There are 6 ways to get from Chicago to San Diego by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Flixbus, Greyhound, Amtrak), car, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport
best- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)MDW - SAN
6h 18m$164–710Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
cheapest- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)ORD - SAN
6h 36m$104–350Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Fullerton Amtrak StationSouthwest Chief
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San DiegoPacific Surfliner
46h 7m$189–385Bus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to San Diego
2d 2hDrive 2,075.1 mi
- Drive from Chicago to San Diego2,075.1 mi
32h 23m$379–547Train to General Mitchell International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukee
- Fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)MKE - SAN
7h 49m$266–1,223
Chicago to San Diego by train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to San Diego is to fly which costs $100 - $350 and takes 6h 36m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to San Diego is to fly which takes 6h 18m and costs $160 - $750.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at San Diego via St Louis Bus Station and Los Angeles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 2h.
No, there is no direct train from Chicago station to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Chicago Union Station and arriving at San Diego via Fullerton Amtrak Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 46h 7m.
The distance between Chicago and San Diego is 1751 miles. The road distance is 2087.3 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to San Diego without a car is to train which takes 46h 7m and costs $180 - $390.
It takes approximately 6h 18m to get from Chicago to San Diego, including transfers.
Chicago to San Diego bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
Chicago to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Chicago Union Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to San Diego is to fly which takes 6h 18m and costs $160 - $750. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $180 - $390 and takes 46h 7m, you could also bus, which costs and takes 2 days 2h.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and San Diego, CA, USA?
Southwest Airlines flies from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Chicago Union Station to San Diego via Fullerton Amtrak Station in around 46h 7m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–750
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Omaha
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–750
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 22m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 42h 44m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $150–360
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $32–34
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukee
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $22–40
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–90
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 39h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $120–380
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Los Angeles to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Chicago to San Diego bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at St Louis Bus Station.
San Diego is 2h behind Chicago. It is currently 12:57 AM in Chicago and 10:57 PM in San Diego.
Chicago to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Fullerton Amtrak Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to San Diego is 2087 miles. It takes approximately 32h 23m to drive from Chicago to San Diego.
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