How to travel from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX

Thu, Mar 19
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United
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Chicago, IL to Austin, TX

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $118. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 4h 3m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.5 - 1.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $118, and a flight costs an average of $87.

Distance: 977 miles (1573 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Flight

$254

Average price

$232

Average price

Cheapest

$290

Average price

28h 58m

Average total duration

28h 28m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

23h 34m

Average total duration

23h 4m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

7h 3m

Average total duration

Fastest

4h 3m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

0.5 - 1.4kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

1.6 - 3.9kg

CO2 emissions

4.7 - 9.4kg

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

Greyhound

Most popular bus company

United

Most popular airline

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 Austin, TX

How to get from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

FlixBusFlixBus+Greyhound+Valley Transit
09:45AM25h15
Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
11:00AMAustin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX
$2251One-way
2 transfers

Cheapest

Greyhoundundefined · undefined · undefined · undefined
10:30PM34h00
Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
08:30AMAustin, South Congress Transit Center, TX
$2211One-way
4 transfers

Fastest

American AirlinesAA2182
02:53PM2h53
O'Hare International Airport
05:46PMAustin-Bergstrom International Airport
$5271One-way
0 transfers

Other options

Amtrak301 Lincoln Service · 421 Texas Eagle
07:15AM35h52
Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
07:07PMAustin Station, Austin, TX
$2781One-way
1 transfer
Amtrak319 Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner · 421 Texas Eagle
09:50AM33h17
Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
07:07PMAustin Station, Austin, TX
$3071One-way
1 transfer
Amtrak301 Lincoln Service · 21 Texas Eagle
07:15AM35h52
Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
07:07PMAustin Station, Austin, TX
$3181One-way
1 transfer
FlixBusFlixBus+Greyhound+FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBus
09:45AM31h30
Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
05:15PMAustin, E 9th St / S I-35 Frontage Rd, TX
$2231One-way
3 transfers
FlixBusFlixBus+Greyhound+FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBus
09:45AM31h50
Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
05:35PMAustin, South Congress Transit Center, TX
$2251One-way
3 transfers
Greyhoundundefined · undefined · undefined
10:30PM23h35
Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
10:05PMAustin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX
$2311One-way
2 transfers
UnitedUA2032
09:04AM3h01
O'Hare International Airport
12:05PMAustin-Bergstrom International Airport
$5381One-way
0 transfers
UnitedUA1061
10:53AM3h05
O'Hare International Airport
01:58PMAustin-Bergstrom International Airport
$5381One-way
0 transfers
UnitedUA622
01:05PM3h06
O'Hare International Airport
04:11PMAustin-Bergstrom International Airport
$5381One-way
0 transfers

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 Austin, TX

Travel to Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Chicago, IL and Austin, TX including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX is a flight with an average price of $87 (€71).

This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX:

A flight is $31 (€25) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX costing on average $118 (€96).

A flight is $40 (€33) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX costing on average $127 (€104).

The fastest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX is by flight with an average journey time of 2h 55m.

Other travel options to Austin, TX take longer:

Bus takes on average 23h 30m.

Train takes on average 28h 43m.

The distance from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX is approximately 977 miles (1573 km).
The average frequency per day from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX is:
  • Around 38 flights per day.
  • Around 11 buses per day.
  • Around 4 trains per day.

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

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX:
  • Trains mostly depart from Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL and arrive in Austin Station, Austin, TX.
  • Buses mostly depart from Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station and arrive in Austin, Shady Lane (Eastside Bus Plaza), TX.
  • Flights mostly depart from O'Hare International Airport and arrive in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Greyhound, FlixBus, Chicago Transit (CTA) to go to Austin, TX by bus.
  • Travel with United, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines to go to Austin, TX by flight.
  • Travel with Amtrak to go to Austin, TX by train.
Yes, there are direct services available from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX with the following travel companies:
  • 6 direct flights per day with United, American Airlines.
  • 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
Omio customers who travel from Chicago, IL to Austin, TX often also extend their vacation to go to Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, Houston, TX, Fort Worth, TX, Ally. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Austin, TX and these popular destinations at a great price.
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