How much is the bus ticket from San Jose to Chicago?

The cheapest bus tickets from San Jose to Chicago start from $108. The average price for this route is around $264. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from San Jose to Chicago?

The average bus trip duration from San Jose to Chicago is 2d 13h, covering a distance of 1835 miles (2959 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 2d 6h and is operated by Amtrak .

Which bus companies service the San Jose to Chicago route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 5 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak , Greyhound , FlixBus .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Jose to Chicago?

The earliest bus departs from San Jose to Chicago at 12:55am. And the latest bus departs at 11:50pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Jose to Chicago?

A bus trip from San Jose to Chicago generates an estimated 74 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from San Jose to Chicago?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Jose to Chicago?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the most timely service from San Jose to Chicago?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Jose to Chicago?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus San Jose to Chicago from $179 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for San Jose to Chicago on December 8
Operated by	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	Diridon Station	2d 7h	6:35pm	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	Cheapest
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	Diridon Station	2d 4h	4:20pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	Fastest
	4:30am	Diridon Station	2d 8h	2:39pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
FlixBus + Greyhound Lines, Inc.	9:25am	Diridon Station	2d 20h	8:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	No tags
	4:30am	Diridon Station	2d 8h	2:39pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 5:34 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from San Jose to Chicago

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 2 days, 13 hours 35 minutes and with fares starting at just $108, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5bus per day

2d 13hAverage Duration

1835 milesDistance

74kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$108 - $731	Average Duration2d 13h	CO₂ emissions 74kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$145 - $1,931	Average Duration2d 18h	CO₂ emissions 269kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in San Jose and Chicago?

Stops in San Jose

A
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St., San Jose, CA 95110
Visit page
B
Santiago Express San Jose
440 S King rd , an Jose CA 95116
Visit page
C
1118 E William St
1118 E William St, San Jose, CA 95116, USA
D
San Jose Bus Stop
100 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
E
Tamien Station
Guadalupe Fwy, San Jose, CA 95110, USA
F
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St, San Jose, CA 95110, USA

Stops in Chicago

A
Downtown Greyhound Station
630 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Visit page
B
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Visit page
C
Polk St & Canal St
500-536 W Polk St, Chicago IL 60607, USA
D
Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave
2807 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60623, USA
E
Cumberland CTA
5800 N Cumberland Ave, Chicago, IL 60631, USA
F
Turimex California Ave
2139 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,618 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Greyhound

3.5/587,411 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

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

3.5/511,489 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

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, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from San Jose, US to Chicago by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from San Jose to Chicago?
The cheapest bus tickets from San Jose to Chicago start from $108. The average price for this route is around $264. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from San Jose to Chicago?
The average bus trip duration from San Jose to Chicago is 2d 13h, covering a distance of 1835 miles (2959 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 2d 6h and is operated by Amtrak.
Which bus companies service the San Jose to Chicago route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 5 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, Greyhound, FlixBus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Jose to Chicago?
The earliest bus departs from San Jose to Chicago at 12:55am. And the latest bus departs at 11:50pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Jose to Chicago?
A bus trip from San Jose to Chicago generates an estimated 74 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from San Jose to Chicago?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5597 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Jose to Chicago?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the most timely service from San Jose to Chicago?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Jose to Chicago?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

11/29

$453

11/30

$219

Today

$261

12/02

No data

12/03

$179

12/04

No data

12/05

No data

12/06

No data

The cheapest trip from San Jose, US to Chicago was searched and found on Dec 3, 2025 with a price of $179

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

You can expect to pay from $179 to $1,837 for a bus ticket from San Jose, US to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $179 which is on 2025-12-03.