The cheapest and fastest trains from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL
Cheapest price
£131
Average price
£343
Fastest journey
17 h 48 m
Average duration
1 d 1 h 11 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
956 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL will cost around £343 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £131.
Of the 5 trains that leave Washington, DC for Chicago, IL every day 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 956 km distance in an average of 1 d 1 h 11 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 17 h 48 m .
The slowest trains will take 1 d 7 h 52 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
51 Cardinal11:3923h46Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:25Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£1311One-way0 changes
40 Floridian15:5717h48Washington Union Station, Washington, DC8:45Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£1901One-way0 changes
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited3:2031h52Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:12Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£3551One-way2 changes
174 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited10:3524h37Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:12Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£4951One-way1 change
98 Silver Meteor · 49 Lake Shore Limited7:2027h52Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:12Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£5441One-way1 change
40 Floridian15:5717h48Washington Union Station, Washington, DC8:45Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£1901One-way0 changes
51 Cardinal11:3923h46Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:25Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£1311One-way0 changes
174 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited10:3524h37Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:12Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£4951One-way1 change
98 Silver Meteor · 49 Lake Shore Limited7:2027h52Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:12Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£5441One-way1 change
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited3:2031h52Washington Union Station, Washington, DC10:12Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL£3551One-way2 changes
Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Washington, DC to Chicago, IL
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £48. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 20m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.3 - 0.9kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £48, and a flight costs an average of £37.
Distance: 956 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight | Coach |
|---|---|---|
£144 Average Price | £233 Average Price | £92 Average Price Cheapest |
19h 26m Average total duration 18h 56m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 20m Average total duration Fastest 2h 20m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 19h 4m Average total duration 18h 34m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.3 - 0.9kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 2.9 - 5.7kg CO2 emissions | 1.0 - 2.4kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Washington, DC to Chicago, IL train times
The table below shows live departures for Washington, DC to Chicago, IL trains for today, Thursday 9 April. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
98 Silver Meteor · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 11:20 Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 27h52 | 15:12 Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 1 change | |
174 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 14:35 Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 24h37 | 15:12 Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 1 change | |
40 Floridian | 19:57 Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 17h48 | 13:45 Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 0 changesdirect | |
| Friday 10 April | |||||
6076 AMTRAK · 190 Northeast Regional · 49 Lake Shore Limited | 7:20 Washington Union Station, Washington, DC | 31h52 | 15:12 Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL | 2 changes | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Washington, DC to Chicago, IL by train, coach or flight
Compare train, coach and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
10 Apr
11 Apr
12 Apr
13 Apr
14 Apr
15 Apr
16 Apr
17 Apr
18 Apr
19 Apr
20 Apr
21 Apr
22 Apr
23 Apr
24 Apr
25 Apr
26 Apr
27 Apr
28 Apr
29 Apr
30 Apr
How far in advance should I book train tickets from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL?
Journey information
Overview: Train from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL
Trains from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL run on average 3 times per day, taking around 18h 56m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £69 but you can travel from only £37 by flight.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 03:20, the last at 21:30. The fastest train covers the 956 km distance in 17h 48m.
Distance 956 km |
Average train duration 18h 56m |
Cheapest ticket price £69 |
Trains per day 3 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 17h 48m |
First train 3:20 |
Last train 21:30 |
Train companies: Amtrak from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL trainsAmtrak trains will get you between Washington, DC and Chicago, IL from £37. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Amtrak
FAQs: Washington, DC to Chicago, IL train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Chicago, IL, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Washington, DC and Chicago, IL
- Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00
- Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00
- Free Wi-Fi in the station courtesy of Amtrak.
- Amtrak provides temporary luggage storage for $10 per bag for 24 hours for customers holding Amtrak tickets.
- Shake Shack
- McDonald’s
- Starbucks
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop
- Chopt Creative Salad Co.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Thunder Grill
- Johnny Rockets
- Jamba Juice
- Ladurée Union Station
- & many more
- Elevators, escalators, wheelchair access. Accessible facilities including restrooms, parking, platforms, ticket office, waiting room.
- Hyatt Recency Washington On Capitol Hill
- Phoenix Park Hotel
- Kimpton George Hotel
- Mon - Fri: 04:30 - 22:00
- Sat - Sun: 05:00 - 22:00
- Located on the train concourse of Level G near the Amtrak Waiting Area.
- Metro lines: Red
- Bus lines: D6, D8, 80, 96,
- Train lines: Acela, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Fredericksburg Line, MARC Brunswick, MARC Camden, MARC Penn, Manassas Line, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Service/Palmetto, Vermonter
- 5:00 AM - 12:00 AM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Departures can be made outside of opening hours. Access via Canal Street.
- The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant
- Lou Mitchell's
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- $1
- The Kimpton Gray Hotel
- JW Marriott Chicago
- W Chicago - City Center
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- Avis
- Budget
- Enterprise
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, Amtrak services
- Hall 2: Metra services
- Hall 3: food court and retail shops
- Bus: Several lines available
- CTA: Blue Line, Pink Line
Most popular train connections from Washington, DC
More options for your journey from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need


