The cheapest and fastest trains from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA
Cheapest price
$436
Average price
$961
Fastest journey
2 d 5 h 45 m
Average duration
2 d 15 h 51 m
Trains per day
4
Distance
2983 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA 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 San Francisco, CA will cost around $961 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $436.
It's difficult to get from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA without transferring at least once.
3 Southwest Chief · 5817 AMTRAK · 717 Gold Runner · 6617 AMTRAK
421 Texas Eagle · 5815 AMTRAK · 715 Gold Runner · 6615 AMTRAK
27 Empire Builder · 11 Coast Starlight · 5011 AMTRAK
5 California Zephyr · 5005 AMTRAK
5 California Zephyr · 5005 AMTRAK
3 Southwest Chief · 5817 AMTRAK · 717 Gold Runner · 6617 AMTRAK
27 Empire Builder · 11 Coast Starlight · 5011 AMTRAK
421 Texas Eagle · 5815 AMTRAK · 715 Gold Runner · 6615 AMTRAKTravel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the flight with prices starting from €74. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 5h 10m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.9 - 2.7kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a flight costs an average of €74, and a train costs an average of €117.
Distance: 1853 miles (2983 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus |
|---|---|---|
€259 Average price | €199 Average price Cheapest | €252 Average price |
54h 33m Average total duration 54h 3m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 10m Average total duration Fastest 5h 10m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 52h 36m Average total duration 52h 6m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.9 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 8.9 - 17.9kg CO2 emissions | 3.0 - 7.5kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA train times
The table below shows live departures for Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA trains for today, Thursday, January 8. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 California Zephyr · 5005 AMTRAK | 8:00 PM Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 53h45 | 1:45 AM San Francisco, CA | 1 transfer | |
3 Southwest Chief · 5817 AMTRAK · 717 Gold Runner · 6617 AMTRAK | 8:25 PM Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 56h05 | 4:30 AM San Francisco, CA | 3 transfers | |
27 Empire Builder · 11 Coast Starlight · 5011 AMTRAK | 9:05 PM Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 68h15 | 5:20 PM San Francisco, CA | 2 transfers | |
| Friday, January 9 | |||||
![]() | 12:40 PM Chicago, IL | 59h17 | 11:57 PM San Francisco, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 6:52 PM Chicago, IL | 78h23 | 1:15 AM San Francisco, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:00 PM Chicago, IL | 52h57 | 11:57 PM San Francisco, CA | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:25 PM Chicago, IL | 53h50 | 1:15 AM San Francisco, CA | 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 San Francisco, CA by bus, train, or flight
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.
Jan 09
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Jan 15
Why should you book Chicago to San Francisco trains with Omio?
Amtrak operates all train services from Chicago to San Francisco. Omio is the only official third party seller for Amtrak tickets.
Why book with Omio vs Amtrak?
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Amtrak with all available travel options, which are bus, train and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Chicago to San Francisco.
Why book with Omio over Trainline and Rail Europe?
- Official reseller: Amtrak tickets can only be bought on Omio or Amtrak's website as Omio is the only official third party seller for Amtrak tickets. Trainline, RailEurope, and Rail.Ninja do not sell Amtrak tickets as they are not official sellers.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus, train and flight to find the ideal travel option from Chicago to San Francisco.
Journey information
Overview: Train from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA
Trains from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA run on average 6 times per day, taking around 54h 3m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $145 (€117) but you can travel from only $92 (€74) by flight.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 04:55, the last at 21:41. The fastest train covers the 1853 miles (2983 km) distance in 52h 57m.
Distance 1853 miles (2983 km) |
Average train duration 54h 3m |
Cheapest ticket price $145 (€117) |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 52h 57m |
First train 04:55 |
Last train 21:41 |
Train companies: Amtrak from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA from $92 (€74). 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 San Francisco, CA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA 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 San Francisco, CA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Popular train stations from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA
- 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
Most popular train connections from Chicago, IL
More options for your journey from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need


