Cheap bus tickets from Kansas City to Chicago
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
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:
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Kansas City to Chicago?
There are usually 6 daily train trips available from Kansas City to Chicago.
Bus | Train | |
---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price€95.66 | Avg. Price€103.86 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips8 | Daily Trips6 |
Duration | Duration17h 28m | Duration19h 27m |
Bus from Kansas City to Chicago: Journey Information
There are 7 intercity buses per day from Kansas City to Chicago. Traveling by bus from Kansas City to Chicago usually takes around 17 hours and 50 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 9 hours and 40 minutes.
Distance | 412 mi (664 km) |
Shortest duration | 9h 40m |
Cheapest price | €55.49 |
Most frequent service | Greyhound |
Bus lines | 1 |

Kansas City to Chicago Route Map

How much is a bus ticket from Kansas City to Chicago?
Bus tickets for a trip from Kansas City to Chicago cost €86.23 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 Kansas City to Chicago by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from Kansas City to Chicago is expected to be between €80 and €103. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is February 26, 2025, when tickets are available for February 26, 2025. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just €84.
Average bus ticket prices from Kansas City to Chicago by month
Prices as 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 24 days in advance to save up to €91.82.
What bus companies travel from Kansas City to Chicago?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Kansas City to Chicago. Greyhound 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 |
---|---|---|---|
Greyhound | 7 | 17h 51m | €98.69 |
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 7 bus trips from Kansas City to Chicago every day, with the average journey taking around 17 hours and 51 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Chicago usually start from €55.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Kansas City to Chicago
The bus takes an average of 17 hours and 50 minutes to cover the 412 miles from Kansas City to Chicago. However, the fastest bus only takes 9 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.
Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Kansas City to Chicago for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, 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 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 6:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Kansas City to Chicago, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 7 scheduled buses that travel from Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Chicago; ticket prices start at €59.87.
City Information
Kansas City



Straddling two states, Kansas City is a vibrant modern city with plenty of activities for visitors. Those wishing to learn more about the city’s culture and history should not miss out on the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Arts, which offers artworks for both children and adults alike. If you seek something a bit quirkier and more interesting, the Arabia Steamboat Museum will certainly satisfy your curiosity. While you are in town, don’t forget to pay the Boulevard Brewing Company a visit. It is the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest and the source of pride from many local residents.
Kansas City’s signature barbecue is another source of pride, and you should take every occasion to try it out. Some noticeable venues with well-received barbecue dishes include Danny Edwards Boulevard BBQ and Arthur Bryant's Barbeque. If that’s not really your thing, The Farmhouse and Providence New American Kitchen are also worth checking out.
Kansas City’s principal bus station is located on Troost Ave, and it offers bus trips to Chicago, Wichita and Denver, among many other places. Kansas City Union Station provides Amtrak intercity train services, and the trains Missouri River Runner and Southwest Chief pass through the station on their way. Kansas City International Airport is located 15 miles northwest of Downtown.
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 Kansas City?

Image credit: Paul Sableman
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Bus Terminal - 1101 Troost Ave
Located on Troost Avenue, the Bus Terminal provides intercity bus service from Kansas City on Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and Amtrak Thruway buses. Popular routes from this station travel to cities such as Columbia, Chicago, and Wichita. The lounge inside the station includes seating, restrooms, and a cell phone charging station to help you stay connected during your trip. Several public transit options depart from nearby 12th St, so it’s easy to travel throughout Kansas City from the bus terminal.
All bus stations in Kansas City:
Bus Terminal - 1101 Troost Ave
Where does the bus arrive in Chicago?

Image credit: Jeramey Jannene
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St
Buses arrive in Chicago at 3 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
All bus stations in Chicago:
Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St
Dan Ryan Bus Station
Chicago Train Station Bus Stop
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Chicago to Kansas City?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Kansas City
Continue by bus from Chicago
Check out these popular routes

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.
- Bus Tickets
- United States
- Illinois
- Chicago
- Kansas City to Chicago