There are 6 ways to get from Chicago to Albany by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Greyhound), car, or bus (Flixbus)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport
best- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Albany County Airport (ALB)plane MDW - ALB
4h 24m$146–759Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
cheapest- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Albany County Airport (ALB)plane ORD - ALB
4h 51m$116–609Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Stationtrain Lake Shore Limited
16h 23m$260–550Bus via Brook Park (Greyhound)
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Cleveland Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0164
- Take the bus from Cleveland Bus Station to Albany Bus Terminal, NYbus Greyhound US0171
18h 20m$127–248Drive 809.1 mi
- Drive from Chicago to Albanycar 809.1 mi
14h 6m$148–214Bus (Flixbus)
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to New York Midtownbus FlixBus N2641 / ...
- Take the bus from New York Midtown to Albany Bus Terminal, NYbus FlixBus N2679 / ...
21h 5m$168–278
Chicago to Albany by train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Albany is to bus via Brook Park which costs $120 - $250 and takes 18h 20m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Albany is to fly which takes 4h 24m and costs $140 - $800.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to Albany. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at Albany Bus Terminal, NY via Cleveland Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 18h 20m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Chicago Union Station station and arriving at Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station station. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 16h 23m.
The distance between Chicago and Albany is 741 miles. The road distance is 813.8 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to Albany without a car is to train which takes 16h 23m and costs $260 - $550.
It takes approximately 4h 24m to get from Chicago to Albany, including transfers.
Chicago to Albany bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
Chicago to Albany train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Chicago Union Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to Albany is to fly which takes 4h 24m and costs $140 - $800. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $260 - $550 and takes 16h 23m, you could also bus via Brook Park, which costs $120 - $250 and takes 18h 20m.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Albany, NY, USA?
Southwest Airlines flies from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Albany County Airport (ALB) 4 times a day. Alternatively, Amtrak operates a train from Chicago Union Station to Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station twice daily. Tickets cost $260–550 and the journey takes 16h 23m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Albany County Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Albany County Airport via Baltimore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–800
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Albany County Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $200–950
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Albany County Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Albany County Airport via Washington Dulles
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Albany County Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Albany County Airport via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Albany County Airport via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130–650
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Albany County Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Albany County Airport via New York La Guardia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 23m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $260–550
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Cleveland Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Cleveland Bus Station to Albany Bus Terminal, NY
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $75–150
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to New York Midtown
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $140–240
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from New York Midtown to Albany Bus Terminal, NY
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $26–45
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
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More Questions & Answers
Chicago to Albany bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Cleveland Bus Station.
Albany is 1h ahead of Chicago. It is currently 11:05 PM in Chicago and 12:05 AM in Albany.
Chicago to Albany train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to Albany is 814 miles. It takes approximately 14h 6m to drive from Chicago to Albany.
Book your Chicago to Albany train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Chicago to Albany bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 177+ hotels available in Albany.






