Getting from Dubuque to Chicago?
 

Will be in Dubuque IA the end of March, flying into ORD and hitching a ride with someone going to the same event, but he isn't returning to Chicago. I prefer not to fly from Dubuque -- expensive and short-hop kind of flight I generally avoid.

What are my options? Bus? Car rental?

(I googled Amtrak for Dubuque and found they have been trying to get service restored to Chicago, but of course, passenger rail in the US is but a ghost of its former self in the midwest.)

ttt- help, I'm sinking, sinking, to the post-25th post limbo. Anyone have info/suggestion?

Your friend is not going through a town served by Amtrak afterward? Any chance of hitching a ride with anyone else at your event? Have you checked Greyhound?

I have info, but it won't help you: Greyhound has a station in Dubuque, but there's no service between that city and Chicago.

You COULD, in theory, take a Lamers Bus Line from Dubuque to UW-Madison,
http://www.golamers.com/Lamers-conne...to-Madison.php
then the same bus company from UW-Madison to Milwaukee,
http://www.golamers.com/Lamers-conne...to-Madison.php
and then Greyhound from Milwaukee to Chicago. A bit of trouble, but POSSIBLE.

Other than that, you'll either fly or rent a car.

Friend is staying put in Dubuque for a week. With all due respect to Dubuque...... ;-)

Apparently Trailways has or had one bus a day leaving in latter afternoon. I thought Greyhound merged into Trailways anyway? Not in Iowa? Where's the nearest Mega bus?

The nearest Megabus location is either Iowa City or Madison.

Found it!
The mention of "Trailways" led me to a search for

Dubuque trailways

which led me to find this schedule
http://www.burlingtontrailways.com/t...asp?r=52640408

Cost is $45 one-way, according to their site.