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There are 16 intercity buses per day from East Lansing to Chicago. Traveling by bus from East Lansing to Chicago usually takes around 7 hours and 29 minutes, but the fastest Indian Trails bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 20 minutes.
| Distance | 171 mi (276 km) |
| Shortest duration | 5h 20m |
| Cheapest price | RON 196.11 |
| Most frequent service | Indian Trails |
| Bus lines | 1 |
Average score for buses from East Lansing to Chicago
(Based on 2 ratings and reviews)
4.0
Pros: Nice staff and friendly passengers. I liked that there were outlets and bathrooms if needed. Cons: WiFi was not working & it was unclear which buses stopped where (wasn’t sure if I was transferring or not). Tips: Feel free to ask bus divers if they will be stopping where you need to go. Sometimes unclear.
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from East Lansing to Chicago. Indian Trails connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Trails | 16 | 7h 29m | RON 211.28 |
Book Indian Trails from East Lansing to Chicago from RON 196. There are 16 trips per day offered by Indian Trails from East Lansing to Chicago and you can expect on average to pay for a Indian Trails ticket to Chicago. In East Lansing, Indian Trails departs to Chicago from East Lansing (Michigan Flyer) and one other station. In Chicago, Indian Trails arrives at Dan Ryan Bus Station and one other station.
An average trip on Indian Trails from East Lansing to Chicago takes 7 hours and 29 minutes , while the fastest available Indian Trails trip will get you to Chicago in 5 hours and 20 minutes .
The bus takes an average of 7 hours and 29 minutes to cover the 171 miles from East Lansing to Chicago. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours and 20 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.
The first bus leaves at 10:00am and the last bus leaves at 3:00pm. To see the times for all buses from East Lansing to Chicago, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 16 scheduled buses that travel from East Lansing to Chicago 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 East Lansing to Chicago; ticket prices start at RON 116.73.
East Lansing, a city shockingly located just east of Lansing, is primarily known as the home of Michigan State University. In fact, around half of its population is composed of students, and some of the city's most visited attractions are situated on the college campus. Among them are the historic W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, the 104-foot-tall Beaumont Tower, the contemporary Broad Art Museum, and the renowned Wharton Center for Performing Arts. Aside from its vibrant college life, East Lansing is also known for its yearly events, such as The East Lansing Film Festival, the largest of its kind in the entire state.
Lake Lansing is a go-to for swimming, fishing, or just getting some fresh air, but you'll also find parks and golf courses all around the city. The tree-lined Grand River Avenue divides the MSU campus from the rest of the city; find some of the city's best shopping and dining in the Grand River area, including HopCat, Beggar's Banquet, and Barrio East Lansing.
Public transit buses connect East Lansing to the closest airport, the Capital Region International Airport. However, it's also easy to take an intercity bus to nearby travel hubs, Detroit and Chicago, by booking a ticket with Greyhound, Indian Trails, or Jefferson Lines. East Lansing is a stop on Amtrak's Blue Water line, which makes train travel in and out of the city a breeze.
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.
East Lansing has two bus stations with service to Chicago.
East Lansing (Michigan Flyer)
1240 S. Harrison
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Chicago.
Dan Ryan Bus Station
500 S Desplaines St W (btwn Congress & Tilden)
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