Busbud recommends taking the bus from Oakland to Chicago
Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 2 days, 17 hours 15 minutes and with fares starting at just $111, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.
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.
Based on 5462 reviews, the company was rated 4.1 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the seats and the ticket access but often complained with the wifi. Amtrak ticket prices on this trip start at $322
Amtrak Oakland Chicago recent customer reviews
Wish I could go first class I know they had a ball super comfortable and an overall decent ride definitely bringing the kids next time
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.
With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a bus from Oakland to Chicago is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of bus fares and bus schedules to find the best deals.
We make sure you can find a bus service from Oakland to Chicago from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.
Discover how much the bus trip from Oakland to Chicago will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.
Where are the popular stops in Oakland and Chicago?
Frequently asked questions for your trip Oakland - Chicago
What is the travel distance from Oakland to Chicago?
The distance separating Oakland and Chicago is 1844 miles (2974 km).
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Oakland to Chicago?
The majority of buses traveling from Oakland to Chicago start their journey at Emeryville Station and wind up at Downtown Greyhound Station. These are the most popular pick-up and drop-off 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 Chicago?
Once in Chicago, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, Lake Michigan, Museum of Science and Industry and Museum of Contemporary Art.
Find cheapest prices for buses
Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.
Best price found
09/14
$222
09/15
$314
Today
$262
09/17
$293
09/18
$191
09/19
$185
09/20
$200
09/21
$128
The cheapest trip from Oakland to Chicago was searched and found on Sep 21, 2025 with a price of $128
To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Oakland to Chicago, as early as possible.
You can expect to pay from $128 to $1,517 for a bus ticket from Oakland to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $128 which is on 2025-09-21.
Usually Amtrak will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.
About Bus Travel
Bus Travel Tips
Meet and talk to locals at the bus stations while traveling from Oakland to Chicago.There is no better way to get inside travel information while exploring a new city than to go straight to its people.
Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from Oakland to Chicago, get comfy and count the stars.
Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Oakland to Chicago will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.
Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Oakland to Chicago.
Did you know?
The Superbus, created by a Dutch engineer is the world's fastest bus with 250 km/h. Too bad it's only a prototype for now.
It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.
The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.
What's the cheapest way to go from Oakland to Chicago?
The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination
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.
Busbud recommends taking the bus from Oakland to Chicago
The cheapest trip from Oakland to Chicago was searched and found on Sep 21, 2025 with a price of $128
The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination
