How much is the train ticket from St. Louis to Chicago?

The cheapest train tickets from St. Louis to Chicago start from $30. The average price for this train route is around $35. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from St. Louis to Chicago?

The average train ride duration from St. Louis to Chicago is 5h 5m, covering a distance of 262 miles (423 km). The quickest train can get you there in 3h 55m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators service the St. Louis to Chicago route?

Several major train operators operate on this route with 5 trains available per day.

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from St. Louis to Chicago?

The earliest train departs from St. Louis to Chicago at 4:30am. And the latest train departs at 5:40pm.

Train St. Louis to Chicago from $27 | Refundable Tickets

Next train departures

Next departures for St. Louis to Chicago on December 13
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	5:40pm	Gateway Station	5h 3m	10:43pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Cheapest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Fastest
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	8:10am	Gateway Station	5h 34m	1:44pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	2:55pm	Gateway Station	5h 5m	8:00pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures for St. Louis to Chicago on December 14
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	CheapestFastest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	8:10am	Gateway Station	5h 34m	1:44pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures for St. Louis to Chicago on December 15
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	5:40pm	Gateway Station	5h 3m	10:43pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Cheapest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Fastest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures for St. Louis to Chicago on December 16
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	5:40pm	Gateway Station	5h 3m	10:43pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Cheapest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Fastest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures for St. Louis to Chicago on December 17
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	5:40pm	Gateway Station	5h 3m	10:43pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Cheapest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	Fastest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Next departures for St. Louis to Chicago on December 18
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	CheapestFastest
Train	4:30am	Gateway Station	4h 55m	9:25am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	6:35am	Gateway Station	5h 5m	11:40am	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	8:10am	Gateway Station	5h 34m	1:44pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags
Train	8:10am	Gateway Station	5h 34m	1:44pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 2:58 AM CST.

Compare 2 ways to go from St. Louis to Chicago

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Chicago. The journey takes about 5 hours 5 minutes and with fares starting at just $30, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5train per day

5h 5mAverage Duration

262 milesDistance

38kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$32 - $187	Average Duration6h 25m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$30 - $98	Average Duration5h 5m	CO₂ emissions 38kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in St. Louis and Chicago?

St. Louis

A
Gateway Station
430 S 15th St, St Louis, MO 63103
Visit page

Chicago

A
Union Station
225 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

Train Companies

Amtrak

4/55,636 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Users have praised the service for being on time, comfortable, and convenient with friendly conductors. However, there were concerns about inconsistent behavior from staff towards passengers of different races during ticket checks and upon arrival.

Amtrak St. Louis Chicago recent customer reviews

Smooth ride. The man who did our tickets from St. Louis we noticed after checking white people's tickets he said thanks and have a great day. To black people he said nothing. Then upon arriving in Chicago that man offered no one a hand down or said goodbye.

Yvonne H.

September 27, 2024

Fabulous! Train is the way to go for this distance!! On time, comfortable, friendly conductors, and SO convenient!

Kendra H.

April 3, 2024

Good but train was cancelled and coming with bus. I pay too much money

Anshul P.

December 23, 2024

Train and bus companies in US:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about traveling from St. Louis to Chicago by train

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 train ticket from St. Louis to Chicago?
The cheapest train tickets from St. Louis to Chicago start from $30. The average price for this train route is around $35. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from St. Louis to Chicago?
The average train ride duration from St. Louis to Chicago is 5h 5m, covering a distance of 262 miles (423 km). The quickest train can get you there in 3h 55m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators service the St. Louis to Chicago route?
Several major train operators operate on this route with 5 trains available per day.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the train from St. Louis to Chicago?
The earliest train departs from St. Louis to Chicago at 4:30am. And the latest train departs at 5:40pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found

12/09

$56

12/10

$81

Today

$56

12/12

$119

12/13

$56

12/14

$56

12/15

$39

12/16

$39

The cheapest trip from St. Louis to Chicago was searched and found on Dec 15, 2025 with a price of $39

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

You can expect to pay from $39 to $337 for a train ticket from St. Louis to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $39 which is on 2025-12-15.

What's the cheapest way to go from St. Louis to Chicago?

The train is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time6h 25m	Avg Price$48	Daily Departures8
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time5h 5m	Avg Price$35	Daily Departures5

The best way to travel between St. Louis and Chicago is by train. By choosing the train, you'll get to save some money as you travel to your destination, as ticket prices cost $35 on average. If you're on a budget, you'll find cheap tickets from $30. If you're looking for the fastest way to get to Chicago, choose the train, as it will take you from St. Louis to Chicago in about 5h 5m - that's the fastest way to get there!