How can I travel from Louisville to Chicago without flying?

The bus is the best choice to get to Chicago without flying. The bus provides a cost-effective, safe, and easy way to travel between the two cities. Taking a ride with other travelers through carpool services is an additional option to consider.

How long does it take to get to Chicago from Louisville by bus?

The travel time from Louisville to Chicago is about 7h, but the fastest bus can get you there in about 5h 35m. This is the time it takes to travel the 268 miles (432 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the travel distance from Louisville to Chicago?

About 268 miles (432 km) separate Louisville and Chicago.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Louisville to Chicago?

The majority of buses traveling from Louisville to Chicago start their journey at Louisville Greyhound Bus Station and wind up at Downtown Greyhound Station. These are the main departure and arrival locations on this route, there are other pick-up and drop-off locations that could make it easier for you to reach your destination.

What is the most cost-effective way to travel from Louisville to Chicago?

You can save a lot of money on your trip from Louisville to Chicago by choosing to travel by bus. The lowest price for the bus on this route is $43.

How much are the bus tickets from Louisville to Chicago?

The average price of a one-way ticket from Louisville to Chicago is $58. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $43 and $130, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

What are the best sights and things to do in Chicago?

Once in Chicago, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Cloud Gate, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Museum of Contemporary Art, Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry.

Louisville to Chicago Bus Tickets

Bus Louisville to Chicago: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$58

Average bus trip duration7h

Number of daily buses16

Earliest bus departure2:55am

Distance269 miles (433 km)

Latest bus departure7:15pm

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/586,942 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.8

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.3

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

Greyhound Louisville Chicago recent customer reviews

The bus was 30 minutes late, there were too many people on board, leaving a couple to stand. Then the driver had to slam on his brakes and I don’t know how the standing people didn’t get thrown up front. At one point the driver was getting on the interstate going the wrong way, until people started yelling at him. Absolutely not the best ride.

Reese W.

October 25, 2023

Mobile chargers and WiFi was not working at all despite the fact that same were informed to be working conditions

Muhammad Amir B.

February 6, 2020

This was the worst ride I have ever had. Negligence and just overall lateness. The trip should have taken 7 hours. It took over 11! Not acceptable

Cydney B.

May 23, 2019

FlixBus

3.5/58,379 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Amtrak

4/55,072 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

US bus companies: FlixBus, Greyhound, Los Limousines, Tornado Bus, Valley Transit, New York Trailways, Wanda Coach

Louisville to Chicago Bus

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a bus from Louisville to Chicago is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of bus fares and bus schedules to find the best deals.

We make it our job to connect you with the most dependable bus companies that cover bus service from Louisville to Chicago.

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Chicago from Louisville, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Louisville and Chicago?

Stops in Louisville

A - Louisville Greyhound Bus Station

Stops in Chicago

A - Downtown Greyhound Station

B - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

C - Polk St & Canal St

D - Tornado Bus S Kedzie Ave

E - Cumberland CTA

F - Turimex California Ave

Frequently asked questions for your trip Louisville - Chicago

How can I travel from Louisville to Chicago without flying?
How long does it take to get to Chicago from Louisville by bus?
What is the travel distance from Louisville to Chicago?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Louisville to Chicago?
What is the most cost-effective way to travel from Louisville to Chicago?
How much are the bus tickets from Louisville to Chicago?
What are the best sights and things to do in Chicago?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

04/21

No data

04/22

$42

Today

$43

04/24

$50

04/25

$41

04/26

$45

04/27

$47

04/28

$40

The cheapest trip from Louisville to Chicago was searched and found on Apr 28, 2025 with a price of $40

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

You can expect to pay from $40 to $102 for a bus ticket from Louisville to Chicago based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $40 which is on 2025-04-28.

Usually Amtrak, Greyhound Lines, Inc. will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Meet and talk to locals at the bus stations while traveling from Louisville to Chicago.There is no better way to get inside travel information while exploring a new city than to go straight to its people.

From miles long of beauteous natural landscapes to impressive man-crafted sights, you're bound to be in for a visual treat on your bus trip from Louisville to Chicago.

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Louisville to Chicago.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Louisville to Chicago.

Did you know?

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

Will you be returning to Louisville by bus?

Bus from Louisville to Chicago

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Bus Tickets from Louisville, KY to Chicago, IL