Cheap bus tickets from Chicago to Charleston

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

Bus from Chicago to Charleston: Journey Information

There are 5 intercity buses per day from Chicago to Charleston. Traveling by bus from Chicago to Charleston usually takes around 14 hours and 36 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 12 hours and 40 minutes.

Distance: 400 mi (643 km)
Shortest duration: 12h 40m
Cheapest price: MX$1,078.14
Trips per day: 0
Most frequent service: Greyhound
Bus lines: 2

Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Chicago to Charleston Bus Schedule

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Chicago to Charleston?

There is usually 1 daily train trip available from Chicago to Charleston.

	Bus	Train
Avg. Price	Avg. PriceMX$1,660.37Cheaper	Avg. PriceMX$1,988.91
Daily Trips	Daily Trips5	Daily Trips1
Duration	Duration14h 36m	Duration13h 36mFaster

Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Chicago to Charleston (Based on 1 rating and review)

5.0

Linda

October 17, 2024 - Visiting family

Barons Bus Lines

Pros: Prompt arrival Cons: Everything was good. Tips: Blanket

There are several bus options that can take you from Chicago to Charleston:

See more details

How much is a bus ticket from Chicago to Charleston?

Bus tickets for a trip from Chicago to Charleston cost MX$1,337 on average. While it’s a bit pricey for a bus ticket, it’s still significantly more cost-effective than flying. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

Average bus ticket prices from Chicago to Charleston by travel date

If you're planning to travel by bus from Chicago to Charleston in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from MX$1,351 to MX$2,158. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on October 26, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Charleston this week, bus tickets are available starting at MX$1,351.

Average bus ticket prices from Chicago to Charleston by month

Taking the bus from Chicago to Charleston is usually cheapest in September, when the average ticket price is only MX$1,539. If you're planning to take the bus from Chicago to Charleston during January, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of MX$2,008. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 11 days in advance. This way, you can save up to MX$555.77 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from Chicago to Charleston?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from Chicago to Charleston that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 3 scheduled trips per day.

Bus	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Barons Bus Lines	2	14h 27m	MX$1,538.59
Greyhound	3	14h 38m	MX$1,685.24

Barons Bus Lines is a ground transportation company that serves various cities across the Midwest. The company follows through on its slogan of “ride like royalty” with a fleet of modern coaches boasting enhanced amenities such as free Wi-Fi, power outlets, ADA accessible steps, and spacious bathrooms. With a reputation for skilled drivers, top-notch safety, and stellar customer service, it's no wonder Barons Bus won the 2022 Wanderu Passengers' Choice Award for #1 Business Travelers' Favorite.
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 3 bus trips from Chicago to Charleston every day, with the average journey taking around 14 hours and 38 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Charleston usually start from MX$1,078.14.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Chicago to Charleston

There are 5 scheduled buses that travel from Chicago to Charleston 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 Charleston; ticket prices start at MX$1,989.

Trips per day

Direct trips

The bus takes an average of 14 hours and 36 minutes to cover the 400 miles from Chicago to Charleston. However, the fastest bus only takes 12 hours and 40 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.

Distance (mi)

400

Distance (km)

643

The first bus leaves at 6:05 AM and the last bus leaves at 2:45 PM. To see the times for all buses from Chicago to Charleston, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

Earliest bus

6:05am

Latest bus

2:45pm

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, Sunday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you are looking for less crowded buses to Charleston, book your ticket for the last day of the week.

Most crowded

Thursday

Least crowded

Sunday

City Information

Chicago

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.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Chicago?

Main departure station: Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St

Chicago Greyhound Bus Station - CHIGLI3-0

Buses to Charleston leave from 3 stations in Chicago.

All bus stations in Chicago:

Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St
Chicago Train Station Bus Stop
Dan Ryan Bus Station

Where does the bus arrive in Charleston?

Main arrival station: Bus Station - 300 Reynolds St

All buses from Chicago arrive at one main station in Charleston.

All bus stations in Charleston:

Bus Station - 300 Reynolds St

Need a return trip from Charleston to Chicago?

Search Bus Tickets

Plan your next adventure

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.