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Cheap bus tickets from St Louis to Chicago

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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St Louis to Chicago Bus Schedule

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from$30.00

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

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

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$68.49
Avg. Price
$73.19
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
7
Daily Trips
5
Duration
Duration
8h 40m
Duration
5h 58m

Bus from St Louis to Chicago: Journey Information

There are 7 intercity buses per day from St Louis to Chicago. Traveling by bus from St Louis to Chicago usually takes around 8 hours and 2 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

Distance262 mi (422 km)
Shortest duration5h 15m
Cheapest price$30.99
Trips per day3
Most frequent serviceGreyhound
Bus lines2

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from St Louis to Chicago

(Based on 11 ratings and reviews)

4.5

5.0

Ajdin

November 16, 2019- Vacation

Megabus

Lower back hurts on the chairs

5.0

Rimas

October 1, 2019- Solo travel

Megabus

Pros: Other. Cons: Other. Tips: Good.

4.0

Michelle

August 19, 2019- Visiting family

Greyhound

Pros: Did what it said it would do. Glad for the stop break which was sufficient for a healthy break. Cons: Chair was in recline mode which is fine, but not able to adjust which made it a little uncomfortable. That is my only winge. Tips: Sit back and enjoy.

1.0

Carla

July 7, 2019- Visiting friends

Megabus

Pros: No comment. Cons: Running on time,. Tips: It’s was the worse trip on the mega I used to enjoy riding the bus but that was my last kids was crying the hold way back to Chicago people rude talking very loud using bad language it was just to much Done ✅.

St Louis to Chicago Route Map

St Louis Chicago

How much is a bus ticket from St Louis to Chicago?

Bus tickets for a trip from St Louis to Chicago cost $57.47 on average. Tickets cheaper than $57.47 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 St Louis to Chicago by travel date

$90$60$30DecDec

Bus tickets from St Louis to Chicago are expected to cost between $49 and $78 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 $49. 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
Taking the bus from St Louis to Chicago is usually cheapest in January, when the average ticket price is only $46. If you're planning to take the bus from St Louis to Chicago during July, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $60. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

$100$80$60$40$203020100

The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 28 days in advance to save $42.99 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.

What bus companies travel from St Louis to Chicago?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from St Louis to Chicago that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 6 scheduled trips per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Burlington Trailways113h 30m$167.10
Greyhound67h 36m$67.25
  • Book Burlington Trailways from St Louis to Chicago from $166. Typically there is one Burlington Trailways schedule per day from St Louis to Chicago and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to Chicago. In St Louis, Burlington Trailways departs to Chicago from Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St . In Chicago, Burlington Trailways arrives at Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St .

    An average trip on Burlington Trailways from St Louis to Chicago takes 13 hours and 30 minutes , while the fastest available Burlington Trailways trip will get you to Chicago in 5 hours and 15 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 6 bus trips from St Louis to Chicago every day, with the average journey taking around 7 hours and 36 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Chicago usually start from $31.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from St Louis to Chicago

The bus takes an average of 8 hours and 2 minutes to cover the 262 miles from St Louis to Chicago. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours and 15 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.

Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Chicago at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.

The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from St Louis to Chicago, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 7 scheduled buses that travel from St Louis to Chicago every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 3 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 St Louis to Chicago; ticket prices start at $27.00.

City Information

St Louis

St. Louis, MO - STL-0

Image credit: Unsplash

St. Louis, MO - STL-1

Image credit: Unsplash

St. Louis, MO - STL-2

Image credit: Unsplash

St. Louis is one of several major cities in the state of Missouri and it is uniquely located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The city is usually recognized by its most distinctive feature, the Gateway Arch, thanks to which it is the only city in the United States that has a national park in the heart of its downtown district. The Arch is a must-see attraction and you can even take a tram to the top for some incredible views of the St. Louis skyline.

Some of the other truly unique attractions you can visit while you’re in town include the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis where you can check out an incredible collection of dolls, dollhouses and vignettes, and the City Museum where you can ride down a 10-story spiral slide (yup, you read that right.) For a great outdoor experience, stop by the gorgeous Missouri Botanical Garden, and then take a stroll through Citygarden where you will find various quirky statues and installations worthy of being featured in your Instagram feed.

Ale enthusiasts would be excited to know that St. Louis is one of the best craft beer cities in the U.S. as well as one of the cheapest drinking cities. That means your party budget could take you a long way. Unsurprisingly, the city is also among the best spring break destinations on a budget.

The main bus and train station in St. Louis, Gateway Station, is located right in the center of downtown, not far from the Gateway Arch, which makes coming in and out of the city a breeze.

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 St Louis?

Main departure station: Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St

St Louis has two bus stations with service to Chicago.

All bus stations in St Louis:

  • Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St

  • Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St

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

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

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