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.
Trip Summary
There are usually 2 daily train trips available from Portland to Chico. Traveling by train from Portland to Chico usually takes 17 hours and 42 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak Coast Starlight train can make the trip in 13 hours and 50 minutes.
| Distance | 403 mi (648 km) |
| Fastest train | 13h 50m |
| Lowest price | $76.00 |
| Trains per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 2 |
What is the price of a train ticket from Portland to Chico?
The average price for a train ticket from Portland to Chico is $88.00, By booking your trip at least 23 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay $66.50 more.
Monthly avg. prices
Prices as travel date approaches
Planning ahead pays off when it comes to booking your train trip from Portland to Chico. By reserving your ticket on Wanderu at least 23 days before departure, you can save around $66.50. Don't miss out on these savings — book in advance!
Which train should you take from Portland to Chico?
2 train services operate from Portland to Chico. However, each train line only offers one daily trip.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 1 | 21h 33m | $163.08 |
| Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 13h 50m | $129.85 |
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 1 Amtrak trains from Portland to Chico every day, as well as 1 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $100.
The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a service provided by Amtrak that connects Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on the US Pacific coast. The full journey winds through the Cascade Mountains, perfectly clipped vineyards, and dense coastal forest, allowing passengers to get a glimpse of the US west coast while enjoying air-conditioned cars, power outlets, complimentary onboard WiFi, and snacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Portland and Chico is approximately 403 miles, or 648 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 17 hours and 42 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 13 hours and 50 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains departing from Portland to Chico tend to have the most passengers on Sunday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Sunday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Monday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Portland at 2:00pm while the last train of the day leaves at 2:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
Trains leave the station in Portland twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. One of these is a direct train, which will typically get you to Chico faster. While it might still have stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains during your trip.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Chico to Portland.
City Information
Portland
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Portland is the largest city in Oregon and accordingly one of the state's best vacation destinations. Also known as the City of Roses, this city along the Willamette River wows visitors with its diverse street food, quirky counterculture, and sprawling bookstores such as the world-famous Powell's Books.
Portland is the 5th best city in the United States for outdoor activities, thanks in part to open-air grounds like the expansive Forest Park. Gardens are also excellent outdoor date locales for couples on a romantic getaway: stop and smell the roses at either the International Rose Test Garden or the Portland Japanese Garden.
Once you've gotten hungry from a long day wandering outside, nearly every block downtown has a plethora of food trucks waiting to tickle your taste buds. Or, kick back at one of the many breweries in the #3 best city for craft beer in the United States. Unique locations like McMenamin's brewpubs in renovated cinemas or historic hotels do their part to "keep Portland weird."
As the biggest city in Oregon, Portland is a hub for travel throughout the Pacific Northwest. Amtrak train service and various bus services operate primarily out of Union Station, conveniently-located downtown, and nearby Portland International Airport makes it easy to travel to Portland from near and far.
Chico
Chico is the largest city in California north of Sacramento, as well as the cultural and economic heart of the northern Sacramento Valley. In addition, the city is a college town, home to California State University.
Chico is a California city famed for its world-famous golf course, wooded paths popular with hikers and environmental enthusiasts, and the massive Bidwell Park. If you're visiting Chico, you can't miss Bidwell Park, which spans 2500 acres of natural beauty.
Chico has the most fantastic steakhouse at the 5th Street Steakhouse. The highly recommended Unwined Kitchen & Bar is only two blocks away, serving the best bar food and drinks. There is no shortage of nightlife in Chico, the best cocktail bar (Duffy's Tavern) is only 100m away from central Chico, and if you are craving a club, The Beach Nightclub is the best option.
Amtrak has one of the major train stations in Chico, with service to Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, and more. For buses, Jefferson Lines offers routes from cities like Seattle, Phoenix, Sacramento to Chico.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Portland?
Image credit: Ian Sane
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Union Station
Located in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown area at 800 Northwest Sixth Avenue, Union Station features a glowing neon sign encouraging you to “Go By Train.” Union Station serves several iconic Amtrak routes including the Cascades through the Pacific Northwest, the scenic Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, and the long-distance Empire Builder which travels all the way to Chicago. Along with train service, Union Station serves intercity bus service via Greyhound, and connects to the Portland Streetcar, MAX Light Rail, and several local TriMet buses. There is a restaurant and bar onsite, as well as a Metropolitan Lounge reserved for Amtrak’s first- and business-class passengers.
All train stations in Portland:
Union Station
Where is the train station in Chico?
Main arrival station: 450 Orange St
Chico has one train station.
All train stations in Chico:
450 Orange St
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Chico to Portland?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Portland
- Train from Portland to Vancouver
$100+
- Train from Portland to Anaheim
$202+
- Portland to Fresno Train
$169+
- Train from Portland to Los Angeles
$182+
- Train from Portland to Martinez
$104+
- Portland to Ventura Train
$212+
- Portland to Yosemite Valley Train
$152+
- Portland to Washington D.C. Train
$584+
- Train from Portland to Atlanta
$607+
Continue by train from Chico
Check out these popular routes
- Train from Ottawa to Montreal
$51+
- Train from Montreal to Ottawa
$52+
- San Diego to San Francisco Train
$82+
- New Haven to New York Train
$35+
- Stamford to New York Train
$31+
- Washington D.C. to Baltimore Train
$15+
- Chicago to Detroit Train
$66+
- Worcester to Boston Train
$9+
- Train from Baltimore to Washington D.C.
$12+
- Train from Detroit to Chicago
$64+
- Saint Paul to Chicago Train
$105+
- New York to Toronto Train
$142+
- New York to Hartford Train
$60+
- New York to New Haven Train
$43+
- Train from Oklahoma City to Dallas
$42+
- Train from Portland to Boston
$591+
- Train from Seattle to Los Angeles
$215+
- Train from Seattle to Vancouver
$42+
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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more