There are 8 ways to get from Chicago to Churchill Downs by subway, plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train, bus, 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.
Subway to Chicago Midway International Airport, fly to Louisville International Airport
best- Take the subway from Adams/Wabash to Midwaysubway
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Louisville International Airport (SDF)plane MDW - SDF
4h 8m$84–558Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Louisville Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0100 / ...
7h 28m$50–96Train, bus via Indianapolis
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Indianapolistrain Cardinal
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0100 / ...
9h 27m$87–181Drive 297.7 mi
- Drive from Chicago to Churchill Downscar 297.7 mi
5h 9m$55–79Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville International Airport
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Louisville International Airport (SDF)plane ORD - SDF
4h 39m$68–418Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Blue Grass Airport, drive
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Blue Grass Airport (LEX)plane ORD - LEX
- Drive from Lexington-Airport-LEX to Churchill Downscar
4h 39m$116–675Bus via Indianapolis
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Indianapolisbus FlixBus 2514 / ...
- Take the bus from Indianapolis to Louisville Bus Stationbus FlixBus 2512
7h 38m$88–125Train, bus
- Take the train from Van Buren St. to Gary Metro Centertrain Ssl / ...
- Take the bus from Gary Bus Station to Louisville Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0100
8h 49m$74–106
Chicago to Churchill Downs by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Churchill Downs is to bus which costs $45 - $100 and takes 7h 28m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Churchill Downs is to subway and fly which takes 4h 8m and costs $80 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to Churchill Downs. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at Central @ 4th via Chestnut @ 13th and S 6th @ W Jefferson. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 28m.
The distance between Chicago and Churchill Downs is 288 miles. The road distance is 299.4 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to Churchill Downs without a car is to bus which takes 7h 28m and costs $45 - $100.
It takes approximately 4h 8m to get from Chicago to Churchill Downs, including transfers.
Chicago to Churchill Downs bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to Churchill Downs is to bus which takes 7h 28m and costs $45 - $100. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $65 - $420 and takes 4h 39m.
Chicago to Churchill Downs bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, arrive at Louisville Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to Churchill Downs is 299 miles. It takes approximately 5h 9m to drive from Chicago to Churchill Downs.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Churchill Downs, KY, USA?
Jefferson Lines operates a bus from Chicago Bus Station to Louisville Bus Station every 4 hours. Tickets cost $70–110 and the journey takes 6h 15m. Two other operators also service this route. Alternatively, American Airlines and United Airlines fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Louisville International Airport (SDF) every 3 hours.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–410
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Blue Grass Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Louisville International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–550
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Louisville International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–650
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–410
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Blue Grass Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
- Phone
- +1 888-968-7282
- Website
- transitchicago.com
Subway from Adams/Wabash to Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 23 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- https://www.transitchicago.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.transitchicago.com/schedules/
- Adult
- $2–5
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 54m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–130
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 219-926-5744
- Website
- mysouthshoreline.com
Train from Van Buren St. to Gary Metro Center
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–9
- Schedules at
- mysouthshoreline.com
- Adults 14-64
- $7–9
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $70–110
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $35–50
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $50–70
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $50–70
Bus from Indianapolis to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–50
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $35–50
Bus from Gary Bus Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $65–95
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–90
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $18–35
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Gary Bus Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–80
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Thruway
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Adult
- $22–45
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