What is the travel distance from Chicago to San Francisco?

The distance between the two cities is 1852 miles (2987 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to San Francisco?

The majority of buses traveling from Chicago to San Francisco start their journey at Downtown Greyhound Station and wind up at Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf). These are the primary departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can find others that could fit better into your travel plans.

What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?

Once in San Francisco, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco Cable Cars, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park and Lombard Street.

Bus Chicago to San Francisco from $139 | Compare & Save up to 60%

TodayAug 11

from $314

TomorrowAug 12

from $223

WedAug 13

ThuAug 14

FriAug 15

SatAug 16

SunAug 17

MonAug 18

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: August 12 at 10:00pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: 537-517 W. Jackson Blvd
Arrival time: August 15 at 7:15am
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: San Francisco Bus Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2d 11h
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: August 12 at 10:10am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan
Arrival time: August 14 at 12:25pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: San Francisco Bus Station
Operated by: FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2d 4h
Departure time: August 12 at 12:15am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: August 14 at 6:40am
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2d 8h
Departure time: August 12 at 10:30pm
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan
Arrival time: August 15 at 7:15am
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: San Francisco Bus Station
Operated by: Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2d 10h
Departure time: August 12 at 9:45am
Departure city: Chicago
Departure location: Downtown Greyhound Station
Arrival time: August 14 at 6:10pm
Destination city: San Francisco
Destination location: 409 Townsend St, SF
Operated by: FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Vehicle: BusDuration: 2d 10h

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to San Francisco.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$117 - $800	Average Duration2d 10h	CO₂ emissions 75kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestFastestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$120 - $1,581	Average Duration2d 10h	CO₂ emissions 271kg CO₂e1 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends taking the train from Chicago to San Francisco

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach San Francisco. The journey takes about 2 days, 10 hours 20 minutes and with fares starting at just $120, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

4train per day

2d 10hAverage Duration

$120Cheapest ticket

271kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Chicago to San Francisco, US: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$286

Average bus trip duration2d 10h

Number of daily buses15

Earliest bus departure12:15am

Distance1849 miles (2982 km)

Latest bus departure11:50pm

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/587,168 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

FlixBus

3.5/59,981 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Tornado Bus, Los Limousines, Valley Transit, Tufesa, Wanda Coach

Chicago to San Francisco Bus

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

Bus service from Chicago to San Francisco will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to San Francisco from Chicago, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and San Francisco?

Stops in Chicago

A - Downtown Greyhound Station

B - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

C - Polk St & Canal St

D - Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave

E - Cumberland CTA

F - Turimex California Ave

Stops in San Francisco

A - Hyde/Beach (Fisherman's Wharf)

B - Powell Station

C - Union Square Hilton

D - San Francisco Greyhound Station

E - 444 Townsend St.

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - San Francisco, US

What is the travel distance from Chicago to San Francisco?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to San Francisco?
What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

08/09

$439

08/10

$369

Today

$396

08/12

$215

08/13

$248

08/14

No data

08/15

$139

08/16

$175

The cheapest trip from Chicago to San Francisco, US was searched and found on Aug 15, 2025 with a price of $139

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

You can expect to pay from $139 to $651 for a bus ticket from Chicago to San Francisco, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $139 which is on 2025-08-15.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Meet and talk to locals at the bus stations while traveling from Chicago to San Francisco.There is no better way to get inside travel information while exploring a new city than to go straight to its people.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Chicago to San Francisco, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Chicago to San Francisco.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Chicago to San Francisco while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

The word 'bus' is an abbreviation of 'omnibus" which means 'for all' in Latin as buses were meant to be transportation for everybody.

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

Bus from Chicago to San Francisco, US

You can also go to San Francisco, US by train

Train from Chicago to San Francisco, US

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud makes bus travel easy. We help travelers find a bus, plot routes, and book intercity bus tickets all over the world. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Chicago to San Francisco, US

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to San Francisco.

Bus Chicago to San Francisco, US: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Chicago to San Francisco Bus

Where are the popular stops in Chicago and San Francisco?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - San Francisco, US

What is the travel distance from Chicago to San Francisco?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Chicago to San Francisco?

What are the best sights and things to do in San Francisco?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Chicago by bus?

You can also go to San Francisco, US by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Chicago

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Popular Buses Connecting San Francisco

Buses Leaving from San Francisco

Buses Going to San Francisco

Popular routes in this country

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