How to travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

Fri, Jun 05
+ Add return
Travel by bus, train, flight with
Amtrak
American Airlines
Greyhound
frontier airlines
Alaska Airlines
1,000+ more
Amtrak
American Airlines
Greyhound
frontier airlines
Alaska Airlines
1,000+ more
QR-Code
Scan to get our free app
Use our app to get live travel updates and book mobile tickets for trains, buses, flights, and ferries.
App Store
rate4.9
42K ratings
Google Play
rate4.6
136K reviews

Travel Information

Compare bus, train, and flight for Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the flight with prices starting from $109. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 14h 53m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.9 - 2.7kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a flight costs an average of $109, and a train costs an average of $242.

Distance: 1853 miles (2983 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Flight
Bus
Driving

$528

Average price

$285

Average price

Cheapest

$451

Average price

$454

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

54h 27m

Average total duration

53h 57m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

17h 53m

Average total duration

Fastest

14h 53m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

54h 11m

Average total duration

53h 41m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

31h 15m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.9 - 2.7kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

8.9 - 17.9kg

CO2 emissions

3.0 - 7.5kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

American Airlines

Most popular airline

Greyhound

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.

The cheapest way to travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA is a flight with an average price of $285 (€230).

This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA:

A flight is $166 (€134) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA costing on average $451 (€364).

A flight is $243 (€196) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA costing on average $528 (€426).

The fastest way to travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA is by flight with an average journey time of 14h 53m.

Other travel options to San Francisco, CA take longer:

Bus takes on average 53h 41m.

Train takes on average 53h 57m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA including taking a bus, train, and flight.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA among Omio's users.

Travel options
from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

How to get from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

flight

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

  • frontier airlinesF91483 · F91093
    9:37 PM12h24
    O'Hare International Airport
    8:01 AMSan Francisco International Airport
    $1381One-way
    1 transfer

Cheapest

  • frontier airlinesF91483 · F91093
    9:37 PM12h24
    O'Hare International Airport
    8:01 AMSan Francisco International Airport
    $1381One-way
    1 transfer

Fastest

  • UnitedUA246
    6:13 AM4h37
    O'Hare International Airport
    8:50 AMSan Francisco International Airport
    $2401One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • Amtrak3 Southwest Chief · 5817 AMTRAK · 717 Gold Runner · 6617 AMTRAK
    1:30 PM57h00
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    8:30 PMSan Francisco, CA
    $3361One-way
    3 transfers
  • Amtrak421 Texas Eagle · 5815 AMTRAK · 715 Gold Runner · 6615 AMTRAK
    2:10 PM77h20
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    5:30 PMSan Francisco, CA
    $3361One-way
    3 transfers
  • Amtrak3 Southwest Chief · 14 Coast Starlight · 6619 AMTRAK
    1:30 PM59h00
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    10:30 PMSan Francisco, CA
    $3741One-way
    2 transfers
  • Greyhound · ·
    12:25 PM50h00
    Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
    12:25 PMSan Francisco, Transit Center Bay 29
    $2211One-way
    2 transfers
  • FlixBusFlixBus+Greyhound · ·
    5:15 PM67h50
    Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
    11:05 AMSan Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street, CA
    $2211One-way
    4 transfers
  • Greyhound · · +FlixBusFlixBus
    12:25 PM55h25
    Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
    5:50 PMSan Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street, CA
    $2241One-way
    3 transfers
  • frontier airlinesF91483 · F93439
    9:37 PM28h46
    O'Hare International Airport
    12:23 AMSan Francisco International Airport
    $1381One-way
    1 transfer
  • frontier airlinesF91596 · F91447
    6:55 AM15h02
    O'Hare International Airport
    7:57 PMSan Francisco International Airport
    $1591One-way
    1 transfer
  • frontier airlinesF91483 · F91229
    9:37 PM16h10
    O'Hare International Airport
    11:47 AMSan Francisco International Airport
    $1591One-way
    1 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 bus, 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.

Thu
Jun 04
Fri
Jun 05
Sat
Jun 06
Sun
Jun 07
Mon
Jun 08
Tue
Jun 09
Wed
Jun 10
Thu
Jun 11
Fri
Jun 12
Sat
Jun 13
Sun
Jun 14
Mon
Jun 15
Tue
Jun 16
Wed
Jun 17
Thu
Jun 18
Fri
Jun 19
Sat
Jun 20
Sun
Jun 21
Mon
Jun 22
Tue
Jun 23
Wed
Jun 24

More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

FAQs: Travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

Travel to San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA including taking a bus, train, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA is a flight with an average price of $285 (€230).

This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA:

A flight is $166 (€134) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA costing on average $451 (€364).

A flight is $243 (€196) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA costing on average $528 (€426).

The fastest way to travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA is by flight with an average journey time of 14h 53m.

Other travel options to San Francisco, CA take longer:

Bus takes on average 53h 41m.

Train takes on average 53h 57m.

The distance from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA is approximately 1853 miles (2983 km).
The average frequency per day from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA is:
  • Around 70 flights per day.
  • Around 8 buses per day.
  • Around 6 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Chicago, IL and San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA:
  • Trains mostly depart from Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL and arrive in Emeryville station, Emeryville, CA.
  • Buses mostly depart from Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station and arrive in San Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street, CA.
  • Flights mostly depart from O'Hare International Airport and arrive in San Francisco International Airport.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with American Airlines, frontier airlines, Alaska Airlines, United to go to San Francisco, CA by flight.
  • Travel with Greyhound, FlixBus to go to San Francisco, CA by bus.
  • Travel with Amtrak to go to San Francisco, CA by train.
Yes, there are direct services available from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA with the following travel companies:
  • 12 direct flights per day with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United.
  • 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
Omio customers who travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA often also extend their vacation to go to Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, Las Vegas, NV, New York, NY, San Diego, CA. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between San Francisco, CA and these popular destinations at a great price.
HomeTravelTravel to USATravel to San Francisco, CAHow to travel from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA

The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy

We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.

ios-badge
android-badge
Hand With Phone