- 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
$36
Average price
$43
Fastest journey
11 h 23 m
Average duration
11 h 23 m
Trains per day
2
Distance
311 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Burlington, IA 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 Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL will cost around $43 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $36.
Of the 2 trains that leave Burlington, IA for Chicago, IL on Tue, Jul 07, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Tue, Jul 07 the direct trains cover the 311 km distance in an average of 11 h 23 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 11 h 23 m .
On Tue, Jul 07 the slowest trains will take 11 h 23 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 Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $34. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 4h 11m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $34, and a bus costs an average of $54.
Distance: 193 miles (311 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$65 Average price Cheapest | $82 Average price | $55 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 41m Average total duration Fastest 4h 11m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 9h 3m Average total duration 8h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 0m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL:
A train is $17 (€14) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL costing on average $82 (€67).
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Bus takes on average 8h 33m.
Tickets start at around $65 (€54) compared to roughly $55 (€46) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-9.88 (€-8.12). The journey takes 4h 11m versus 4h 0m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
The table below shows live departures for Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL trains for today, Monday, July 6. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 3:28 PM Burlington, IA | 11h23 | 2:51 AM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 4:28 PM Burlington, IA | 11h23 | 3:51 AM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus and train 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.
Trains from Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL run on average 2 times per day, taking around 4h 11m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $34 (€28) if you book in advance.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 07:40, the last at 18:00. The fastest train covers the 193 miles (311 km) distance in 4h 11m.
Distance 193 miles (311 km) |
Average train duration 4h 11m |
Cheapest ticket price $34 (€28) |
Trains per day 2 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 4h 11m |
First train 7:40 AM |
Last train 6:00 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 14 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 Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL by train. 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 train, 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 Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL trains use the Burlington Station to Union Station station pair. Use this guide to compare Burlington, IA and Chicago, IL train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Burlington Station has practical services for this route, including Dining, ATM, and Accessibility.
Food and drink options are available at Burlington Station.
ATMs are available at Burlington Station.
Accessibility facilities are available at Burlington Station.
Union Station is 3 km from Chicago city centre. Public transport options include:
Union Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Car Rental, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, Lou Mitchell's
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at Union Station. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Union Station. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Union Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Union Station: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Union Station: Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include The Kimpton Gray Hotel, JW Marriott Chicago, W Chicago - City Center.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need