4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Alton, IL to Chicago, IL
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $79 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 4h 57m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $79, while a flight costs an average of $631.
Distance: 244 miles (393 km)
Compare flight with
Most popular Flight | Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$631 Average price | $102 Average price | $79 Average price Cheapest | $58 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 20m Average total duration 4h 20m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 57m Average total duration Fastest 4h 27m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 42m Average total duration 7h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 35m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
1.2 - 2.4kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular airline |  Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL:
A bus is $23 (€19) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL costing on average $102 (€84).
A bus is $551 (€457) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL costing on average $631 (€522).
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Flight takes on average 6h 20m.
Bus takes on average 7h 42m.
You'll arrive about 15m sooner (4h 20m by flight vs 4h 35m by car). Tickets start at around $631 (€522) compared to roughly $58 (€48) in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you get time back and avoid a long drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group, want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.
Travel optionsfrom Alton, IL to Chicago, IL
How to get from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- 300 Lincoln Service5:14 AM4h11Alton Station, Alton, IL9:25 AMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$351One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- 300 Lincoln Service5:14 AM4h11Alton Station, Alton, IL9:25 AMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$351One-way0 transfers
Fastest
AA281811:01 AM1h28St. Louis Lambert International Airport12:29 PMO'Hare International Airport$2801One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 302 Lincoln Service7:21 AM4h19Alton Station, Alton, IL11:40 AMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$431One-way0 transfers
- 306 Lincoln Service6:21 PM4h22Alton Station, Alton, IL10:43 PMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$431One-way0 transfers
- 318 Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner3:39 PM4h21Alton Station, Alton, IL8:00 PMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$611One-way0 transfers
- FlixBus2:30 PM6h05St. Louis, S 15th St (Civic center)8:35 PMChicago, Greyhound Bus Station$501One-way0 transfers
· 8:45 AM11h25St. Louis, S 15th St (Civic center)8:10 PMChicago, Greyhound Bus Station$661One-way1 transfer- · 2:00 AM11h45St. Louis, S 15th St (Civic center)1:45 PMChicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL$681One-way1 transfer
- AA19265:00 AM1h29St. Louis Lambert International Airport6:29 AMO'Hare International Airport$2801One-way0 transfers
- AA19977:21 AM1h38St. Louis Lambert International Airport8:59 AMO'Hare International Airport$2801One-way0 transfers
AA63551:49 PM1h41St. Louis Lambert International Airport3:30 PMO'Hare International Airport$2801One-way0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL
Travel to Chicago, IL easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL.
This is compared to other travel options from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL:
A bus is $23 (€19) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL costing on average $102 (€84).
A bus is $551 (€457) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL costing on average $631 (€522).
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Flight takes on average 6h 20m.
Bus takes on average 7h 42m.
- Around 48 flights per day.
- Around 4 trains per day.
- Around 4 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Alton, IL and Chicago, IL as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from St. Louis Lambert International Airport and arrive in O'Hare International Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Alton Station, Alton, IL and arrive in Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL.
- Buses mostly depart from St. Louis, S 15th St (Civic center) and arrive in Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to Chicago, IL by train.
- Travel with Infobus, Greyhound, FlixBus to go to Chicago, IL by bus.
- Travel with American Airlines, Republic Airlines, United, skywest airlines to go to Chicago, IL by flight.
- 4 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
- 3 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
- 11 direct flights per day with American Airlines, Republic Airlines, United, skywest airlines.
Travelling from Alton, IL to Chicago, IL: related information
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