There are 8 ways to get from St. Louis to Lake Forest by train (Amtrak), bus (Flixbus), car, plane, train, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train
best- Take the train from St. Louis to Chicago Union Stationtrain Lincoln Service / ...
- Take the train from Chicago OTC to Lake Forest.train Up-N
6h 41m$98–193Drive 314.7 mi
cheapest- Drive from St. Louis to Lake Forestcar 314.7 mi
5h 28m$58–83Bus (Flixbus)
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus FlixBus N2521 / ...
9h 33m$59–95Fly Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport, train
- Fly from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)plane STL - MDW
- Take the train from Chicago OTC to Lake Forest.train
5h 8m$64–384Fly Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, train
- Fly from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane STL - ORD
- Take the train from Clybourn to Lake Forest.train
5h 25m$278–714Fly Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport, bus
- Fly from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) to General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)plane STL - MKE
- Take the bus from Mitchell Airport to Metro Train Station - 13th Avenue and 54th Streetbus
6h 24m$492–872Train to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, train
- Take the train from St. Louis to Springfieldtrain
- Fly from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane SPI - ORD
- Take the train from Clybourn to Lake Forest.train
6h 35m$80–321Bus to Williamson County Regional Airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, train
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Carbondale Intermodal Stationbus
- Fly from Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane MWA - ORD
- Take the train from Clybourn to Lake Forest.train
7h 16m$131–317
St. Louis to Lake Forest by train, foot, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from St. Louis to Lake Forest is to drive which costs $55 - $85 and takes 5h 28m.
The fastest way to get from St. Louis to Lake Forest is to fly and train which takes 5h 8m and costs $60 - $390.
No, there is no direct bus from St. Louis station to Lake Forest station. However, there are services departing from St Louis Bus Station and arriving at Highland Park Metra Station via Union Station Transit Center, Michigan & Hubbard and Howard CTA Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 33m.
No, there is no direct train from St. Louis to Lake Forest. However, there are services departing from St. Louis and arriving at Lake Forest. via Chicago OTC. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 41m.
The distance between St. Louis and Lake Forest is 312 miles. The road distance is 316.5 miles.
The best way to get from St. Louis to Lake Forest without a car is to train which takes 6h 41m and costs $95 - $200.
It takes approximately 6h 41m to get from St. Louis to Lake Forest, including transfers.
St. Louis to Lake Forest bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from St Louis Bus Station.
St. Louis to Lake Forest train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from St. Louis station.
The best way to get from St. Louis to Lake Forest is to train which takes 6h 41m and costs $95 - $200. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $100 and takes 9h 33m.
What companies run services between St. Louis, MO, USA and Lake Forest, IL, USA?
You can take a train from St. Louis to Lake Forest. via Chicago Union Station, Washington & Jefferson, Washington & Canal, and Chicago OTC in around 6h 41m. Alternatively, Flixbus USA operates a bus from St Louis Bus Station to Chicago Bus Station 4 times a day. Tickets cost $50–85 and the journey takes 6h 5m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–370
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–600
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to General Mitchell International Airport via Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $90–600
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–230
Flights from Williamson County Regional Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–290
- Website
- contouraviation.com
Flights from Williamson County Regional Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–220
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from St. Louis to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $90–190
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from St. Louis to Springfield
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $30–65
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 312-696-3872
- Website
- metra.com
Train from Chicago OTC to Lake Forest.
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5–6
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $5–6
Train from Chicago OTC to Lake Forest.
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5–6
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $5–6
Train from Clybourn to Lake Forest.
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–3
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $1–3
Train from Clybourn to Lake Forest.
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–3
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $1–3
Train from Clybourn to Lake Forest.
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–3
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $1–3
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Carbondale Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–26
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 (866) 912 - 6224
- [email protected]
- Website
- coachusa.com
Bus from Mitchell Airport to Metro Train Station - 13th Avenue and 54th Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $6–14
- Schedules at
- coachusa.com
- Adult
- $6–14
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Carbondale Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
St. Louis to Lake Forest bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
St. Louis to Lake Forest train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between St. Louis to Lake Forest is 317 miles. It takes approximately 5h 28m to drive from St. Louis to Lake Forest.
There are 177+ hotels available in Lake Forest.









