Traveling from Amtrak St. Louis to Chicago is on an intercity rail route in the Midwest, with four daily departures in each direction across two train services. The Lincoln Service provides three daily round trips on this route, completing the 284-mile journey in approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes to 5 hours and 5 minutes. The Texas Eagle adds a fourth daily option with Sleeping accommodations available for passengers who want a private room. Coach fares start from around $33, with Business Class available on the Lincoln Service and Sleeping Cars on the Texas Eagle.
Amtrak St Louis to Chicago Route
The Lincoln Service is a public Amtrak train between Chicago and St. Louis with four round trips daily, three Lincoln Service trains, and one Texas Eagle. The route covers 284 miles; signal, station, and grade crossing improvements enable trains to operate at up to 110 mp.
- Train Lines: Lincoln Service (Trains 300-307) and Texas Eagle (Trains 21 and 22)
- Duration: 4 hours 50 minutes to 5 hours 25 minutes depending on service
- Distance: 284 miles (457 km)
- Frequency: Four daily departures in each direction
- Departure Station: Amtrak St. Louis Gateway Station (STL), 430 South 15th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Arrival Station: Amtrak Chicago Union Station (CHI), 225 South Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606
St. Louis to Chicago Amtrak Schedule and Fares
Four trains depart St. Louis daily, three Lincoln Service departures spread across early morning, late morning, and afternoon, plus the Texas Eagle at mid-morning.
| Amtrak Train | Departure | Arrival (Chicago) | Days of Operation | Duration | Coach | Business Class/ Sleeping Cabins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Lincoln Service | 4:30 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. | Daily Service | 4 hours 55 minutes | From $33 | From $62 |
| 302 Lincoln Service | 6:35 a.m. | 11:40 a.m. | Daily Service | 5 hours 5 minutes | From $33 | From $62 |
| 306 Lincoln Service | 5:40 p.m. | 10:43 p.m. | Daily Service | 5 hours 3 minutes | From $33 | From $62 |
| 22 Texas Eagle | 8:15 a.m. | 1:40 p.m. | Daily Service | 5 hours 25 minutes | From $33 | From $162 |
Station Arrival Timings (Train 300, 302, and 306 Lincoln Service)
| Station | Train 300 | Train 302 | Train 306 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Gateway Station (STL) | Departs at 4:30 a.m. | Departs at 6:35 a.m. | Departs at 5:40 p.m. |
| Alton (ALN) | 5:14 a.m. | 7:21 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. |
| Carlinville (CRV) | 6:11 a.m. | 7:46 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. |
| Springfield (SPI) | 6:36 a.m. | 8:44 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. |
| Lincoln (LCN) | 7:06 a.m. | 9:16 a.m. | 8:17 p.m. |
| Bloomington-Normal (BNL) | 7:31 a.m. | 9:42 a.m. | 8:46 p.m. |
| Pontiac (PON) | 8:24 a.m. | 9:58 a.m. | 9:35 p.m. |
| Dwight (DWT) | 8:49 a.m. | 10:39 a.m. | 10:00 p.m. |
| Joliet (JOL) | – | 11:04 a.m. | – |
| Chicago (CHI) | Arrives at 9:25 a.m. | Arrives at 11:40 a.m. | Arrives at 10:43 p.m. |
Amtrak Chicago to St. Louis (Southbound)
| Amtrak Train | Departure | Arrival (Chicago) | Days of Operation | Duration | Coach | Business Class/ Sleeping Cabins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 Lincoln Service | 7:50 a.m. | 12:40 p.m. | Daily Service | 4 hours 50 minutes | From $33 | From $62 |
| 303 Lincoln Service | 1:10 p.m. | 6:15 p.m. | Daily Service | 5 hours 5 minutes | From $33 | From $62 |
| 307 Lincoln Service | 5:10 p.m. | 10:15 p.m. | Daily Service | 5 hours 5 minutes | From $33 | From $62 |
| 21 Texas Eagle | 1:30 p.m. | 7:25 p.m. | Daily Service | 5 hours 55 minutes | From $33 | From $162 |
Station Arrival Timings (Train 301 Lincoln Service)
| Station | Train 300 |
|---|---|
| Chicago (CHI) | Departs at 7:50 a.m. |
| Joliet (JOL) | 8:13 a.m. |
| Dwight (DWT) | 8:58 a.m. |
| Pontiac (PON) | 9:19 a.m. |
| Bloomington-Normal (BNL) | 9:39 a.m. |
| Lincoln (LCN) | 10:05 a.m. |
| Springfield (SPI) | 10:35 a.m. |
| Carlinville (CRV) | 11:32 a.m. |
| Alton (ALN) | 12:00 p.m. |
| St. Louis Gateway Station (STL) | Arrives at 12:40 p.m. |
Cabins on Amtrak St. Louis to Chicago Journey
Passengers can find two types of cabins in both Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle. Coach is the common cabin, while business class and sleeping accommodations differ from the trains.
Texas Eagle: Amtrak Coach Class
Texas Eagle Coach uses Superliner bi-level cars with the same wide, reclining seats as Lincoln Service Coach, plus the added benefit of an upper-deck level.
Texas Eagle: Sleeping Accommodations
The Texas Eagle carries Superliner sleeping cars on the St. Louis-Chicago segment. All Sleeping fares include meals in the Dining Car.
- Roomette: A private two-person room with facing seats converting to upper and lower berths. Includes a window, reading lights, USB charging, and climate control. Included meals in the Dining Car are provided for the duration of the journey.
- Bedroom: A larger room with a full-size lower bed, upper bunk, and private toilet and sink. Shower access in the Bedroom Suite car. All meals included. Bedroom passengers have Metropolitan Lounge access at Chicago Union Station.
- Accessible Bedroom: Lower-level room with accessible toilet, sink, and space for a mobility device.
NOTE: Amtrak internet connection is available for all cabins and fares. However, the speed and availability cannot be guaranteed.
Lincoln Service: Coach Class
Coach is available on all three daily Lincoln Service departures. Seats are arranged two-by-two with generous legroom, reclining backrests, fold-down tray tables, reading lights, and power outlets at every seat.
Lincoln Service: Amtrak Business Class
Each of the three daily Lincoln Service trains includes Business Class, with reserved seating, complimentary beverages, and a twenty-five percent additional Amtrak Guest Rewards bonus. Moreover, Tickets are refundable prior to departure.
Passengers can choose whether to travel on the Lincoln Service or Texas Eagle to complete the journey from Amtrak St. Louis to Chicago. Multiple cabins and amenities provide options to be added to a reservation. Additionally, they must reach the station at least 30 to 45 minutes before departure.
FAQs
The average journey time between Chicago and St. Louis is 4 hours and 59 minutes. Train 300 (the fastest Lincoln Service northbound) takes 4 hours and 55 minutes. The Texas Eagle takes approximately 5 hours and 25 minutes.
Four daily round trips operate between Chicago and St. Louis: three Lincoln Service trains and one Texas Eagle. This gives four departures in each direction every day.
The Lincoln Service (Trains 300, 302, 306, 301, 303, 307) is the dedicated Illinois corridor service, providing three daily round trips. The Texas Eagle (Trains 21 and 22) is a long-distance service from Chicago to San Antonio that also serves this route once daily in each direction.
Coach fares start from approximately $33 on advance bookings on both the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle. Business Class on the Lincoln Service starts from around $62. Texas Eagle Sleeping accommodations start from approximately $162 and include all meals.
Both trains depart from and arrive at St. Louis Gateway Station at 430 South 15th Street, in downtown St. Louis, near the Gateway Arch National Park.
No, sleeping accommodations are only available on the Texas Eagle. The Lincoln Service offers Coach and Business Class only.
The Lincoln Service covers 284 miles (457 km) between St. Louis and Chicago.
