There are 11 ways to get from Chicago to El Centro by plane, bus, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), 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.
Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport, bus
best- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane MDW - SAN
- Take the bus from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop to El Centro Bus Stopbus
9h 49m$182–740Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport, bus
cheapest- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane ORD - SAN
- Take the bus from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop to El Centro Bus Stopbus
10h 7m$122–490Bus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Indio Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stopbus
46h 20m$374–567Train, bus via Fontana
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to San Bernardinotrain
- Take the bus from Fontana Metrolink Transit Center to Indio Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stopbus
47h 35m$1,253–1,916Drive 1,936.8 mi
- Drive from Chicago to El Centrocar 1,936.8 mi
33h 55m$354–511Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Imperial County Airport (IPL)plane MDW - IPL
7h 59m$280–1,216Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Imperial County Airport (IPL)plane ORD - IPL
8h$180–816Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Phoenix, bus
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Phoenix (PHX)plane MDW - PHX
- Take the bus from Phoenix Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stopbus
11h 37m$162–305Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Phoenix, bus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Phoenix (PHX)plane ORD - PHX
- Take the bus from Phoenix Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stopbus
11h 52m$232–445Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport, bus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)plane ORD - PSP
- Take the bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stopbus
12h 24m$188–400Train, bus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Yuma Amtraktrain Texas Eagle
- Take the bus from 3rd Street @ Gila Street to State Street @ 8th Streetbus 10
2d 14h$1,358–2,084
Chicago to El Centro by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to El Centro is to fly and bus which costs $160 - $310 and takes 11h 37m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to El Centro is to fly which takes 7h 59m and costs $280 - $1,300.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to El Centro. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at El Centro Bus Stop via St Louis Bus Station and Indio Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 46h 20m.
The distance between Chicago and El Centro is 1869 miles. The road distance is 1948.1 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to El Centro without a car is to bus which takes 46h 20m and costs $370 - $600.
It takes approximately 9h 49m to get from Chicago to El Centro, including transfers.
Chicago to El Centro bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to El Centro is to bus which takes 46h 20m and costs $370 - $600. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $280 - $1,300 and takes 7h 59m.
Chicago to El Centro bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at St Louis Bus Station.
El Centro is 2h behind Chicago. It is currently 1:47 AM in Chicago and 11:47 PM in El Centro.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and El Centro, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Chicago Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop via St Louis Bus Station and Indio Bus Station in around 46h 20m. Alternatively, Southwest Airlines, Advanced Air, LLC, and Southern Airways Express fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Imperial County Airport (IPL) 3 times a day.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Phoenix via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $140–650
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–450
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–420
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–450
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 23m
- When
- Thursday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $100–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–500
- Website
- advancedaircharters.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 54m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Kansas City, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Albuquerque, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 1m
- When
- Tuesday and Monday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Omaha, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 1m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Colorado Springs, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 9m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Monday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Des Moines, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 46m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Denver, Carlsbad
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 59m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Denver, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Sunday and Monday
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Omaha, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 36m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Kansas City, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Albuquerque, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 44m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–450
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–420
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–450
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Palm Springs International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–480
- Website
- iflysouthern.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 33m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 27m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,300
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Imperial County Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 57m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–750
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 7m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–340
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to San Bernardino
- Ave. Duration
- 41h 21m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1,100–1,900
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Yuma Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 11h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $1,300–2,100
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Indio Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 36h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $310–470
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–23
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–23
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Phoenix Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Phoenix Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–23
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $13–20
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $13–20
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Phoenix Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Phoenix Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Indio Bus Station to El Centro Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $13–20
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- +1 800-923-1799
- [email protected]
- Website
- Omnibus Express
Bus from Fontana Metrolink Transit Center to Indio Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- Omnibus Express
- Phone
- +1 928-783-2235
- Website
- Yuma County Area Transit
Bus from 3rd Street @ Gila Street to State Street @ 8th Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Website
- Yuma County Area Transit
- Youth 5-18 w/ Student ID, Seniors 65+, Disabled
- $1
- Adults 19-64
- $2
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to El Centro is 1948 miles. It takes approximately 33h 55m to drive from Chicago to El Centro.
Book your Chicago to El Centro bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 82+ hotels available in El Centro.











