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There are 9 intercity buses per day from Chicago to Cincinnati. Traveling by bus from Chicago to Cincinnati usually takes around 10 hours and 44 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 9 hours and 15 minutes.
| Distance | 252 mi (406 km) |
| Shortest duration | 9h 15m |
| Cheapest price | £28.95 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Overall score for buses from Chicago to Cincinnati
(Based on 4 ratings and reviews)
4.0
Pros: Bus driver was nice and interactive. Cons: Drop off area was kind of sketchy. Tips: The bus came early and left exactly on time so be there at least 10-15 minutes early.
5.0
Pros: Fall colors. Cons: WiFi & USB port. Tips: Pack lite, be polite, and smile.
£38.15 is the average price of a bus ticket from Chicago to Cincinnati. Any tickets cheaper than £38.15 can be considered a great deal. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.
Over the next four weeks, the average ticket price of a bus from Chicago to Cincinnati is expected to range from £39 to £65. If you are looking to travel to Cincinnati within the next week, you can find bus tickets starting from £47. The cheapest bus tickets in the next month are £39 and can be found on May 8, 2024.
To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 25 days in advance to save up to £55.00.
There are 3 bus lines from Chicago to Cincinnati available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 6 daily trips, Greyhound usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barons Bus Lines | 3 | 12h 47m | £84.73 |
| FlixBus US | 1 | 13h 15m | £34.32 |
| Greyhound | 6 | 9h 59m | £54.89 |
Book Barons Bus Lines from Chicago to Cincinnati from £74. There are 3 Barons Bus Lines schedules from Chicago to Cincinnati and you can expect on average to pay for a Barons Bus Lines ticket to Cincinnati. In Chicago, Barons Bus Lines departs to Cincinnati from Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St and no other station. In Cincinnati, Barons Bus Lines arrives at University of Cincinnati - 2985 Short Vine St and 1 other station.
An average trip on Barons Bus Lines from Chicago to Cincinnati takes 12 hours and 47 minutes , while the fastest available Barons Bus Lines trip will get you to Cincinnati in 9 hours and 15 minutes .
On weekends, Barons Bus Lines offers 3 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Cincinnati.
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 1 trips per day from Chicago to Cincinnati, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 6 bus trips from Chicago to Cincinnati every day, with the average journey taking around 9 hours and 59 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Cincinnati usually start from £28.
The bus takes an average of 10 hours and 44 minutes to cover the 406 kilometers from Chicago to Cincinnati. However, the fastest bus only takes 9 hours and 15 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet.
The first bus leaves at 2:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Chicago to Cincinnati, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 9 scheduled buses that travel from Chicago to Cincinnati every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so no matter which bus you take, you will have to transfer buses at least once during your journey.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Chicago to Cincinnati; ticket prices start at £53.91.
Known for its innovative architecture, cultural contributions to jazz and house music, and of course that irresistible deep-dish pizza, the many sights and experiences in Chicago make it one of the best urban vacation destinations for millennials and a top destination in Illinois.
You can't beat the views of the city and Lake Michigan from the SkyDeck in the Willis Tower; at over 1,300 feet, this is the highest observation deck in the U.S. Snap that classic selfie with the Bean in Millennium Park, then wander the many museums in nearby Grant Park. Navy Pier is a popular tourist hotspot for its parks, restaurants, and attractions right on Lake Michigan, and baseball fans will find paradise in Wrigleyville, home to the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field and sports bars galore.
Chicago's enormous parks offer plentiful opportunities for outdoor activities in gorgeous urban settings. Many companies offer kayak rentals or boat tours on the Chicago River, with special tours running on Saint Patrick's Day, when the entire river is dyed green. When you’re ready to buy some souvenirs from your epic trip, hit the big brand stores on the Magnificent Mile, or shop local in neighborhoods like Andersonville and Wicker Park. And don't miss the chance to laugh until you cry at The Second City comedy theater, famous for launching the careers of comedians like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.
Chicago is one of the biggest transportation hubs in the Midwest, and provides easy access to nearby destinations ideal for day trips, as well as international travel from two airports. Thanks to plenty of bus and train stations throughout the city, getting to the Windy City is a breeze.
A city famous for its idyllic beauty and quaint quarters, Cincinnati is the destination for tourists who wish to stay away from a large crowd. On a bright sunny day in Cincinnati, head over to Eden Park. Encompassing over 183 acres of green space and tree groves, the park lives up to its name, and there are some scenic ponds where you can unwind as well as take a few amazing pictures. Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum might sound like a scary place to visit, but its tranquility and amazing landscape design, which was ahead of its time, will make it worth the while to check it out. For those who still crave some liveliness, watching a game at the Great American Ball Park, home of the oldest professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds, will be an unforgettable experience.
Cincinnati features a very diverse food scene in spite of its German roots. If you are looking to try out some refreshing Mediterranean dishes, head over to Abigail Street, one of the local favorites. For authentic German dishes, the door at Mecklenburg Gardens welcomes you.
There’s not a central bus station in the city, as each of the different bus carriers serving Cincinnati operates out of a different location. The principal Amtrak train station is the Union Terminal on Western Ave. Cincinnati is served by Amtrak’s Cardinal line. The city’s main airport is the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which is located in Hebron, Kentucky.
Image credit: Jeramey Jannene
Link to image attributionBuses to Cincinnati leave from 3 stations in Chicago.
Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St
Dan Ryan Bus Station
Chicago Train Station Bus Stop
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Cincinnati.
109 Seventh St W
University of Cincinnati - 2985 Short Vine St
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