How to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

Sat, May 02
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United
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare bus, train, and flight for Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the flight with prices starting from $61. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 13h 5m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.8 - 2.5kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a flight costs an average of $61, and a bus costs an average of $177.

Distance: 1741 miles (2802 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Flight
Bus

$352

Average price

$284

Average price

Cheapest

$401

Average price

26h 57m

Average total duration

26h 27m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

16h 5m

Average total duration

Fastest

13h 5m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

47h 45m

Average total duration

47h 15m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

0.8 - 2.5kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

8.4 - 16.8kg

CO2 emissions

2.8 - 7.0kg

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

Spirit Airlines

Most popular airline

Greyhound

Most popular bus company

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Travel options
from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

How to get from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

train

The best way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • Amtrak3 Southwest Chief
    2:25 PM43h32
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    7:57 AMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
    $2431One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • Amtrak3 Southwest Chief
    2:25 PM43h32
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    7:57 AMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
    $2431One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • Spirit AirlinesNK1649
    3:00 PM4h23
    O'Hare International Airport
    5:23 PMLos Angeles International Airport
    $3701One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • Amtrak381 Carl Sandburg · 3 Southwest Chief
    7:40 AM50h17
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    7:57 AMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
    $2751One-way
    1 transfer
  • Amtrak319 Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner · 3 Southwest Chief
    9:50 AM48h07
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    7:57 AMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
    $3091One-way
    1 transfer
  • Amtrak5 California Zephyr · 718 Gold Runner · 5818 AMTRAK
    2:00 PM62h25
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    2:25 AMUnion Station, Los Angeles, CA
    $5941One-way
    2 transfers
  • Greyhoundundefined · undefined · undefined · undefined
    11:10 PM49h20
    Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL
    10:30 PMLos Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA
    $3111One-way
    3 transfers
  • Greyhoundundefined · undefined · undefined · undefined
    10:50 PM49h40
    Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
    10:30 PMLos Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA
    $3111One-way
    3 transfers
  • Greyhoundundefined · undefined · undefined
    12:25 PM45h50
    Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
    8:15 AMLos Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA
    $3821One-way
    2 transfers
  • Alaska AirlinesAS587 · AS703
    8:00 AM8h08
    O'Hare International Airport
    2:08 PMBurbank
    $3051One-way
    1 transfer
  • Alaska AirlinesAS715 · AS703
    6:00 AM10h08
    O'Hare International Airport
    2:08 PMBurbank
    $3051One-way
    1 transfer
  • Spirit AirlinesNK107 · NK33
    12:53 PM11h37
    O'Hare International Airport
    10:30 PMLos Angeles International Airport
    $3671One-way
    1 transfer

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

Travel to Los Angeles, CA 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 Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA including taking a bus, train, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is a flight with an average price of $61 (€49).

This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA:

A flight is $116 (€93) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA costing on average $177 (€142).

A flight is $135 (€108) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA costing on average $197 (€157).

The fastest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is by flight with an average journey time of 4h 34m.

Other travel options to Los Angeles, CA take longer:

Train takes on average 43h 32m.

Bus takes on average 46h 14m.

The distance from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is approximately 1741 miles (2802 km).
The average frequency per day from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is:
  • Around 99 flights per day.
  • Around 15 buses per day.
  • Around 9 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA:
  • Flights mostly depart from O'Hare International Airport and arrive in Los Angeles International Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL and arrive in Union Station, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Buses mostly depart from Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station and arrive in Los Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Amtrak to go to Los Angeles, CA by train.
  • Travel with Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, United, Alaska Airlines to go to Los Angeles, CA by flight.
  • Travel with Greyhound, FlixBus to go to Los Angeles, CA by bus.
Yes, there are direct services available from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA with the following travel companies:
  • 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
  • 16 direct flights per day with Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, United.
Omio customers who travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA often also extend their vacation to go to San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Tijuana, New York, NY. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Los Angeles, CA and these popular destinations at a great price.
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