How to get to Los Angeles, CA from Chicago, IL

Mon 26 Oct
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Travel Information

Compare train, coach and flight for Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £210 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 9h 2m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.8 - 2.5kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £210, while a flight costs an average of £428.

Distance: 2802 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Flight
Coach
Driving

£341

Average Price

£428

Average Price

£210

Average Price

Cheapest

£306

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

53h 33m

Average total duration

53h 3m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

9h 2m

Average total duration

Fastest

7h 2m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

48h 38m

Average total duration

48h 8m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

29h 9m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.8 - 2.5kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

8.4 - 16.8kg

CO2 emissions

2.8 - 7.0kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

Alaska Airlines

Most popular airline

Greyhound

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Compare ways to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

Compare the available ways to get from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.

The cheapest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is a coach with an average price of £210.

This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA:

A coach is £131 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA costing on average £341.

A coach is £219 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA costing on average £428.

The fastest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is by flight with an average journey time of 9h 2m.

Other travel options to Los Angeles, CA take longer:

Coach takes on average 48h 38m.

Train takes on average 53h 33m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA including taking a train, coach and flight.
Take the train. It's the cheaper option, and the extra time on board is usually more relaxing than driving it.

Tickets start at around £341 compared to roughly £306 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about -£34. The journey takes 53h 3m versus 29h 9m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.

Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.

Travel options
from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

How to get to Los Angeles, CA from Chicago, IL by train, bus, flight or ferry.

Our recommendation

flight

The best way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is by taking a flight because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • UnitedUA318 · UA430
    8:405h50
    O'Hare International Airport
    12:30Ontario International Airport
    £1801One-way
    1 change

Cheapest

  • UnitedUA318 · UA430
    8:405h50
    O'Hare International Airport
    12:30Ontario International Airport
    £1801One-way
    1 change

Fastest

  • UnitedUA1363
    13:004h29
    O'Hare International Airport
    15:29Los Angeles International Airport
    £2851One-way
    0 changes

Other options

  • Amtrak3 Southwest Chief
    13:3043h57
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    7:27Union Station, Los Angeles, CA
    £2251One-way
    0 changes
  • Amtrak381 Carl Sandburg · 3 Southwest Chief
    7:4049h47
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    7:27Union Station, Los Angeles, CA
    £2481One-way
    1 change
  • Amtrak5 California Zephyr · 718 Gold Runner · 5818 Connecting Bus
    14:0062h25
    Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL
    2:25Union Station, Los Angeles, CA
    £4521One-way
    2 changes
  • FlixBusFlixBus+Greyhound ·
    0:1548h15
    Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station
    22:30Los Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA
    £2681One-way
    2 changes
  • Greyhound · · +FlixBusFlixBus
    10:1561h55
    Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL
    22:10Los Angeles, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, CA
    £2731One-way
    3 changes
  • Greyhound · · +FlixBusFlixBus
    23:1073h00
    Chicago, Union Station (Amtrak), IL
    22:10Los Angeles, Cesar E Chavez / Vignes, CA
    £2841One-way
    3 changes
  • UnitedUA719 · UA2028
    16:206h31
    O'Hare International Airport
    20:51Ontario International Airport
    £1801One-way
    1 change
  • UnitedUA1577 · UA1780
    14:307h45
    O'Hare International Airport
    20:15Ontario International Airport
    £1801One-way
    1 change
  • UnitedUA2866 · UA552
    16:358h13
    O'Hare International Airport
    22:48Ontario International Airport
    £1801One-way
    1 change

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, coaches, flights and ferries

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FAQs: Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA

Travel to Los Angeles, CA easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA including taking a train, coach and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is a coach with an average price of £210.

This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA:

A coach is £131 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA costing on average £341.

A coach is £219 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA costing on average £428.

The fastest way to travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is by flight with an average journey time of 9h 2m.

Other travel options to Los Angeles, CA take longer:

Coach takes on average 48h 38m.

Train takes on average 53h 33m.

The Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA distance is approximately 2802 km.
The average frequency per day from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA is:
  • Around 155 flights per day.
  • Around 8 coaches per day.
  • Around 4 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA as scheduled services by train, coach and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA:
  • Flights mostly depart from O'Hare International Airport and arrive in Los Angeles International Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Chicago Union Station, Chicago, IL and arrive in Union Station, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Coaches mostly depart from Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station and arrive in Los Angeles, Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station), CA.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Amtrak to go to Los Angeles, CA by train.
  • Travel with Greyhound to go to Los Angeles, CA by coach.
  • Travel with Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, United, Alaska Airlines, skywest airlines, frontier airlines, Sun Country Airlines to go to Los Angeles, CA by flight.
Yes, there are direct services available from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA with the following travel companies:
  • 1 direct trains per day with Amtrak.
  • 23 direct flights per day with Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, United, frontier airlines.
Omio customers who travel from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA often also extend their vacation to go to Las Vegas, NV, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Portland, OR, Denver, CO. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Los Angeles, CA and these popular destinations at a great price.
To get from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA, you can choose from several travel options including train, coach and flight.
In Los Angeles, you can explore the vibrant Venice Beach Boardwalk with its eclectic shops and street performers, visit the historic El Capitan Theatre for a classic movie experience, or take a scenic hike in Runyon Canyon Park for panoramic city views. Enjoy a live performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, known for its stunning architecture, or discover unique exhibits at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. For sightseeing, check out the Griffith Observatory for breathtaking views and astronomy exhibits, The Getty Center with its impressive art collection and gardens, and the Santa Monica Pier, featuring an amusement park and ocean views. Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame to see star plaques of entertainment icons, or visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for diverse art collections.
For an enriching experience in Los Angeles, plan to spend at least 3 to 5 days. This allows time to explore major attractions like Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, and the Getty Centre, while also enjoying the city's vibrant culture and diverse neighbourhoods.

Travelling from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTravelTravel to Los Angeles, CAHow to get to Los Angeles, CA from Chicago, IL

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