4.9
4.6
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 $80. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 5h 11m. 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 $80, and a bus costs an average of $201.
Distance: 1853 miles (2983 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Bus |
|---|---|---|
$423 Average price | $345 Average price Cheapest | $471 Average price |
54h 27m Average total duration 53h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 11m Average total duration Fastest 5h 11m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 52h 36m Average total duration 52h 6m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.9 - 2.7kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 8.9 - 17.9kg CO2 emissions | 3.0 - 7.5kg CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular airline |  Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Travel optionsfrom Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA
How to get from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
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.
F92145 · F944018:00 AM8h16O'Hare International Airport2:16 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2701One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- F92145 · F944018:00 AM8h16O'Hare International Airport2:16 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2701One-way1 transfer
Fastest
UA21099:25 AM4h42O'Hare International Airport12:07 PMSan Francisco International Airport$3751One-way0 transfers
Other options
- 5 California Zephyr · 5005 AMTRAK2:00 PM53h45Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL5:45 PMSan Francisco, CA$5191One-way1 transfer
- 27 Empire Builder · 11 Coast Starlight · 5011 AMTRAK3:05 PM68h15Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL9:20 AMSan Francisco, CA$8171One-way2 transfers
- 3 Southwest Chief · 5817 AMTRAK · 717 Gold Runner · 6617 AMTRAK2:25 PM56h05Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL8:30 PMSan Francisco, CA$15551One-way3 transfers
undefined · undefined · undefined · undefined11:10 PM68h25Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL5:35 PMSan Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street, CA$5171One-way5 transfers- undefined · undefined · undefined+FlixBus12:25 PM55h10Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station5:35 PMSan Francisco, Townsend Street / 5th Street, CA$5761One-way3 transfers
- undefined · undefined · undefined · undefined11:10 PM58h05Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL7:15 AMSan Francisco, Transit Center Bay 29$5761One-way4 transfers
AS1470 · AS33878:20 AM9h30O'Hare International Airport3:50 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2761One-way1 transfer- F92145 · F938018:00 AM11h10O'Hare International Airport5:10 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2781One-way1 transfer
- F91596 · F919495:30 AM15h44O'Hare International Airport7:14 PMSan Francisco International Airport$2781One-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
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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.
This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA:
A flight is $117 (€96) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA costing on average $197 (€161).
A flight is $121 (€98) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA costing on average $201 (€164).
Other travel options to San Francisco, CA take longer:
Bus takes on average 50h 24m.
Train takes on average 53h 7m.
- Around 61 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.
- Flights mostly depart from O'Hare International Airport and arrive in San Francisco International Airport.
- 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.
- Travel with American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United to go to San Francisco, CA by flight.
- Travel with Amtrak to go to San Francisco, CA by train.
- Travel with FlixBus, Greyhound to go to San Francisco, CA by bus.
- 10 direct flights per day with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United.
- 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
Travelling from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA: related information
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
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