Bus Chicago to San Francisco - Compare all Companies

Compare all timetables for the bus from Chicago to San Francisco

Here is a selection of the cheapest bus trips from the schedule from Chicago to San Francisco from various bus operators like Greyhound US for the next days.

today

$158

tomorrow

$181

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Cheapest bus trips today
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Greyhound US	50h 10m	12:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	12:35 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	Economy	$158	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/27/2026 12:25:00 PM to Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 8/29/2026 12:35:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $158 per person are available. Travel duration is 50h 10m
Greyhound US	68h 45m	11:10 PM	Chicago	Union Station	5:55 PM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	Economy	$183	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Union Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/27/2026 11:10:00 PM to 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 5:55:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $183 per person are available. Travel duration is 68h 45m
Greyhound US	58h 0m	11:10 PM	Chicago	Union Station	7:10 AM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	Economy	$223	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Union Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/27/2026 11:10:00 PM to Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 7:10:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $223 per person are available. Travel duration is 58h 0m

Cheapest bus trips tomorrow
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Greyhound US	50h 10m	12:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	12:35 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	Economy	$181	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/28/2026 12:25:00 PM to Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 12:35:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $181 per person are available. Travel duration is 50h 10m
Greyhound US	55h 30m	12:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	5:55 PM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	Economy	$195	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/28/2026 12:25:00 PM to 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 5:55:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $195 per person are available. Travel duration is 55h 30m
Greyhound US	68h 45m	11:10 PM	Chicago	Union Station	5:55 PM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	Economy	$202	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Union Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/28/2026 11:10:00 PM to 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 5:55:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $202 per person are available. Travel duration is 68h 45m
Greyhound US	58h 0m	11:10 PM	Chicago	Union Station	7:10 AM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	Economy	$238	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Union Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/28/2026 11:10:00 PM to Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 7:10:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $238 per person are available. Travel duration is 58h 0m

Did you know that if you travel from Chicago to San Francisco via Oakland, you can save more than $36? You can find the corresponding connections below.
- Greyhound US
  
  50h 10m
  
  0
  
  12:25 PM
  
  Chicago
  Downtown Bus Station
  
  11:55 AM
  
  Oakland
  W Oakland BART Station
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $141
  
  A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) at 8/30/2026 12:25:00 PM to W Oakland BART Station, Oakland (USA) arriving at 9/1/2026 11:55:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $141 per person are available. Travel duration is 49h 30m
- Greyhound US
  
  0h 30m
  
  0
  
  12:05 PM
  
  Oakland
  W Oakland BART Station
  
  12:35 PM
  
  San Francisco
  Salesforce Transit Center
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $4
  
  A Bus from Greyhound US goes from W Oakland BART Station, Oakland (USA) at 9/1/2026 12:05:00 PM to Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) arriving at 9/1/2026 12:35:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $4 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 30m
Travel time is 2h 0m longer, but you will save $36

Best Price Offer: The price for the cheapest bus from Chicago to San Francisco is $132 on 9/13/2026. Flexible travelers save on ticket prices.

Frequency of bus connections between Chicago and San Francisco

See here how frequent the connections between Chicago and San Francisco are, during different times and days of the week.

Friday is the busiest day, with more than 4 daily buses from Chicago to San Francisco. Thursday has instead the fewest connections, with only 3 daily coaches between Chicago and San Francisco.

The busiest time of the day is the Evening, with 4 buses from Chicago to San Francisco, while Afternoon sees the fewest connections between Chicago and San Francisco, with 3 offers.

Facts about the bus from Chicago to San Francisco

Compare all providers like Greyhound US that travel 3 times every day by bus from Chicago to San Francisco in one click! Book your bus ticket from Chicago to San Francisco starting from $132!

Cheapest Bus	$132
Fastest Bus	48h 10m
Earliest Bus	12:25 PM
Latest Bus	11:10 PM
Daily Bus Routes	3 Ø
Distance	1,853.7 miles
Bus Companies	Greyhound US

Cheapest bus connections from Chicago to San Francisco

Every day, 3 buses from 1 bus companies leave Chicago for San Francisco: in the table below, you will find the cheapest prices for a bus ticket for this route, starting from 08/27/2026 and for the following days.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday 08/23

Monday 08/24

Tuesday 08/25

Wednesday 08/26

Thursday 08/27

$158

Friday 08/28

$181

Saturday 08/29

Sunday 08/30

Monday 08/31

Tuesday 09/01

Wednesday 09/02

Thursday 09/03

$192

Friday 09/04

Saturday 09/05

Sunday 09/06

$152

Monday 09/07

Tuesday 09/08

$184

Wednesday 09/09

$146

Thursday 09/10

$188

Friday 09/11

Saturday 09/12

$137

Sunday 09/13

$132

Monday 09/14

Tuesday 09/15

$136

Wednesday 09/16

$143

Thursday 09/17

$154

Friday 09/18

Saturday 09/19

The cheapest time to travel from Chicago to San Francisco

See here on which day and which time of the day you can find the cheapest bus ticket from Chicago to San Francisco, for the next 30 days.

With a price starting from $154, Thursday is the cheapest day for a bus from Chicago to San Francisco. Friday instead is the most expensive day with prices starting from $181.

Afternoon is the cheapest day time for bus tickets from Chicago to San Francisco, with $158. Evening is the most expensive time of the day with prices starting from $183.

How to save money travelling from Chicago to San Francisco

Travel can be expensive, but it doesn't need to be! Do you want to avoid paying a terrible price for your trip? Then follow these quick steps to save money:

Book the ticket from Chicago to San Francisco in advance! The earlier you book, the cheaper usually the price is. Also, you will be sure to have a place on the bus from Chicago to San Francisco, compared instead if you buy it at the last moment, or directly at the station.

If you can, avoid travelling at peak times. Instead of weekend, try travelling during the week. Travelling in the evening or at night it’s also cheaper, and later buses from Chicago to San Francisco are also emptier.

All bus stations and stops in Chicago and San Francisco

In the map below, you can see where to find all bus stations in Chicago and San Francisco.

95th Red Line Station

W. 95th St 14

Downtown Bus Station

West Harrison Street 630-670

Union Station

S Canal St 225

Cumberland CTA

N Cumberland Ave 5800

Canal & Van Buren

S Canal St 310-320

South Van Ness Ave & Market St

5th/Townsend

Townsend St 400

Bus Station Transbay

Folsom Street 200

Union Square

Post St 470

Beach St & Hyde St

Service and Comfort on the bus from Chicago to San Francisco

Want to know which seat classes are available on the buses from Chicago to San Francisco? Or which bus companies serve the route Chicago to San Francisco? Below you will find answers to your questions.

FAQs about the Chicago to San Francisco bus

How much does a Chicago San Francisco bus trip cost?

This depends on, among other things, the day and time of travel. The cheapest trip is available from $132 and takes 48h 10m to reach San Francisco. Compare offers to save money!

How much could I save by comparing buses from Chicago to San Francisco?

This route is offered by 1 companies with a range of ticket prices between $132 and $238. Thus, we recommend booking your ticket as early as possible to make sure you get the cheapest bus ticket to San Francisco.

On average, how many connections are available from Chicago to San Francisco each day?

Every day, the Chicago to San Francisco bus route is served by approximately 3 connections. With our search, you can compare bus times to find the perfect trip.

How long does a bus journey from Chicago to San Francisco take?

The fastest bus from Chicago to San Francisco is offered by Greyhound US and takes 48h 10m. Bus tickets for this connection cost $158. In this context, bear in mind that the journey can take longer due to traffic.

What time is the first bus from Chicago to San Francisco?

The earliest bus arriving in San Francisco from Chicago starts at 12:25 PM. However, information regarding departure times may differ on weekends and holidays. Simply use our search to find exact times for your planned travel date.

What time is the last bus from Chicago to San Francisco?

The latest bus trip departing from Chicago for San Francisco starts at 11:10 PM. Please note that departure times may differ on weekends and holidays. So just use our search to find the exact times for your planned travel date.

Which bus companies operate the Chicago San Francisco route?

When traveling by bus from Chicago to San Francisco, passengers can travel with Greyhound US. With our search, you can compare all available bus tickets to book the one that works for you.

Is there a direct bus between Chicago and San Francisco?

You can check all the direct connections between Chicago and San Francisco by using our search and looking at the Changes section in our filters. These are some of the companies which offer a direct bus: Greyhound US.

What can I take with me on the Chicago to San Francisco bus route?

Depending on which provider you travel with, what you're allowed to bring with you can vary. Generally, you can take a suitcase and hand luggage with you on the Chicago San Francisco bus route free of charge. Simply use our search to find a bus that is best suited to your needs for your planned travel date.

What equipment is available for the Chicago San Francisco bus route?

The equipment on board differs depending on the provider. However, many long-distance buses have WiFi so you can tell your friends your exact location during the journey. To make traveling even more pleasant, air conditioning systems provide ventilation. It is best to use our search to get precise information about the equipment of the bus from Chicago to San Francisco on your planned travel date.

How does CheckMyBus find the best bus deals from Chicago to San Francisco?

CheckMyBus collaborates directly with companies around the world to provide you with the best options when searching for a trip. We retrieve their first-hand data to show you real-time prices, schedules, and seat availability for 3 daily trips between Chicago and San Francisco. With the most up-to-date information from verified sources, you can fairly compare all available options and choose the trip that suits you best.

How does CheckMyBus technology work for trips from Chicago to San Francisco?

Prices and availability for 3 trips between Chicago and San Francisco change constantly. To provide you with the most up-to-date information, we connect directly with bus operators, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), and Global Distribution Systems (GDS) via real-time interfaces (APIs). The data collected from these sources undergoes strict quality checks, is processed within our infrastructure, and is then presented to you on our search results pages. Visit our About Us page to learn more.

Available seat classes which are offered on the bus route Chicago to San Francisco

Economy

The cheapest option available for your ticket, it usually comes with reclinable seats and AC.

More bus routes to Chicago and to San Francisco

Here’s an overview of the most popular bus routes to Chicago and to San Francisco. Simply click on the connection of your choice, and you will find all the details about your bus route!