Find buses from Chicago to Indianapolis

In general, buses from Chicago to Indianapolis make anywhere from one to five stops. For example, the overnight Greyhound buses head south after departing from the Chicago Bus Station, make one stop at the 95th/Dan Ryan station in Chicago, and then go directly to Indianapolis. Some of the three-stop buses (which usually depart in the early morning or early evening) also make their first stop at 95th/Dan Ryan station, but then make additional stops in Gary, Indiana and Lafayette, Indiana before pulling into the bus station in Indianapolis. The Chicago to Indianapolis buses that make five stops tend to leave during the morning. These buses do not stop at 95th/Dan Ryan station. Instead, they head straight to Indiana with stops in Gary, Valparaiso, Rensselaer, Lafayette, and Lebanon. Roughly a half-hour or so after leaving Lebanon, they arrive in Indianapolis.

One of the most popular companies providing buses to Indianapolis from Chicago is Greyhound. The main bus station they use when departing from Chicago is their Chicago Bus Station on West Harrison Street in downtown Chicago. That being said, these buses also regularly pick up passengers at the 95th/Dan Ryan station before continuing their journey down to Indianapolis. If you prefer to wait at the 95th/Dan Ryan station, then you may purchase one of the bus ticket/s from Chicago to Indianapolis that stop at this station. Alternatively, you may take the Red Line Metro toward Howard Station, transfer to the Blue Line Metro toward Forest Park, and then walk a few minutes to reach the Chicago Bus Station. It takes around 40min or so. When buses finally reach their destination of Indianapolis, they pull into the centrally located Indianapolis Bus Station.

Most buses from Chicago to Indianapolis provide a range of amenities that allow for comfortable and safe travel. Near all passenger seats are power outlets that allow you to keep your devices fully charged as you surf the complimentary Wi-Fi (provided for the entire trip). The bus seats also recline backward, allowing you to spread out a bit. Since there are no middle seats on buses to Indianapolis from Chicago, all passengers get to sit by the aisle or by the window. If you need to use the restroom, one is located on-board toward the back of the bus. On longer journeys, there are also scheduled stops. Passengers with restricted mobility may sit in the accessible seating that’s available up front. A wheelchair lift may also help you to safely get on and off the bus.

Passengers traveling on buses to Indianapolis from Chicago are typically allowed to bring up to four items of luggage. This includes one free carry-on, one free checked bag, and up to two more paid checked bags. The free carry-on shouldn’t weigh more than 25 lbs and it should be small enough to fit on your lap, in the overhead compartment, or under your seat. The free checked bag shouldn’t weigh more than 50 lbs or be larger than 62 linear inches (measured by adding length + width + height). For an additional fee, you may also bring two extra checked bags (same weight and size requirements) to be placed under the bus. Acceptable luggage includes backpacks, duffel bags, and suitcases. Unacceptable luggage includes paper bags, plastic bags, and bags with items sticking out of them.

Before passengers board a bus from Chicago to Indianapolis, they need to bring their ID and bus ticket. Your ID should be government-issued – think driver’s license, passport, or non-driver ID. Alternative forms of ID – a library card or college ID – won’t be accepted by the drivers. Your bus ticket may be purchased at Greyhound’s Chicago Bus Station prior to departure. Alternatively, you may purchase it online and download the e-ticket to show to the driver. Once you have your ID and bus ticket in hand, you’re ready to board. However, if you’re a younger traveler (between 12 and 16) and you are traveling alone, then an Unaccompanied Child Form needs to be filled out prior to boarding.

A ticket from Chicago to Indianapolis for this week starts from $36 one-way.

The quickest bus available from Chicago will take 3h 25m to arrive in Indianapolis. Your arrival can differ by about 0h 15m. This largely depends on whether your bus ride includes stops or is a direct route from Chicago to Indianapolis. Greyhound has the quickest available bus to your destination.

You can find bus tickets for FlixBus, Busbud, and Amtrak which service this route currently. FlixBus is the cheapest option recently available with prices starting at $67 round-trip.

The distance between Chicago and Indianapolis is about 164.5 mi in a straight line. In terms of time, 3h 25m by bus is reasonable for normal traffic levels.

The carbon footprint of getting a bus from Chicago to Indianapolis is about 26lb. This is around 80% less than taking a plane (130lb). Doing this journey by train would leave a footprint of about 42lb.

The quickest way is to book a flight from Chicago to Indianapolis, which can be as quick as 1h 00m onboard American Airlines. You can also get a train from Chicago to Indianapolis, or a bus from Chicago to Indianapolis which can take you longer to arrive at your destination.

Planning to book a bus from Chicago to Indianapolis can be a safe bet when looking for a low-cost deal to your destination. Currently, a flight and a train are priced higher than the cost of a bus. You can search prices for a flight from Chicago starting at $100 to Indianapolis or a train from Chicago to Indianapolis starting at $69 if that is your preferred method of transportation.