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There are 6 intercity buses per day from Normal to Chicago. Traveling by bus from Normal to Chicago usually takes around 7 hours and 35 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 55 minutes.
| Distance | 118 mi (190 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 55m |
| Cheapest price | $40.71 |
| Trips per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 2 |
Overall score for buses from Normal to Chicago
(Based on 5 ratings and reviews)
5.0
January 7, 2020- Solo travel
Pros: Timely departure and early arrival at airport. Cons: Nothing. Tips: None.
3.0
June 19, 2019- Visiting family
Pros: It got me from A to B without having to drive myself. Tips: Bring a blanket or a cover to not be cold and have to complain endlessly if the driver needs to lower the air conditioning to get the windows to defrost.
$48.24 is the average price of a bus ticket from Normal to Chicago. Taking a bus is an affordable way to make this trip. 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.
Bus tickets from Normal to Chicago are expected to cost between $48 and $70 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Chicago within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $55. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.
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 18 days in advance to save up to $46.20.
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Normal to Chicago that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 5 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Trailways | 1 | 11h 0m | $142.39 |
| Greyhound | 5 | 7h 6m | $56.72 |
Book Burlington Trailways from Normal to Chicago from $138. There are 1 Burlington Trailways schedules from Normal to Chicago and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to Chicago. In Normal, Burlington Trailways departs to Chicago from Bloomington and no other station. In Chicago, Burlington Trailways arrives at Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St and no other station.
An average trip on Burlington Trailways from Normal to Chicago takes 11 hours and 0 minutes , while the fastest available Burlington Trailways trip will get you to Chicago in 4 hours and 55 minutes .
On weekends, Burlington Trailways offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Chicago.
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 5 bus trips from Normal to Chicago every day, with the average journey taking around 7 hours and 6 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Chicago usually start from $41.
The bus takes an average of 7 hours and 35 minutes to cover the 190 kilometers from Normal to Chicago. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 55 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, Monday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your bus travel for the beginning of the week."
The first bus leaves at 9:00am and the last bus leaves at 1:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Normal to Chicago, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 6 scheduled buses that travel from Normal to Chicago every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 2 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Normal to Chicago; ticket prices start at $16.56.
Normal is a town in North Bloomington, adjacent to Bloomington. The town got its unique name in 1865 from the Illinois State Normal University, a normal school that is a teacher-training institution. Normal features the Children's Discovery Museum, Illinois State University Planetarium and Carden Park for children, and the David Davis Mansion and McLean County Museum of History for history buffs. If you're interested in exploring the outdoors, you can take a walk on the Hidden Creek Nature Sanctuary or Constitution Trail or play on the Ironwood Golf Course. Sports lovers can also check out the Redbird Arena, where basketball games are held.
Normal features a vibrant entertainment scene with different breweries and beer halls. You can participate in the Illinois Shakespeare Festival or watch shows at the Normal Theater. Normal also has a vineyard and wine bars, with most activities available in Uptown Normal, the micro-urban city center. The Uptown area has different entertainment venues, dining, and retail establishments.
You can visit Normal, Illinois, by train or bus. The city is accessible from many other cities by train, including Amtrak, Amtrak Texas Eagle, and Amtrak Lincoln Service. As for the bus lines, you can access the city from over 80 other cities onboard buses from Jefferson Lines, Amtrak Thruway, and Burlington Trailways.
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.
Normal has two bus stations with service to Chicago.
Burlington Trailways
Bloomington
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Chicago.
Dan Ryan Bus Station
Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St
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