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ChicagoBuffalo

Chicago to Buffalo by train

Buffalo lies 729 km (453 mi) east of Chicago, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.

By rail the journey is about 9 h 52 min at the speeds typical of United States rail, over roughly 890 km (553 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.

ChicagoBuffalo

Open Buffalo in Google Maps

The two ends, side by side
ChicagoBuffalo
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
Population2.7 million258,071
Elevation180 m (591 ft)191 m (627 ft)
Time nowUTC-5 (America/Chicago)UTC-4 (America/New_York)
Stations on recordLaSalle Street Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Millennium StationBuffalo–Exchange Street, Buffalo Central Terminal
Postal codes60601–6070114201–14280

Clocks in Buffalo are 1 h ahead of Chicago right now, so a 9 h 52 min journey lands 10 h 52 min later by the destination clock.

Where to book trains from Chicago to Buffalo

AmtrakThe US national operator, and the only place to book most American rail. Fare tiers and refund rights are set at the point of sale, so booking direct matters here.Check times and fares on Amtrak (opens www.amtrak.com in a new tab)
OmioCompares trains, buses and some flights across European operators in one search.Explore train options on Omio (opens www.omio.com in a new tab)
Every link above leaves this site.

We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.

Staying in Buffalo

Live rooms and prices for Buffalo are in the search below.

Book a hotel in Buffalo

Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.

Common questions

How far is Buffalo from Chicago?

729 km (453 mi) in a straight line, east of Chicago; by road roughly 890 km (553 mi).

How long does it take to get from Chicago to Buffalo by train?

About 9 h 52 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.

Is there a time difference between Chicago and Buffalo?

Buffalo is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/New_York against America/Chicago).

Where these facts come from

  • GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
  • Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
  • OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
  • Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines

Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.