There are 5 ways to get from Chicago to San Diego 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 from Chicago O'Hare • 6h 29m
4 alternative options
Fly from Chicago Midway • 6h 15m
Bus • 2 days 3h
Train • 2 days 21h
Drive • 32h 19m
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to San Diego is to fly which costs $75 - $650 and takes 6h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to San Diego is to fly which takes 6h 15m and costs $75 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at San Diego via St Louis Bus Station, Las Vegas S Strip Transit Terminal and Santa Ana Bus Stop. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 3h.
No, there is no direct train from Chicago station to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Chicago Union Station and arriving at San Diego via Los Angeles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 21h.
The distance between Chicago and San Diego is 1752 miles. The road distance is 2088.7 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to San Diego without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 3h and costs $240 - $550.
It takes approximately 6h 29m to get from Chicago to San Diego, including transfers.
Chicago to San Diego bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
Chicago to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Chicago Union Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to San Diego is to fly which takes 6h 29m and costs $75 - $480. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $240 - $550 and takes 2 days 3h, you could also train, which costs $110 - $800 and takes 2 days 21h.
- Distance: 1752.2 miles
- Duration: 6h 29m
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and San Diego, CA, USA?
American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines fly from Chicago to San Diego hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago to San Diego via St Louis Bus Station, Las Vegas S Strip Transit Terminal, and Santa Ana Bus Stop in around 2 days 3h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Monday, Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $160 - $550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160 - $550
Flights from Chicago Midway to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180 - $1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway to San Diego via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180 - $1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway to San Diego via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 8m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180 - $1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway to San Diego via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180 - $1,200
Flights from Chicago Midway to San Diego via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180 - $1,200
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200 - $800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Thursday, Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200 - $800
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200 - $850
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 13m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200 - $850
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2 days 17h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $110 - $750
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Child Coach - Advance Purchase
- $110 - $320
- Child Coach - short notice
- $150 - $300
- Child Business Class - advance purchase
- $150 - $480
- Child Business Class - short notice
- $160 - $470
- Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
- $220 - $650
- Business Seat - advance purchase
- $300 - $950
- Business Seat - short notice
- $310 - $1,100
- Coach Seat - short notice
- $290 - $750
Train from Los Angeles to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 54m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $5 - $85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Child Coach - Advance Purchase
- $5 - $27
- Child Coach - short notice
- $17 - $28
- Child Business Class - advance purchase
- $15 - $50
- Child Business Class - short notice
- $17 - $55
- Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
- $21 - $35
- Business Seat - advance purchase
- $30 - $110
- Business Seat - short notice
- $35 - $90
- Coach Seat - short notice
- $16 - $85
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35 - $85
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Las Vegas S Strip Transit Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 34h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170 - $320
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Las Vegas S Strip Transit Terminal to Santa Ana Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $29 - $75
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $10 - $45
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Adult
- $10 - $45
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Chicago to San Diego bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at San Diego station.
San Diego is 2h behind Chicago. It is currently 3:45 AM in Chicago and 1:45 AM in San Diego.
Chicago to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at San Diego station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to San Diego is 2089 miles. It takes approximately 32h 19m to drive from Chicago to San Diego.
Book your Chicago to San Diego train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Chicago to San Diego bus tickets online with FlixBus.
There are 1584+ hotels available in San Diego. Prices start at $54 USD per night.