There are 9 ways to get from Chicago to Brainerd by plane, train, bus, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), car, taxi, or bus (Greyhound)
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 Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
best- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)ORD - BRD
5h 33m$64–316Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Minneapolis Bus StationGreyhound US0150
- Take the bus from Minneapolis to BrainerdJefferson 927
12h 10m$61–184Train, bus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-MinneapolisBorealis / ...
- Take the bus from St. Paul to BrainerdJefferson 927
11h 39m$78–271Drive 531.9 mi
- Drive from Chicago to Brainerd531.9 mi
8h 52m$98–141Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)MDW - BRD
5h 29m$80–376Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, bus
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)MDW - MSP
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerd
7h 25m$132–505Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, bus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)ORD - MSP
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerd
7h 43m$212–455Train, taxi (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Amtrak StationEmpire Builder
- Take the taxi from Staples Amtrak Station to Brainerd
11h 44m$120–259Bus via Chicago
- Take the bus from Chicago to Saint Paul Union DepotGreyhound US0150
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - BrainerdGroome Transportation - Brainerd
14h 41m$114–143
Chicago to Brainerd by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Brainerd is to drive which costs $95 - $140 and takes 8h 52m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Brainerd is to fly which takes 5h 29m and costs $75 - $380.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to Brainerd. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at Brainerd via Minneapolis. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 10m.
The distance between Chicago and Brainerd is 461 miles. The road distance is 535 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to Brainerd without a car is to train and bus which takes 11h 39m and costs $75 - $280.
It takes approximately 5h 33m to get from Chicago to Brainerd, including transfers.
Chicago to Brainerd bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to Brainerd is to fly which takes 5h 33m and costs $60 - $320. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $60 - $190 and takes 12h 10m.
Chicago to Brainerd bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Minneapolis Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to Brainerd is 535 miles. It takes approximately 8h 52m to drive from Chicago to Brainerd.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Brainerd, MN, USA?
Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago Bus Station to Brainerd via Minneapolis in around 12h 10m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–290
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 49m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $60–350
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–440
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–360
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–440
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–550
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–360
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–360
- Website
- suncountry.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–360
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Wednesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $55–360
- Website
- keylimeair.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via Ironwood
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–330
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 24m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–180
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
- $55–140
- Coach Seat short notice purchase
- $70–180
- Business - advance purchase
- $95–400
- Business Class
- $150–420
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from St. Paul to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–75
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Minneapolis to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $11–70
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
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 Minneapolis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–110
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Minneapolis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–120
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 320-316-0943
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60
- Schedules at
- groometransportation.com
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Estimated price
- $65–80
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