Duration 23h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $167 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:30AM | Arrival Time 01:05AM | Duration 23h35 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $175 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:10AM | Arrival Time 01:05AM | Duration 22h55 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $220 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:30AM | Arrival Time 02:05AM | Duration 23h35 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $229 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:50AM | Arrival Time 01:05AM | Duration 22h15 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $156 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:10AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 33h50 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Sun | Cheapest price $174 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:10AM | Arrival Time 05:10AM | Duration 26h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $224 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:10AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 26h00 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $229 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:45AM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 24h15 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $119 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:45AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 22h25 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $112 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:10AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 21h00 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $111 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:10AM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 22h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $119 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 12:10PM | Duration 24h10 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $129 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:50PM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 24h55 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $112 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:10PM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 21h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $144 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 02:10PM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 22h50 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $112 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:20PM | Arrival Time 11:10AM | Duration 20h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $273 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 29h35 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $113 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 40h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $118 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 38h40 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $115 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:50PM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 21h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $172 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:10PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 25h00 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $110 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:50PM | Arrival Time 04:00PM | Duration 21h10 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $165 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 07:10PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 25h00 | Departure days Mon, Fri | Cheapest price $213 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 09:25PM | Arrival Time 08:05PM | Duration 23h40 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $112 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:10PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 34h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $111 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 10:50PM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 34h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $120 |
The table below shows live departures for Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL buses for today, Saturday, June 6. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 12:00 PM Richmond, VA | 24h10 | 12:10 PM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 2:10 PM Richmond, VA | 22h50 | 1:00 PM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 5:50 PM Richmond, VA | 21h10 | 3:00 PM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 6:50 PM Richmond, VA | 21h10 | 4:00 PM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Sunday, June 7 | |||||
![]() | 2:30 AM Richmond, VA | 23h35 | 2:05 AM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 3:10 AM Richmond, VA | 33h50 | 1:00 PM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 4:10 AM Richmond, VA | 26h00 | 6:10 AM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
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 Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL run on average 16 times per day, taking around 21h 20m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $110 (€90) if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:45. The fastest bus covers the 617 miles (993 km) distance in 20h 50m.
Distance 617 miles (993 km) |
Average bus duration 21h 20m |
Cheapest ticket price $110 (€90) |
Buses per day 16 |
Fastest bus 20h 50m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:45 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 77 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.
Major natural history museum known for Sue the T. rex, ancient cultures, and large family-friendly science exhibits.
Large hands-on science museum in Hyde Park with a U-505 submarine, aviation exhibits, and immersive interactive displays.
Chicago’s signature public space, home to Cloud Gate and major events, with strong appeal for first-time visitors and photographers.
Scenic pedestrian route along the Chicago River, popular for architecture views, strolling, and social-media-friendly city scenes.
Famous stretch of North Michigan Avenue known for landmark architecture, flagship stores, and busy big-city energy.
Chicago’s iconic thick-crust pizza baked in a deep pan with layers of cheese, toppings, and chunky tomato sauce.
An all-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun topped with mustard, onions, relish, tomato, pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt.
A classic Chicago sandwich of thin-sliced seasoned beef served on a roll, often dipped in jus and topped with giardiniera or sweet peppers.
A well-known Magnificent Mile restaurant serving Mediterranean-influenced small plates, charcuterie, and strong wine selections.
Chicago’s internationally acclaimed fine-dining restaurant known for inventive tasting menus and a polished, theatrical experience.
A legendary Chicago pizzeria best known for buttery-crust deep-dish pizza in a casual, family-friendly setting.
Moderate by U.S. big-city standards. Hotels can be pricey downtown, but food and transit offer good value.
Tip 18-20% at sit-down restaurants; 20%+ for great service. USD 1-2 per drink at bars, round up or 10-15% for taxis, and USD 1-2 per bag for hotel staff.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Richmond, VA 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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