- 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
$82
Average price
$103
Fastest journey
12 h 45 m
Average duration
12 h 45 m
Trains per day
2
Distance
455 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from La Plata, MO 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 La Plata, MO to Chicago, IL will cost around $103 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $82.
Of the 2 trains that leave La Plata, MO for Chicago, IL on Thu, Jul 09, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Jul 09 the direct trains cover the 455 km distance in an average of 12 h 45 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 12 h 45 m .
On Thu, Jul 09 the slowest trains will take 12 h 45 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 La Plata, MO to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $65. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 6m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $65, and a flight costs an average of $141.
Distance: 282 miles (455 km)
Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$124 Average price Cheapest | $278 Average price | $70 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 56m Average total duration 5h 26m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 6m Average total duration Fastest 2h 6m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 5h 43m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from La Plata, MO to Chicago, IL:
A train is $154 (€126) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from La Plata, MO to Chicago, IL costing on average $278 (€228).
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 26m.
You'll arrive about 17m sooner (5h 26m by train vs 5h 43m by car). Tickets start at around $124 (€102) compared to roughly $70 (€58) in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Amtrak.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for La Plata, MO to Chicago, IL trains for today, Wednesday, July 8. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2:06 PM La Plata, MO | 12h45 | 2:51 AM Chicago, IL | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare 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.
Trains from La Plata, MO to Chicago, IL run on average 2 times per day, taking around 5h 26m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $65 (€54) if you book in advance.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 07:40, the last at 14:25. The fastest train covers the 282 miles (455 km) distance in 5h 36m.
Distance 282 miles (455 km) |
Average train duration 5h 26m |
Cheapest ticket price $65 (€54) |
Trains per day 2 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 5h 36m |
First train 7:40 AM |
Last train 2:25 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Best time to book 28 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 La Plata, MO 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 La Plata, MO to Chicago, IL trains use the La Plata Station to Union Station station pair. Use this guide to compare La Plata, MO and Chicago, IL train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
La Plata Station has practical services for this route, including Accessibility.
Accessibility facilities are available at La Plata 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