There are 8 ways to get from Washington 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)DCA - MDW
2h 46m$130–697Bus (Greyhound)
cheapest- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus StationGreyhound US0164
17h 25m$65–190Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union StationFloridian / ...
17h 40m$100–600Drive 686.8 mi
- Drive from Washington to Chicago686.8 mi
11h 46m$126–181Fly 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)DCA - ORD
3h 1m$99–528Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Take the subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)IAD - ORD
4h 45m$154–763Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Chicago Midway International Airport
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)BWI - MDW
4h 19m$74–940Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)BWI - ORD
4h 38m$84–870
Washington to Chicago by bus (Greyhound)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington to Chicago is to bus which costs $65 - $190 and takes 17h 25m.
The fastest way to get from Washington to Chicago is to fly which takes 2h 46m and costs $130 - $700.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Washington Union Station station and arriving at Chicago Bus Station station. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 17h 25m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Washington Union Station station and arriving at Chicago Union Station station. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 17h 40m.
The distance between Washington and Chicago is 613 miles. The road distance is 690.8 miles.
The best way to get from Washington to Chicago without a car is to bus which takes 17h 25m and costs $65 - $190.
It takes approximately 2h 46m to get from Washington to Chicago, including transfers.
Washington to Chicago bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington to Chicago train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington to Chicago is to fly which takes 2h 46m and costs $130 - $700. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $65 - $190 and takes 17h 25m, you could also train, which costs $100 - $600 and takes 17h 40m.
What companies run services between Washington, DC, USA and Chicago, IL, USA?
Southwest Airlines flies from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) 5 times a day. Alternatively, Greyhound USA operates a bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station twice daily. Tickets cost $65–190 and the journey takes 17h 25m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Columbus
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–390
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Pittsburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Wednesday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $70–390
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Columbus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $70–390
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 25m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $75–410
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport via Cleveland
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $70–390
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–290
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Johnstown
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 49m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $50–290
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Morgantown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $50–290
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Cleveland
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–290
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Charlottesville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–300
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Pittsburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–290
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Columbus
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–290
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–300
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–550
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–300
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 18m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $50–300
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $55–300
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
- $100–600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6–55
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 47 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.html
- 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
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
- $65–190
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Washington to Chicago bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Chicago is 1h behind Washington. It is currently 5:12 PM in Washington and 4:12 PM in Chicago.
Washington to Chicago train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington to Chicago is 691 miles. It takes approximately 11h 46m to drive from Washington to Chicago.
Book your Washington to Chicago train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Washington to Chicago bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
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