Bus San Francisco to Chicago: Compare prices and save money

Compare all timetables for the bus from San Francisco to Chicago

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

today

$156

tomorrow

Thursday

$165

Friday

$152

Saturday

$121

Sunday

$140

Monday

$134

Cheapest bus trips today
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Greyhound US	48h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	4:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$156	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/25/2026 1:30:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/27/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $156 per person are available. Travel duration is 48h 55m
FlixBus	55h 15m	7:10 AM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	4:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$158	A Bus from FlixBus goes from 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) at 8/25/2026 7:10:00 AM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/27/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $158 per person are available. Travel duration is 55h 15m
Greyhound US	64h 30m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	8:00 AM	Chicago	Union Station	Economy	$173	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/25/2026 1:30:00 PM to Union Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/28/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $173 per person are available. Travel duration is 64h 30m
FlixBus	70h 50m	7:10 AM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	8:00 AM	Chicago	Union Station	Economy	$175	A Bus from FlixBus goes from 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) at 8/25/2026 7:10:00 AM to Union Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/28/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $175 per person are available. Travel duration is 70h 50m
Greyhound US	79h 30m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	8:00 AM	Chicago	Union Station	Economy	$204	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/25/2026 10:30:00 PM to Union Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/29/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $204 per person are available. Travel duration is 79h 30m

Cheapest bus trips Thursday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Greyhound US	48h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	4:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$165	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/27/2026 1:30:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/29/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $165 per person are available. Travel duration is 48h 55m
FlixBus	55h 15m	7:10 AM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	4:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$166	A Bus from FlixBus goes from 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) at 8/27/2026 7:10:00 AM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/29/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $166 per person are available. Travel duration is 55h 15m
FlixBus	70h 50m	7:10 AM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	8:00 AM	Chicago	Union Station	Economy	$168	A Bus from FlixBus goes from 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) at 8/27/2026 7:10:00 AM to Union Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $168 per person are available. Travel duration is 70h 50m
Greyhound US	64h 30m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	8:00 AM	Chicago	Union Station	Economy	$172	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/27/2026 1:30:00 PM to Union Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $172 per person are available. Travel duration is 64h 30m
Greyhound US	63h 35m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	4:05 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$223	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/27/2026 10:30:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 4:05:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $223 per person are available. Travel duration is 63h 35m

Did you know that if you travel from San Francisco to Chicago via Oakland, you can save more than $31? You can find the corresponding connections below.
- Greyhound US
  
  48h 55m
  
  0
  
  1:30 PM
  
  San Francisco
  Salesforce Transit Center
  
  1:55 PM
  
  Oakland
  W Oakland BART Station
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $4
  
  A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/29/2026 1:30:00 PM to W Oakland BART Station, Oakland (USA) arriving at 8/29/2026 1:55:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $4 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 25m
- Greyhound US
  
  48h 20m
  
  0
  
  2:05 PM
  
  Oakland
  W Oakland BART Station
  
  4:25 PM
  
  Chicago
  Downtown Bus Station
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $130
  
  A Bus from Greyhound US goes from W Oakland BART Station, Oakland (USA) at 8/29/2026 2:05:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $130 per person are available. Travel duration is 48h 20m
Travel Time is 2h 0m shorter, and you will save $31

Cheapest bus trips Friday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Greyhound US	50h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	6:25 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station	Economy	$152	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/28/2026 1:30:00 PM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 6:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $152 per person are available. Travel duration is 50h 55m
Greyhound US	48h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	4:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$179	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/28/2026 1:30:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/30/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $179 per person are available. Travel duration is 48h 55m
Greyhound US	64h 30m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	8:00 AM	Chicago	Canal & Van Buren	Economy	$185	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/28/2026 1:30:00 PM to Canal & Van Buren, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $185 per person are available. Travel duration is 64h 30m
Greyhound US	65h 55m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	6:25 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station	Economy	$211	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/28/2026 10:30:00 PM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 6:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $211 per person are available. Travel duration is 65h 55m
Greyhound US	63h 35m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	4:05 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$239	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/28/2026 10:30:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 4:05:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $239 per person are available. Travel duration is 63h 35m

Did you know that if you travel from San Francisco to Chicago via Oakland, you can save more than $18? You can find the corresponding connections below.
- Greyhound US
  
  48h 55m
  
  0
  
  1:30 PM
  
  San Francisco
  Salesforce Transit Center
  
  1:55 PM
  
  Oakland
  W Oakland BART Station
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $4
  
  A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/29/2026 1:30:00 PM to W Oakland BART Station, Oakland (USA) arriving at 8/29/2026 1:55:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $4 per person are available. Travel duration is 0h 25m
- Greyhound US
  
  48h 20m
  
  0
  
  2:05 PM
  
  Oakland
  W Oakland BART Station
  
  4:25 PM
  
  Chicago
  Downtown Bus Station
  
  0
  
  Economy
  
  $130
  
  A Bus from Greyhound US goes from W Oakland BART Station, Oakland (USA) at 8/29/2026 2:05:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $130 per person are available. Travel duration is 48h 20m
Travel Time is 2h 0m shorter, and you will save $18

Cheapest bus trips Saturday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Greyhound US	50h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	6:25 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station	Economy	$121	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/29/2026 1:30:00 PM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 6:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $121 per person are available. Travel duration is 50h 55m
Greyhound US	48h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	4:25 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$121	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/29/2026 1:30:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 8/31/2026 4:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $121 per person are available. Travel duration is 48h 55m
Greyhound US	64h 30m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	8:00 AM	Chicago	Canal & Van Buren	Economy	$138	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/29/2026 1:30:00 PM to Canal & Van Buren, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/1/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $138 per person are available. Travel duration is 64h 30m
Greyhound US	79h 30m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	8:00 AM	Chicago	Canal & Van Buren	Economy	$179	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/29/2026 10:30:00 PM to Canal & Van Buren, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/2/2026 8:00:00 AM. 50 Economy ticket for $179 per person are available. Travel duration is 79h 30m
Greyhound US	63h 35m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Salesforce Transit Center	4:05 PM	Chicago	Downtown Bus Station	Economy	$181	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Salesforce Transit Center, San Francisco (USA) at 8/29/2026 10:30:00 PM to Downtown Bus Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/1/2026 4:05:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $181 per person are available. Travel duration is 63h 35m

Cheapest bus trips Sunday
Mode of Transport	BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Logo	Seat classes	Price
	Greyhound US	50h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	6:25 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station		Economy	$140	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/30/2026 1:30:00 PM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/1/2026 6:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $140 per person are available. Travel duration is 50h 55m
	Greyhound US	65h 55m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	6:25 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station		Economy	$210	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/30/2026 10:30:00 PM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/2/2026 6:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $210 per person are available. Travel duration is 65h 55m

Cheapest bus trips Monday
BertCompanyCountOneCompanyName	Duration	Departure time	From	Departure	Arrival time	To	Destination	Seat classes	Price
Greyhound US	50h 55m	1:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	6:25 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station	Economy	$134	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/31/2026 1:30:00 PM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/2/2026 6:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $134 per person are available. Travel duration is 50h 55m
FlixBus	57h 15m	7:10 AM	San Francisco	5th/Townsend	6:25 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station	Economy	$189	A Bus from FlixBus goes from 5th/Townsend, San Francisco (USA) at 8/31/2026 7:10:00 AM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/2/2026 6:25:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $189 per person are available. Travel duration is 57h 15m
Greyhound US	67h 10m	10:30 PM	San Francisco	Bus Station Transbay	7:40 PM	Chicago	95th Red Line Station	Economy	$213	A Bus from Greyhound US goes from Bus Station Transbay, San Francisco (USA) at 8/31/2026 10:30:00 PM to 95th Red Line Station, Chicago (USA) arriving at 9/3/2026 7:40:00 PM. 50 Economy ticket for $213 per person are available. Travel duration is 67h 10m

Best Price Offer: The price for the cheapest bus from San Francisco to Chicago is $121 on 8/29/2026. Flexible travelers save on ticket prices.

Frequency of bus connections between San Francisco and Chicago

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

Friday is the busiest day, with more than 12 daily buses from San Francisco to Chicago. Sunday has instead the fewest connections, with only 2 daily coaches between San Francisco and Chicago.

The busiest time of the day is the Afternoon, with 16 buses from San Francisco to Chicago, while Morning sees the fewest connections between San Francisco and Chicago, with 5 offers.

Facts about the bus from San Francisco to Chicago

Compare all providers like Greyhound US and FlixBus that travel 6 times every day by bus from San Francisco to Chicago in one click! Book your bus ticket from San Francisco to Chicago starting from $121!

Cheapest Bus	$121
Fastest Bus	50h 55m
Earliest Bus	7:10 AM
Latest Bus	10:30 PM
Daily Bus Routes	6 Ø
Distance	1,853.7 miles
Bus Companies	Greyhound US and FlixBus

Cheapest bus connections from San Francisco to Chicago

Every day, 6 buses from 2 bus companies leave San Francisco for Chicago: in the table below, you will find the cheapest prices for a bus ticket for this route, starting from 08/25/2026 and for the following days.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday 08/23

Monday 08/24

Tuesday 08/25

$156

Wednesday 08/26

Thursday 08/27

$165

Friday 08/28

$156

Saturday 08/29

$121

Sunday 08/30

$140

Monday 08/31

$134

Tuesday 09/01

$161

Wednesday 09/02

$148

Thursday 09/03

$192

Friday 09/04

$128

Saturday 09/05

$142

Sunday 09/06

$139

Monday 09/07

$127

Tuesday 09/08

$160

Wednesday 09/09

$132

Thursday 09/10

$143

Friday 09/11

$155

Saturday 09/12

$145

Sunday 09/13

Monday 09/14

$138

Tuesday 09/15

$140

Wednesday 09/16

$141

Thursday 09/17

Friday 09/18

$158

Saturday 09/19

The cheapest time to travel from San Francisco to Chicago

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

With a price starting from $121, Saturday is the cheapest day for a bus from San Francisco to Chicago. Thursday instead is the most expensive day with prices starting from $143.

Afternoon is the cheapest day time for bus tickets from San Francisco to Chicago, with $121. Evening is the most expensive time of the day with prices starting from $179.

How to save money travelling from San Francisco to Chicago

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 San Francisco to Chicago 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 San Francisco to Chicago, 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 San Francisco to Chicago are also emptier.

All bus stations and stops in San Francisco and Chicago

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

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

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

Service and Comfort on the bus from San Francisco to Chicago

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

FAQs about the San Francisco to Chicago bus

How much does a San Francisco Chicago bus trip cost?

This depends on, among other things, the day and time of travel. The cheapest trip is available from $121 and takes 52h 55m to reach Chicago. Compare offers to save money!

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

This route is offered by 2 companies with a range of ticket prices between $121 and $259. Thus, we recommend booking your ticket as early as possible to make sure you get the cheapest bus ticket to Chicago.

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

Every day, the San Francisco to Chicago bus route is served by approximately 6 connections. With our search, you can compare bus times to find the perfect trip.

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

The fastest bus from San Francisco to Chicago is offered by Greyhound US and takes 50h 55m. Bus tickets for this connection cost $156. In this context, bear in mind that the journey can take longer due to traffic.

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

The earliest bus arriving in Chicago from San Francisco starts at 7:10 AM. 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 San Francisco to Chicago?

The latest bus trip departing from San Francisco for Chicago starts at 10:30 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 San Francisco Chicago route?

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

Is there a direct bus between San Francisco and Chicago?

You can check all the direct connections between San Francisco and Chicago 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 and FlixBus.

What can I take with me on the San Francisco to Chicago 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 San Francisco Chicago 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 San Francisco Chicago 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 San Francisco to Chicago on your planned travel date.

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

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 6 daily trips between San Francisco and Chicago. 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 San Francisco to Chicago?

Prices and availability for 6 trips between San Francisco and Chicago 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 San Francisco to Chicago

Economy

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

More bus routes to San Francisco and to Chicago

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