There are 9 ways to get from Washington DC to Chicago by plane, bus (Greyhound), train (Amtrak), car, subway, 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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)plane DCA - MDW
4h 8m$145–859Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Chicago Midway International Airport
cheapest- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshalltrain
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)plane BWI - MDW
4h 41m$86–1,028Bus (Greyhound)
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0164
18h 41m$122–233Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain Floridian / ...
18h 56m$212–483Drive 686.9 mi
- Drive from Washington DC to Chicagocar 686.9 mi
11h 56m$126–182Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane DCA - ORD
4h 30m$100–559Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Take the subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane IAD - ORD
4h 57m$374–663Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshalltrain
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane BWI - ORD
5h 6m$101–898Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to South Bend, train
- Take the subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to South Bend (SBN)plane IAD - SBN
- Take the train from South Bend Airport to Van Buren St.train
6h 47m$95–213
Washington DC to Chicago by foot, subway, and bus (Greyhound)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington DC to Chicago is to bus which costs $120 - $240 and takes 18h 41m.
The fastest way to get from Washington DC to Chicago is to fly which takes 4h 8m and costs $140 - $900.
No, there is no direct train from Washington DC to Chicago station. However, there are services departing from Metro Center, Red Line Track 1 Platform and arriving at Chicago Union Station via Washington Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 18h 56m.
The distance between Washington DC and Chicago is 620 miles. The road distance is 690.9 miles.
The best way to get from Washington DC to Chicago without a car is to bus which takes 18h 41m and costs $120 - $240.
It takes approximately 4h 8m to get from Washington DC to Chicago, including transfers.
Washington DC to Chicago train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington DC to Chicago is to fly which takes 4h 8m and costs $140 - $900. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $120 - $240 and takes 18h 41m, you could also train, which costs $210 - $490 and takes 18h 56m.
Chicago is 1h behind Washington DC. It is currently 7:15 AM in Washington DC and 6:15 AM in Chicago.
Washington DC to Chicago train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
What companies run services between Washington DC, USA and Chicago, IL, USA?
Southwest Airlines and Delta fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) every 3 hours. Alternatively, Greyhound USA operates a bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station twice daily. Tickets cost $120–230 and the journey takes 17h 25m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Clarksburg
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 36m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Johnstown
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 37m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $50–280
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Columbus
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Pittsburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–280
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Cleveland
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–280
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–320
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to South Bend
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to South Bend via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–470
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Pittsburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $80–470
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $85–470
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Cleveland
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $80–470
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Columbus
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $80–470
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–550
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Grand Rapids
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–600
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Columbus
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–550
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–320
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–320
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to South Bend via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 41m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $85–550
- Website
- flybreeze.com
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to South Bend
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $80–190
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–480
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $8–19
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–8
- Website
- https://www.wmata.com
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- standard fare 5 a.m - 9:30 p.m.
- $5–8
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Northeast Regional
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 24 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $4–200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/northeast-regional-train
- Coach
- $4–200
- Business Class
- $45–230
- Phone
- 1-866-743-3682
- Website
- mta.maryland.gov
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- https://www.mta.maryland.gov
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
- Phone
- +1 219-926-5744
- Website
- mysouthshoreline.com
Train from South Bend Airport to Van Buren St.
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $13–15
- Schedules at
- mysouthshoreline.com
- Adults 14-64
- $13–15
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $120–230
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Washington DC to Chicago is 691 miles. It takes approximately 11h 56m to drive from Washington DC to Chicago.
There are 2088+ hotels available in Chicago.














