Trains tickets from San Diego, CA, US to Chicago

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SatJun 28
from $462
SunJun 29
from $393
MonJun 30
from $462
TueJul 1
from $462
WedJul 2
from $393
ThuJul 3
from $393
FriJul 4
from $301
SatJul 5

Next departures to Chicago

One passenger / one way

  • This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
    Departure time: June 29 at
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Old Town San Diego
    Arrival time: July 2 at
    Destination city: Chicago
    Destination location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
    Departure time: June 29 at
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Old Town San Diego
    Arrival time: July 1 at
    Destination city: Chicago
    Destination location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: June 29 at
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Old Town San Diego
    Arrival time: July 1 at
    Destination city: Chicago
    Destination location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: June 29 at
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Old Town San Diego
    Arrival time: July 1 at
    Destination city: Chicago
    Destination location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: June 29 at
    Departure city: San Diego
    Departure location: Old Town San Diego
    Arrival time: July 1 at
    Destination city: Chicago
    Destination location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:

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Compare 2 ways to go from San Diego to Chicago.

Average Price$118 - $623Average Duration2d 8h
70kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars
CheapestFastestMost eco-friendly
Average Price$175 - $2,079Average Duration2d 19h
254kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars
busbud logoBusbud recommends taking the bus from San Diego to Chicago

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 2 days, 8 hours 40 minutes and with fares starting at just $118, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

22bus per day
2d 8hAverage Duration
$118Cheapest ticket
70kgCO₂ emissions

Train San Diego to Chicago: Trip Overview

Please note, this information is subject to change.

Average ticket price$281
Average train trip duration2d 19h
Number of daily trains4
Earliest train departure2:01pm
Distance1728 miles (2786 km)
Latest train departure4:10pm

San Diego to Chicago Train

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a train from San Diego to Chicago is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of train fares and train schedules to find the best deals.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable companies that offer train service from San Diego to Chicago.

From train tickets to high-end trains trip from San Diego to Chicago, we offer a wide range of train services to best suit your needs depending on how much your budget is.

Frequently asked questions for your trip San Diego, CA, US - Chicago

Find cheapest prices for trains

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found
06/24
No data
06/25
$524
Today
$445
06/27
$524
06/28
$445
06/29
$378
06/30
$445
07/01
$445
busbud logoThe cheapest trip from San Diego to Chicago was searched and found on Jun 29, 2025 with a price of $378

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from San Diego to Chicago, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $378 to $3,360 for a train ticket from San Diego to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $378 which is on 2025-06-29.

About Train Travel

Train Travel Tips

Taking the fastest trains allows you to travel at speeds greater than 300 km/h. Taking a trip from San Diego to Chicago is not only much quicker but more comfortable too! You can usually travel directly to the city centre and save time while you're at it.

Whether you take a regional or high-speed train to Chicago, you’ll help reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of your trip. As you watch the landscapes unfold before your eyes, you can tell yourself that with this choice, you are making sure they remain protected.

The train emits up to 30x less CO2 for a trip between San Diego and Chicago compared to the same trip made by plane or car. A truly ecological mode of transport that will allow you to easily reduce your carbon footprint.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized train travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from San Diego to Chicago.

Did you know?

Railway companies played a major role as early as 1883 in the use of time zones as we know them today.

New York holds the record for the most platforms and track numbers in a single station. Grand Central Station in Manhattan is one of the largest rail terminals in the world with more than 44 platforms and 67 tracks to accommodate passengers.

Some trains in Sweden can recover more than a fifth of the energy they use by braking. This is especially true with ore trains as they descend from Narvik to Kiruna.

Will you be returning to San Diego by train?

Train from Chicago to San Diego

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Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

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