What is the distance between Chicago and Altoona?

The distance between the two cities is 489 miles (789 km).

Bus Chicago to Altoona from $63 | Refundable Tickets

Previously seen trips

Next departures for Chicago to Altoona on November 27
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	10:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	1d 1h	12:40pm	Altoona Station	No tags
Bus	2:25pm	Chicago 95Th & Dan Ryan	21h 15m	12:40pm	Altoona Station	No tags
Bus	4:00pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	19h 40m	12:40pm	Altoona Station	No tags
Bus	4:00pm	Downtown Greyhound Station	19h 40m	12:40pm	Altoona Station	No tags
Bus	10:00am	537-517 W. Jackson Blvd	1d 1h	12:40pm	Altoona Station	No tags

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to Altoona

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Altoona. The journey takes about 16 hours 25 minutes and with fares starting at just $68, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

3bus per day

16h 25mAverage Duration

489 milesDistance

20kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$68 - $315	Average Duration16h 25m	CO₂ emissions 20kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$92 - $638	Average Duration14h 19m	CO₂ emissions 72kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/587,398 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

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.

FlixBus

3.5/511,454 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

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.

US bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Chicago to Altoona by bus

What is the distance between Chicago and Altoona?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

11/24

$222

11/25

$241

Today

$240

11/27

$189

11/28

$207

11/29

$247

11/30

$307

12/01

$197

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Altoona was searched and found on Nov 27, 2025 with a price of $189

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

You can expect to pay from $189 to $307 for a bus ticket from Chicago to Altoona based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $189 which is on 2025-11-27.