There are 9 ways to get from Chicago to Brainerd by plane, train, bus, bus (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)plane ORD - BRD
5h 51m$64–326Train, bus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolistrain Borealis / ...
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Brainerdbus Jefferson 927
11h 39m$151–302Bus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Cloudbus FlixBus 2548
- Take the bus from St. Cloud to Brainerdbus Jefferson 927
12h 55m$91–150Drive 531.9 mi
- Drive from Chicago to Brainerdcar 531.9 mi
8h 57m$98–141Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)plane MDW - BRD
6h 42m$90–446Fly 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)plane MDW - MSP
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerdbus
7h 29m$148–615Fly 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)plane ORD - MSP
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerdbus
7h 50m$212–455Train, taxi (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Stationtrain Empire Builder
- Take the taxi from Staples Station to Brainerdtaxi
11h 44m$214–404Bus via Richfield
- Take the bus from Chicago to Minneapolis Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0150S
- Take the bus from Minneapolis / St Paul Airport to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - Brainerdbus Groome Transportation - Brainerd
18h 12m$140–228
Chicago to Brainerd by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Brainerd is to bus which costs $90 - $150 and takes 12h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Brainerd is to fly which takes 5h 51m and costs $60 - $330.
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 St. Cloud. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 55m.
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 $150 - $310.
It takes approximately 5h 51m to get from Chicago to Brainerd, including transfers.
Chicago to Brainerd bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to Brainerd is to fly which takes 5h 51m and costs $60 - $330. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $90 - $150 and takes 12h 55m.
Chicago to Brainerd bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Saint Cloud station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to Brainerd is 535 miles. It takes approximately 8h 57m 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) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago Bus Station to Brainerd via St. Cloud in around 12h 55m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–420
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–390
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–550
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–700
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–390
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–390
- Website
- suncountry.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 44m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $55–390
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
- $110–250
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Staples Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $140–330
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from St. Paul to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $40–60
Bus from St. Cloud to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $25–40
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Cloud
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–110
- 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
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Chicago to Minneapolis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $75–160
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Estimated price
- $65–80
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More Questions & Answers
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