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Cheap bus tickets from Normal to Chicago

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Chiku

Normal to Chicago Bus Schedule

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

There are usually 5 daily train trips available from Normal to Chicago.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$81.59
Avg. Price
$42.22
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
3
Daily Trips
5
Duration
Duration
8h 33m
Duration
2h 25m

Bus from Normal to Chicago: Journey Information

There are 3 intercity buses per day from Normal to Chicago. Traveling by bus from Normal to Chicago usually takes around 8 hours and 12 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 35 minutes.

Distance118 mi (190 km)
Shortest duration5h 35m
Cheapest price$26.49
Trips per day1
Most frequent serviceGreyhound
Bus lines2

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Normal to Chicago

(Based on 5 ratings and reviews)

4.6

5.0

Lisa

January 7, 2020- Solo travel

Pros: Timely departure and early arrival at airport. Cons: Nothing. Tips: None.

3.0

Maria

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.

How much is a bus ticket from Normal to Chicago?

Bus tickets for a trip from Normal to Chicago cost $54.22 on average. Tickets cheaper than $54.22 are an excellent bargain. 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 Normal to Chicago by travel date

$90$60$30DecDec

Bus tickets from Normal to Chicago are expected to cost between $53 and $80 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 $53. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.

Monthly avg. prices

$75$60$45$30$15JFMAMJJASOND
If you're on the hunt for the cheapest bus tickets from Normal to Chicago, mark your calendar for January. During this period, you can expect to find the lowest average ticket price of the year, just $40. However, taking the bus from Normal to Chicago during September is not so cheap. This time of year, ticket prices often reach an average of $51. The best way to find deals on a trip in September is to plan ahead and book your bus ticket as early as possible.

Prices as travel date approaches

$75$60$45$30$153020100

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 27 days in advance to save up to $22.86.

What bus companies travel from Normal to Chicago?

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 2 scheduled trips per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Burlington Trailways111h 0m$141.46
Greyhound27h 33m$53.58
  • Book Burlington Trailways from Normal to Chicago from $135. Typically there is one Burlington Trailways schedule per day 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 . In Chicago, Burlington Trailways arrives at Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St .

    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 5 hours and 35 minutes .

    On weekends, Burlington Trailways offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a one way ticket for your 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 2 bus trips from Normal to Chicago every day, with the average journey taking around 7 hours and 33 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Chicago usually start from $26.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Normal to Chicago

The bus takes an average of 8 hours and 12 minutes to cover the 118 miles from Normal to Chicago. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours and 35 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.

Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Chicago. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, 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 9:00am and the last bus leaves at 12:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Normal to Chicago, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from Normal to Chicago every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. However, only one of these is a direct bus. With direct service, you do not have to transfer onto a different bus at any point during your trip. Direct buses also tend to be significantly faster, which is worth bearing in mind as you compare the available options.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Normal to Chicago; ticket prices start at $10.00.

City Information

Normal

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.

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 Normal?

Main departure station: Burlington Trailways

Normal has two bus stations with service to Chicago.

All bus stations in Normal:

  • Burlington Trailways

  • Bloomington

Where does the bus arrive in Chicago?

Chicago Greyhound Bus Station - CHIGLI3-0

Image credit: Jeramey Jannene

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St

These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Chicago.

All bus stations in Chicago:

  • Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St

  • Dan Ryan Bus Station

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