There are 9 ways to get from Chicago to San José by plane, bus, train, car, shuttle, or bus (Greyhound, 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 Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport, bus
best- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane ORD - SJO
- Take the bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14bus
9h 40m$354–557Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport, bus
cheapest- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane MDW - SJO
- Take the bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14bus
10h 50m$194–807Train, bus via Mexico City
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Dallastrain
- Take the bus from Dallas to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Nortebus
- Take the bus from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte to Tapachulabus
- Take the bus from Tapachula to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
4d 6h$719–1,229Drive 5,329.2 km
- Drive from Chicago to San Josécar 5,329.2 km
2d 18h$715–1,033Train to General Mitchell International Airport, fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport, bus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukeetrain
- Fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane MKE - SJO
- Take the bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14bus
12h 35m$251–972Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane ORD - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Alajuela
12h 29m$592–1,440Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Liberia International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Liberia International Airport (LIR)plane MDW - LIR
- Take a shuttle bus from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Take a shuttle bus from Monteverde to Alajuela
14h 14m$652–1,690Bus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Memphis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Memphis Bus Station to Downtown Houstonbus
- Take the bus from Houston to San Salvadorbus
- Take the bus from Terminal San Carlos - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
5d 1h$451–867Train, bus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Longviewtrain
- Take the bus from Longview Bus Station to Houston Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Houston to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus
5d 17h$590–1,099
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to San José is to fly and bus which costs $190 - $850 and takes 10h 50m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to San José is to fly and bus which takes 9h 40m and costs $350 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to San José. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at Terminal Atlántico Norte via Memphis Bus Station, Smith St @ Pierce St, Mission Bend TC, Houston and Terminal San Carlos - CCA. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5 days 1h.
The distance between Chicago and San José is 3706 km. The road distance is 5329.2 km.
The best way to get from Chicago to San José without a car is to bus which takes 5 days 1h and costs $450 - $900.
It takes approximately 9h 40m to get from Chicago to San José, including transfers.
Chicago to San José bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
Chicago to San José bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Memphis Bus Station.
San José is 1h behind Chicago. It is currently 3:31 PM in Chicago and 2:31 PM in San José.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to San José is 5329 km. It takes approximately 2 days 18h to drive from Chicago to San José.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and San José, Costa Rica?
You can take a bus from Chicago Bus Station to Terminal Atlántico Norte via Memphis Bus Station, Downtown Houston, Smith St @ Pierce St, Mission Bend TC, Bellaire Blvd @ Corporate Dr, Houston, San Salvador, and Terminal San Carlos - CCA in around 5d 1h.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 52m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 59m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–900
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 38m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,100
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 19m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $220–900
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–950
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $360–650
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Guatemala City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $360–650
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Liberia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Orlando
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Orlando
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Baltimore
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,300
- Website
- volaris.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Orlando
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 1m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $250–700
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Orlando
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 56m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–800
- Website
- jetblue.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Fort Lauderdale
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Liberia International Airport via Fort Lauderdale
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,200
- Website
- volaris.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Cancun
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 43m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 58m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $320–650
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukee
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $27–60
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Longview
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $270–600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +506 2442 6900
- [email protected]
- Website
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from 50 m este Del Aeropuerto to Terminal San José Av. 2, C12 Y 14
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
- Phone
- +1 800 923 1799
- [email protected]
- Website
- omnibusexpress.com
Bus from Dallas to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $180–250
- Schedules at
- omnibusexpress.com
- Phone
- +52 55 4386 4652
- [email protected]
- Website
- ado.com.mx
Bus from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte to Tapachula
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 50m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $100–180
- Schedules at
- ado.com.mx
- Book at
- ado.com.mx
- Phone
- +𝟓𝟎𝟑 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟒 𝟔𝟓𝟒𝟖
- [email protected]
- Website
- facebook.com
Bus from Tapachula to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
- Phone
- +504 9919 5375
- Website
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
Bus from Terminal San Carlos - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 20h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $65–95
Bus from Terminal San Carlos - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 20h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $65–95
Bus from Terminal Managua - CCA to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $30–50
- Phone
- 1 800 715 1370
- [email protected]
- Website
- ridecr.com
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Monteverde to Alajuela
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $315
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $269
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
Shuttle from Monteverde to Alajuela
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $315
- Website
- https://www.ridecr.com/
- Phone
- +506 2640 1900 / 2640 0811
- [email protected]
- Website
- tropicaltourshuttles.com
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- https://tropicaltourshuttles.com/
Shuttle from Liberia Airport to Monteverde
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–69
- Website
- https://tropicaltourshuttles.com/
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 Memphis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–160
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Longview Bus Station to Houston Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–65
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Memphis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–150
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Memphis Bus Station to Downtown Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $120–220
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- [email protected]
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 3d
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $180–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Houston to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 1h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $230–390
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
Want to know more about travelling around Costa Rica
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