Trains tickets from Chicago to San Francisco (CA), US

Discover your next train travel journey from Chicago to San Francisco (CA), US and book online with ease

Join 75M+ travelers booking 2M+ routes across 85+ countries.
Enjoy our 24/7 customer service to assist you at every step.
Cancel anytime and receive a 100% refund, no reason needed.
SatApr 26
from $251
SunApr 27
MonApr 28
TueApr 29
from $251
WedApr 30
from $166
ThuMay 1
FriMay 2
SatMay 3

Next departures to San Francisco

One passenger / one way

  • This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest + Fastest
    Departure time: April 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: May 1 at
    Destination city: San Francisco
    Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: April 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: May 1 at
    Destination city: San Francisco
    Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: April 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: May 1 at
    Destination city: San Francisco
    Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: April 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: May 1 at
    Destination city: San Francisco
    Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:
  • Departure time: April 29 at
    Departure city: Chicago
    Departure location: Chicago (Union Station), IL
    Arrival time: May 2 at
    Destination city: San Francisco
    Destination location: Mission St & Fremont St
    Operated by: AmtrakAmtrak
    Vehicle: BusDuration:

Accepted payments

  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • American Express
  • China Union Pay
  • Diners Club Canada
  • Discover Click to Pay
  • JCB payment
  • Klarna (Pay over time)
  • Google Pay

Train Chicago to San Francisco: Trip Overview

Please note, this information is subject to change.

Average ticket price$261
Average train trip duration2d 10h
Number of daily trains4
Earliest train departure1:52pm
Distance1849 miles (2982 km)
Latest train departure3:05pm

Chicago to San Francisco Train

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

Train service from Chicago to San Francisco will be provided by the most trusted companies.

Whether it is train tickets or first class train tickets going to San Francisco from Chicago, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Frequently asked questions for your trip Chicago - San Francisco

Find cheapest prices for trains

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

Best price found
04/22
$300
04/23
$118
Today
$431
04/25
$369
04/26
$251
04/27
$114
04/28
No data
04/29
$251
busbud logoThe cheapest trip from Chicago to San Francisco was searched and found on Apr 27, 2025 with a price of $114

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

You can expect to pay from $114 to $2,124 for a train ticket from Chicago to San Francisco based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $114 which is on 2025-04-27.

About Train Travel

Train Travel Tips

Taking the fastest trains allows you to travel at speeds greater than 300 km/h. Taking a trip from Chicago to San Francisco is not only much quicker but more comfortable too! You can usually travel directly to the city centre and save time while you're at it.

No matter if you plan to take a regional or high-speed train to San Francisco, the planet will thank you. You’ll help to protect the beautiful landscapes that will unfold before your very eyes.

By choosing the train between Chicago and San Francisco, you emit up to 30 times less CO2 than for the same journey made by plane or car!

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your train trip from Chicago to San Francisco while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

One of the deepest train stations in the world is in Kiev. Located at a depth of 105 m, it was designed in this way to serve as a shelter in the event of an attack. The second deepest station is in China. Badaling station is located 60 m under the Great Wall of China!

Some trains in Sweden can recover more than a fifth of the energy they use by braking. This is especially true with ore trains as they descend from Narvik to Kiruna.

You can find dogs as passengers on the trains of Moscow, where there is a large number of stray dogs. Over time, the dogs have learned the inner workings of the rail system and it is not uncommon to find one traveling between the city and the suburbs.

Will you be returning to Chicago by train?

Train from San Francisco to Chicago

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud makes bus travel easy. We help travelers find a bus, plot routes, and book intercity bus tickets all over the world. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. 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.

Popular Trains Connecting Chicago

Trains Leaving from Chicago

Popular Trains Connecting San Francisco

Trains Going to San Francisco