The cheapest and fastest trains from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
Cheapest price
$242
Average price
$248
Fastest journey
1 d 10 h 15 m
Average duration
1 d 13 h 25 m
Trains per day
2
Distance
2022 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT 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 Salt Lake City, UT will cost around $248 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $242.
Of the 2 trains that leave Chicago, IL for Salt Lake City, UT 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 trains cover the 2022 km distance in an average of 1 d 13 h 25 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 d 10 h 15 m .
On Wed, May 27 the slowest trains will take 1 d 16 h 35 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.
8:00 PM34h15Chicago, IL6:15 AMSalt Lake City, UT$2421One-way0 transfers
12:40 PM40h35Chicago, IL5:15 AMSalt Lake City, UT$2541One-way0 transfers
8:00 PM34h15Chicago, IL6:15 AMSalt Lake City, UT$2421One-way0 transfers
12:40 PM40h35Chicago, IL5:15 AMSalt Lake City, UT$2541One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $122. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 4h 1m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $122, and a train costs an average of $137.
Distance: 1256 miles (2022 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$564 Average price | $440 Average price | $299 Average price Cheapest | $297 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
34h 45m Average total duration 34h 15m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 1m Average total duration Fastest 4h 1m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 34h 55m Average total duration 34h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 20h 32m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular bus company | 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 Salt Lake City, UT:
A bus is $141 (€114) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT costing on average $440 (€355).
A bus is $265 (€214) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT costing on average $564 (€455).
Other travel options to Salt Lake City, UT take longer:
Train takes on average 34h 15m.
Bus takes on average 34h 25m.
Tickets start at around $564 (€455) compared to roughly $297 (€240) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $-266.33 (€-214.78). The journey takes 34h 15m versus 20h 32m 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.
Live departures
Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT train times
The table below shows live departures for Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT trains for today, Tuesday, May 26. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
381 Carl Sandburg · 5 California Zephyr | 7:40 AM Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 40h35 | 11:15 PM Salt Lake Central Station, Salt Lake City, UT | 1 transfer | |
5 California Zephyr | 2:00 PM Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 34h15 | 11:15 PM Salt Lake Central Station, Salt Lake City, UT | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT 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.
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
Jun 01
Jun 02
Journey information
Overview: Train from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
Trains from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT run on average 2 times per day, taking around 34h 15m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $137 (€111) but you can travel from only $122 (€98) by bus.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 03:20, the last at 14:00. The fastest train covers the 1256 miles (2022 km) distance in 34h 15m.
Distance 1256 miles (2022 km) |
Average train duration 34h 15m |
Cheapest ticket price $137 (€111) |
Trains per day 2 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 34h 15m |
First train 3:20 AM |
Last train 2:00 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 28 days |
Train companies: Amtrak from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Chicago, IL and Salt Lake City, UT from $122 (€98). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Trains from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT 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 Salt Lake City, UT, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
- 5:00 AM - 12:00 AM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Departures can be made outside of opening hours. Access via Canal Street.
- The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant
- Lou Mitchell's
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- $1
- The Kimpton Gray Hotel
- JW Marriott Chicago
- W Chicago - City Center
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- Avis
- Budget
- Enterprise
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, Amtrak services
- Hall 2: Metra services
- Hall 3: food court and retail shops
- Bus: Several lines available
- CTA: Blue Line, Pink Line
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Parking is available at the station, with spaces for both short-term and long-term parking.
- The Gateway
- Red Iguana
- Outside the main entrance.
- Ramps, restrooms.
- $0.50
- Hyatt House Salt Lake City/Downtown
- Courtyard by Marriott Salt Lake City Downtown
- Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown
- Located in the main hall
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platform 1-2 for Amtrak and FrontRunner trains
- Hall 2: TRAX light rail connections
- Light Rail: TRAX Blue Line, TRAX Green Line
- Bus: Several UTA bus lines available
Most popular train connections from Chicago, IL
More options for your journey from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT
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