There are 7 ways to get from Chicago to Ottawa by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Amtrak, Flixbus), car, train, 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 to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
best- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane ORD - YOW
5h 34m$389–1,612Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0160
- Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawabus FlixBus N2710
19h 40m$174–285Train via Detroit
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Detroittrain
- Take the train from Windsor to Toronto Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawatrain
16h 33m$402–960Bus via Detroit
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Detroitbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
- Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawabus FlixBus N2710
19h 30mDrive 1,200.9 km
- Drive from Chicago to Ottawacar 1,200.9 km
13h 29m$242–350Fly to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, train
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)plane ORD - YUL
- Take the train from Dorval to Ottawatrain
7h 40m$323–1,851Train
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Buffalo Depew Stationtrain
- Take the train from Buffalo to Toronto Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawatrain
21h 45m$558–1,198
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Ottawa is to bus which costs $170 - $290 and takes 19h 40m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Ottawa is to fly which takes 5h 34m and costs $380 - $1,700.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to Ottawa. However, there are services departing from Chicago Union Station and arriving at Ottawa via Cass & Milwaukee and Detroit Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 19h 30m.
No, there is no direct train from Chicago station to Ottawa. However, there are services departing from Chicago Union Station and arriving at Ottawa via Windsor and Toronto Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 33m.
The distance between Chicago and Ottawa is 1093 km. The road distance is 1200.9 km.
The best way to get from Chicago to Ottawa without a car is to bus via Detroit which takes 19h 30m and costs .
It takes approximately 5h 34m to get from Chicago to Ottawa, including transfers.
Chicago to Ottawa bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Chicago Union Station.
Chicago to Ottawa train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Chicago Union Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to Ottawa is to fly which takes 5h 34m and costs $380 - $1,700. Alternatively, you can train via Detroit, which costs $400 - $1,000 and takes 16h 33m, you could also bus via Detroit, which costs and takes 19h 30m.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Ottawa, ON, Canada?
United Airlines, Air Canada, and Porter Airlines fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) every 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Chicago Union Station to Ottawa via Detroit, Windsor, and Toronto Union Station in around 16h 33m.
- Website
- aircanada.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport via Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–500
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport via Washington Dulles
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–470
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–470
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–460
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport via Washington Dulles
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–470
- Website
- flyporter.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport via Toronto
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $380–1,500
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–470
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–470
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $220–340
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Buffalo Depew Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 23m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $410–650
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 888 842-7245
- Website
- VIA Rail
Train from Windsor to Toronto Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $80–300
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $80–210
- Business
- $130–280
- Business Plus
- $140–300
- Economy
- $90–220
- Economy Plus
- $100–230
Train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawa
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $100–320
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $100–250
- Business
- $150–310
- Business Plus
- $160–320
- Economy
- $110–260
- Economy Plus
- $120–270
Train from Dorval to Ottawa
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $35–120
- Business
- $85–220
- Business Plus
- $100–240
- Economy
- $40–130
- Economy Plus
- $45–140
Train from Buffalo to Toronto Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 14m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–240
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $40–130
- Business
- $85–230
- Business Plus
- $100–240
- Economy
- $45–140
- Economy Plus
- $50–150
Train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawa
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $100–320
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $100–250
- Business
- $150–310
- Business Plus
- $160–320
- Economy
- $110–260
- Economy Plus
- $120–270
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawa
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $110–180
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $60–95
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawa
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $110–180
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- Greyhound
Want to know more about travelling around Canada
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.
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Booking & Getting There
Chicago to Ottawa bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Detroit station.
Ottawa is 1h ahead of Chicago. It is currently 7:06 AM in Chicago and 8:06 AM in Ottawa.
Chicago to Ottawa train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Detroit station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to Ottawa is 1201 km. It takes approximately 13h 29m to drive from Chicago to Ottawa.
Book your Chicago to Ottawa bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 323+ hotels available in Ottawa.










