There are 9 ways to get from Boston to Chicago by plane, bus, train or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Recommended option
Fly Boston to Chicago Midway • 4h 12m
Cheapest option
Train • 22h 22m
7 alternative options
Fly Boston to Chicago O'Hare • 4h 36m
Bus • 27h 14m
Drive • 16h 30m
Boston to Chicago by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Boston to Chicago is to train which costs $40 - $300 and takes 22h 22m.
The fastest way to get from Boston to Chicago is to fly which takes 4h 12m and costs $85 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Boston to Chicago. However, there are services departing from Boston and arriving at Chicago IL via Port Authority Bus Terminal and Indianapolis IN. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 27h 14m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Boston and arriving at Chicago Union Station station. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 22h 22m.
The distance between Boston and Chicago is 880 miles. The road distance is 995.4 miles.
The best way to get from Boston to Chicago without a car is to train which takes 22h 22m and costs $40 - $300.
It takes approximately 4h 12m to get from Boston to Chicago, including transfers.
Boston to Chicago bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Boston station.
Boston to Chicago train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Boston station.
The best way to get from Boston to Chicago is to fly which takes 4h 12m and costs $85 - $650. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $40 - $300 and takes 22h 22m, you could also bus, which costs $130 - $310 and takes 27h 14m.
- Distance: 879.9 miles
- Duration: 4h 12m
What companies run services between Boston, MA, USA and Chicago, IL, USA?
Southwest Airlines and Delta fly from Boston to Chicago 5 times a day. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Boston to Chicago Union Station once daily. Tickets cost $40 - $300 and the journey takes 22h 22m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Boston to Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110 - $260
Flights from Manchester to Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190 - $650
Flights from Manchester to Chicago Midway via Baltimore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200 - $700
Flights from Manchester to Chicago O'Hare via Baltimore
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $150 - $550
Flights from Providence to Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160 - $550
Flights from Providence to Chicago Midway via Baltimore
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170 - $600
Flights from Providence to Chicago O'Hare via Baltimore
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 12m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130 - $430
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Boston to Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80 - $350
Flights from Manchester to Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270 - $370
Flights from Manchester to Chicago O'Hare via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270 - $370
Flights from Manchester to Chicago O'Hare via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270 - $370
Flights from Providence to Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180 - $370
Flights from Providence to Chicago O'Hare via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 14m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180 - $370
Flights from Providence to Chicago O'Hare via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180 - $370
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Boston to Chicago Midway via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150 - $470
Flights from Boston to Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120 - $360
Flights from Boston to Chicago O'Hare via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120 - $360
Flights from Providence to Chicago Midway via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180 - $550
Flights from Providence to Chicago O'Hare via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 19m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130 - $420
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Boston to Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100 - $440
Flights from Manchester to Chicago O'Hare via Newark
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $320 - $650
Flights from Providence to Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170 - $700
- Website
- jetblue.com
Flights from Boston to Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90 - $380
Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. Founded in 1971, it is based in Washington, D.C. and offers four classes of travel: First Class, Sleeper, Business and Coach. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. Amtrak trains are known for their wide seats, plug-in power, big windows and storage capabilities.
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Boston to Providence
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $21 - $350
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Seat - Child 2-12
- $10 - $120
- Business Seat - Seniors and Active Military
- $19 - $190
- Business Seat - Adult
- $21 - $210
- First Class - Child 2-12
- $35 - $140
- First Class - Senior Citizens
- $70 - $290
- First Class - Adult
- $70 - $350
- Phone
- +1-617-222-3200
- Website
- mbta.com
Train from South Station to Providence
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5 - $14
- Website
- https://www.mbta.com
- Children 11 and under
- $0
- Adult
- $5 - $14
Amtrak’s Northeast Regional train service serves the US’ busy northeast corridor from Virginia to Massachusetts; major stops include Boston, Providence, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Baltimore. Amenities include Wi-Fi, a quiet car, cafe and business-class seating, and travelling with a small dog or cat is permitted. Book at least 14 days in advance for a cheaper Saver Fare.
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Northeast Regional
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Boston to Providence
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $15 - $210
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/northeast-regional-train
- Child 2-12 with paid adult
- $2 - $110
- Reserved Coach Seat
- $15 - $210
- Business Class Seat
- $55 - $160
Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. Founded in 1971, it is based in Washington, D.C. and offers four classes of travel: First Class, Sleeper, Business and Coach. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. Amtrak trains are known for their wide seats, plug-in power, big windows and storage capabilities.
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Boston to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 22h 22m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40 - $300
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Child Coach - Advance Purchase
- $40 - $130
- Child Coach - short notice
- $65 - $120
- Child Business Class - advance purchase
- $60 - $200
- Child Business Class - short notice
- $65 - $200
- Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
- $90 - $250
- Business Seat - advance purchase
- $120 - $390
- Business Seat - short notice
- $130 - $410
- Coach Seat - short notice
- $110 - $300
Greyhound is a leading bus company based in Dallas, Texas, serving over 3800 destinations across North America, Mexico and Canada. Greyhound carries around 18 million passengers a year who travel 5.4 billion miles (8.6 billion km) a year on their fleet of around 1700 vehicles. For travel flexibility, you can board or get off a Greyhound bus at official Greyhound stations, partner stations and curbside stops. There are around 230 Greyhound stations across the US where you can both catch your bus and buy tickets, that are also available on the official website and via the mobile app.
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Boston to Boston Manchester Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5 - $35
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Boston to Port Authority Bus Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23 - $65
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Indianapolis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $80 - $170
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- 1-800-343-9999
- Website
- peterpanbus.com
Bus from South Station, Boston, MA to Port Authority Bus Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $5 - $70
- Website
- https://peterpanbus.com
- Adult
- $5 - $70
- Website
- palmlandlines.com
Bus from Indianapolis IN to Chicago IL
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $50 - $65
- Schedules at
- palmlandlines.com
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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Boston to Chicago bus services, operated by Palmland Bus Lines, arrive at Chicago IL station.
Chicago is 1h behind Boston. It is currently 9:03 AM in Boston and 8:03 AM in Chicago.
Boston to Chicago train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Boston to Chicago is 995 miles. It takes approximately 16h 30m to drive from Boston to Chicago.
Book your Boston to Chicago train tickets online with Omio.
There are 1336+ hotels available in Chicago. Prices start at $67 USD per night.