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4.6
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Boston, MA to Chicago, IL
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $170 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 6h 38m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.4 - 1.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $170, while a train costs an average of $443.
Distance: 850 miles (1368 km)
Compare flight with
Most popular Flight | Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$405 Average price | $443 Average price | $170 Average price Cheapest | $296 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 38m Average total duration Fastest 4h 38m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 24h 34m Average total duration 24h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 25h 11m Average total duration 24h 41m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 14h 45m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
4.1 - 8.2kg CO2 emissions | 0.4 - 1.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.4 - 3.4kg 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 Boston, MA to Chicago, IL:
A bus is $235 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL costing on average $405.
A bus is $273 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL costing on average $443.
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Train takes on average 24h 34m.
Bus takes on average 25h 11m.
You'll arrive about 10h 7m sooner (4h 38m by flight vs 14h 45m by car). Tickets start at around $405 compared to roughly $296 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 Boston, MA to Chicago, IL
How to get from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- · 12:30 PM22h30Boston, Bus Terminal South Station10:00 AMChicago, Greyhound Bus Station$2291One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- · 12:30 PM22h30Boston, Bus Terminal South Station10:00 AMChicago, Greyhound Bus Station$2291One-way1 transfer
Fastest
- UA13499:23 AM2h52Edward L. Logan International Airport11:15 AMO'Hare International Airport$2651One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 449 Lake Shore Limited12:57 PM22h15Back Bay station, Boston, MA10:12 AMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$3501One-way0 transfers
- 449 Lake Shore Limited12:50 PM22h22South Station, Boston, MA10:12 AMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$3501One-way0 transfers
- 95 Northeast Regional · 40 Floridian6:15 AM27h30Back Bay station, Boston, MA8:45 AMChicago Union Station, Chicago, IL$3571One-way1 transfer
FlixBus+ · 2:15 AM28h55Boston, Bus Terminal South Station6:10 AMChicago, Greyhound Bus Station$2381One-way2 transfers- · · 4:45 PM28h20Boston, Bus Terminal South Station8:05 PMChicago, Greyhound Bus Station$2651One-way2 transfers
- FlixBus · FlixBus+ · 9:50 PM35h10Boston, Bus Terminal South Station8:00 AMChicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL$2781One-way3 transfers
- UA14146:00 AM2h59Edward L. Logan International Airport7:59 AMO'Hare International Airport$2651One-way0 transfers
- UA26317:01 AM2h59Edward L. Logan International Airport9:00 AMO'Hare International Airport$2651One-way0 transfers
- UA1734 · UA17755:45 AM4h53Edward L. Logan International Airport9:38 AMO'Hare International Airport$2761One-way1 transfer
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
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.
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FAQs: Travel from Boston, MA 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 Boston, MA to Chicago, IL.
This is compared to other travel options from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL:
A bus is $235 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL costing on average $405.
A bus is $273 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL costing on average $443.
Other travel options to Chicago, IL take longer:
Train takes on average 24h 34m.
Bus takes on average 25h 11m.
- Around 60 flights per day.
- Around 7 buses per day.
- Around 6 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Boston, MA and Chicago, IL as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Edward L. Logan International Airport and arrive in O'Hare International Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from South Station, Boston, MA and arrive in Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL.
- Buses mostly depart from Boston, Bus Terminal South Station and arrive in Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station.
- Travel with Greyhound, FlixBus to go to Chicago, IL by bus.
- Travel with American Airlines, Republic Airlines, United, skywest airlines, Spirit Airlines, psa airlines, Sun Country Airlines, JetBlue Airways to go to Chicago, IL by flight.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to Chicago, IL by train.
- 16 direct flights per day with American Airlines, Republic Airlines, United, JetBlue Airways.
- 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
Travelling from Boston, MA to Chicago, IL: related information
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