There are 9 ways to get from Normal to Grand Rapids by train (Amtrak), bus (Amtrak), car, plane, bus (Greyhound, Amtrak), train, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train (Amtrak)
best- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Stationtrain Lincoln Service / ...
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain Pere Marquette
7h 23m$164–255Fly Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Gerald R. Ford International Airport
cheapest- Fly from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal (BMI) to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)plane BMI - GRR
8h 8m$50–315Bus via Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD)
- Take the bus from Watterson Commons to O'Hare International Terminal 2bus Peoria line
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
9h 26mDrive 278.2 mi
- Drive from Normal to Grand Rapidscar 278.2 mi
4h 45m$51–74Bus
- Take the bus from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0145S
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
10h 48mTrain to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Muskegon, taxi
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Muskegon (MKG)plane ORD - MKG
- Take the taxi from Muskegon (MKG) to Grand Rapidstaxi
5h 49m$284–383Train to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)plane ORD - GRR
7h 20m$108–367Train to Chicago Midway International Airport, fly to Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Summit Amtraktrain
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)plane MDW - GRR
6h 32m$114–452Fly Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, train
- Fly from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal (BMI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane BMI - ORD
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain
8h 50m$129–379
Normal to Grand Rapids by train (Amtrak)
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Normal to Grand Rapids is to drive which costs $50 - $75 and takes 4h 45m.
The fastest way to get from Normal to Grand Rapids is to drive which takes 4h 45m and costs $50 - $75.
No, there is no direct bus from Normal to Grand Rapids station. However, there are services departing from Watterson Commons and arriving at Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station via Jackson & Throop and Chicago Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 26m.
No, there is no direct train from Normal to Grand Rapids station. However, there are services departing from Bloomington-Normal and arriving at Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station via Chicago Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 23m.
The distance between Normal and Grand Rapids is 302 miles. The road distance is 279.8 miles.
The best way to get from Normal to Grand Rapids without a car is to train which takes 7h 23m and costs $160 - $260.
It takes approximately 7h 23m to get from Normal to Grand Rapids, including transfers.
Normal to Grand Rapids bus services, operated by Peoria Charter Coach Company, depart from Watterson Commons station.
Normal to Grand Rapids train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Bloomington-Normal station.
The best way to get from Normal to Grand Rapids is to train which takes 7h 23m and costs $160 - $260. Alternatively, you can bus via Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), which costs and takes 9h 26m, you could also fly, which costs $50 - $320 and takes 8h 8m.
What companies run services between Normal, IL, USA and Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI, USA?
You can take a train from Bloomington-Normal to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station via Chicago Union Station in around 7h 23m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Watterson Commons to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station via O'Hare International Terminal 2, O'Hare, Racine, Jackson & Throop, Jackson & Clinton, and Chicago Union Station in around 9h 26m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–310
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–250
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $28–220
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–250
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–350
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–490
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via St. Petersburg
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 34m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $150–650
- Website
- keylimeair.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Muskegon
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–170
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–110
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–110
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–110
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Bloomington-Normal to Summit Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 43m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–95
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800-448-0572
- ticketsales@peoriacharter.com
- Website
- Peoria Charter
Bus from Watterson Commons to O'Hare International Terminal 2
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Website
- Peoria Charter
- Schedules at
- Peoria Charter Schedules
- cash
- $60
- online
- $45
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Website
- Greyhound
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Estimated price
- $80–100
Blue City Taxi
- Phone
- +1 231-780-5466
- Website
- bluecitytransportation.com
Port City Cab
- Phone
- +1 231-739-7161
- Website
- portcitycab.com
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Booking & Getting There
Normal to Grand Rapids bus services, operated by Peoria Charter Coach Company, arrive at O'Hare International Terminal 2 station.
Grand Rapids is 1h ahead of Normal. It is currently 9:25 PM in Normal and 10:25 PM in Grand Rapids.
Normal to Grand Rapids train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Normal to Grand Rapids is 280 miles. It takes approximately 4h 45m to drive from Normal to Grand Rapids.
Book your Normal to Grand Rapids train tickets online with Omio.
There are 155+ hotels available in Grand Rapids.









