How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

For as low as $405, Alaska Airlines can have you in Chicago from San Francisco in 4h 13m. San Francisco and Chicago are separated by a distance of 2963 km. Both multi-stop and direct flights can be found to your destination and back. Find deals

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Chicago ranges from 43.0 - 125.0 inches per month. August is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 125.0 mm. January is typically the driest time to visit Chicago when rainfall is around 43.0 mm. Find deals

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Chicago, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 23.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around -5.0 C).

What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Chicago?

Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from San Francisco to Chicago on time: Asiana Airlines (82%), Austrian Airlines (79%), Brussels Airlines (77%).

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

When searching for a good deal, it’s best to be prepared for potential fluctuations in price. We recommend booking at least 51 days in advance, which can save you up to 106% on flights from San Francisco to Chicago compared to booking the week you need them. Waiting 51 days out may not be for everyone, so we have options available for flights within the next two weeks, with the lowest price starting at $672. For sooner than that we have options available in the next 3 days from $1,001.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Chicago?

The best pricing can be found in the month of February. Prices to Chicago from San Francisco average $576. You can even find prices in February for less than $576, as users have found deals to Chicago from as low as $310. The month of December appears to be one of the more expensive times to travel to Chicago from San Francisco. Flying in the targeted month can save you up to 27%.

What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

If you book a flight to Chicago from San Francisco, you will be flying from San Francisco, which is the city’s only airport. San Francisco (SFO) is located 19.0 km from the centre of San Francisco. There are 60 flights from San Francisco to Chicago per day from 0 different airlines.

Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

Yes. In addition to deals on San Francisco to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago.

Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

$169+ Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Round-trip from	$379
One-way from	$169
Popular in	December
Cheapest in	February
Average price	$520

Alaska Airlines
12/11-18/11
2 total stops
24h 06m total
San Francisco to Chicago

Search Deals

United Airlines
24/11
Nonstop
4h 18m total
San Francisco to Chicago

Search Deals

Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($67 potential increase over avg. return price).

Search Deals

Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($26 potential savings vs. average return price).

Search Deals

Average for round-trip flights in September 2025

Search Deals

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 2 September 2025.

Wed 12/1107:00SFO - ORD

1 stop14h 59mAlaska Airlines

Tue 18/1114:54ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 07mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 1/9$379

Sat 25/1023:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 13mUnited Airlines

Fri 31/1017:16ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 52mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$381

Tue 23/906:30SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Wed 1/1021:13ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 46mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$405

Tue 4/1107:00SFO - ORD

1 stop9h 59mAlaska Airlines

Sat 8/1109:20ORD - SFO

1 stop14h 35mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 2/9$413

Sat 18/1005:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Tue 21/1015:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 41mUnited Airlines

Deal found 2/9$415

Thu 2/1005:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Tue 7/1014:35ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 45mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$418

Thu 27/1107:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 23mUnited Airlines

Thu 4/1209:00ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 49mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$423

Sat 25/1013:00SFO - ORD

2 stops8h 05mSouthwest

Fri 31/1006:15ORD - SFO

1 stop6h 20mSouthwest

Deal found 2/9$427

Thu 2/1018:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Sat 4/1015:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 41mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$429

Sat 18/1008:41SFO - ORD

1 stop13h 18mAlaska Airlines

Tue 21/1019:59ORD - SFO

1 stop20h 02mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 30/8$430

Thu 25/916:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Mon 29/916:25ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 38mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$432

Sat 27/914:42SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 21mAlaska Airlines

Wed 8/1008:20ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 41mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 2/9$435

Best flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Discover carefully curated flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 2 September 2025.

Sat 18/1008:41SFO - ORD

1 stop13h 18mAlaska Airlines

Tue 21/1019:59ORD - SFO

1 stop17h 07mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 2/9$379

Wed 1/1023:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 13mUnited Airlines

Wed 8/1006:15ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 38mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$405

Wed 15/1010:26SFO - ORD

1 stop11h 33mAlaska Airlines

Wed 22/1008:20ORD - SFO

1 stop11h 25mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 1/9$379

Tue 23/906:30SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Tue 30/915:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 41mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$405

Wed 5/1107:00SFO - ORD

1 stop14h 59mAlaska Airlines

Wed 12/1109:20ORD - SFO

1 stop14h 41mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 31/8$379

Tue 11/1123:44SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 18mUnited Airlines

Tue 18/1109:10ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 46mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$405

Wed 8/1010:26SFO - ORD

1 stop11h 33mAlaska Airlines

Wed 15/1008:20ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 41mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 31/8$379

Wed 8/1023:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 13mUnited Airlines

Wed 15/1006:15ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 39mUnited Airlines

Deal found 2/9$405

Wed 25/218:40SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Wed 4/306:30ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 50mUnited Airlines

Deal found 30/8$405

Mon 20/1021:17SFO - ORD

1 stop15h 33mAlaska Airlines

Tue 21/1019:59ORD - SFO

1 stop17h 07mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 1/9$413

Wed 15/1010:26SFO - ORD

1 stop11h 33mAlaska Airlines

Tue 21/1008:20ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 41mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 1/9$413

Wed 8/1010:26SFO - ORD

1 stop11h 33mAlaska Airlines

Tue 14/1019:59ORD - SFO

1 stop20h 02mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 2/9$413

Direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Explore direct flight options from San Francisco to Chicago based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 2 September 2025.

Sat 25/1023:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 13mUnited Airlines

Fri 31/1017:16ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 52mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$381

Tue 23/906:30SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Wed 1/1021:13ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 46mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$405

Sat 18/1005:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Tue 21/1015:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 41mUnited Airlines

Deal found 2/9$415

Thu 2/1005:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Tue 7/1014:35ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 45mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$418

Thu 27/1107:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 23mUnited Airlines

Thu 4/1209:00ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 49mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$423

Thu 2/1018:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Sat 4/1015:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 41mUnited Airlines

Deal found 2/9$429

Thu 25/916:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Mon 29/916:25ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 38mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$432

Wed 8/1018:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Thu 9/1006:15ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 41mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$462

Thu 18/1205:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 25mUnited Airlines

Tue 23/1222:00ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 04mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$464

Thu 25/1205:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 25mUnited Airlines

Thu 1/122:00ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 04mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$471

Mon 6/1018:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Thu 9/1006:15ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 41mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$476

Fri 3/1023:33SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 22mUnited Airlines

Tue 7/1010:49ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 46mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$484

Last-minute flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago. Data last updated 2 September 2025 and is based on user searches.

Tue 16/916:10SFO - ORD

1 stop15h 46mDelta

Tue 23/911:20ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 28mDelta

Deal found 2/9$510

Mon 22/923:59SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 25mUnited Airlines

Sat 27/919:40ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 51mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$429

Tue 23/906:30SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Wed 1/1021:13ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 46mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$405

Tue 23/908:35SFO - ORD

2 stops10h 55mSouthwest

Tue 30/913:30ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 55mSouthwest

Deal found 1/9$483

Wed 24/913:45SFO - ORD

1 stop8h 10mDelta

Tue 4/1110:30ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 21mDelta

Deal found 1/9$439

Thu 25/916:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Mon 29/916:25ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 38mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$432

Fri 26/900:45SFO - ORD

1 stop5h 43mDelta

Wed 8/1007:37ORD - SFO

1 stop10h 28mDelta

Deal found 2/9$452

Fri 26/900:45SFO - ORD

1 stop5h 43mDelta

Mon 29/915:55ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 32mDelta

Deal found 2/9$466

Fri 26/905:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 31mUnited Airlines

Mon 29/918:32ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 48mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$498

Sat 27/914:42SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 21mAlaska Airlines

Wed 8/1008:20ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 41mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 2/9$435

Mon 29/916:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Wed 1/1007:18ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 46mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$418

One-way flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Search for one-way flight options from San Francisco to Chicago. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 2 September 2025.

Wed 31/1216:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Deal found 31/8$169

Thu 27/1105:00SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 05mSouthwest

Deal found 1/9$186

Wed 1/1016:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$203

Tue 14/1008:45SFO - ORD

1 stop8h 14mHawaiian Airlines

Deal found 2/9$207

Sat 11/1016:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$213

Thu 23/1006:30SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 35mUnited Airlines

Deal found 1/9$217

Tue 7/1000:35SFO - ORD

1 stop5h 55mDelta

Deal found 2/9$220

Wed 3/1214:50SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 00mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 1/9$224

Sat 10/114:40SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 19mHawaiian Airlines

Deal found 1/9$229

Sat 13/1205:15SFO - ORD

1 stop6h 15mSouthwest

Deal found 1/9$230

Mon 13/1006:45SFO - ORD

1 stop15h 14mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 1/9$232

Fri 10/1000:35SFO - ORD

1 stop6h 28mDelta

Deal found 1/9$234

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Departure

Return

Price

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 18/10

08:41-23:59

1 stop13h 18m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 21/10

19:59-11:06

1 stop17h 07m

$379

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 15/10

10:26-23:59

1 stop11h 33m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 22/10

08:20-17:45

1 stop11h 25m

$379

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 5/11

07:00-23:59

1 stop14h 59m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 12/11

09:20-22:01

1 stop14h 41m

$379

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 8/10

10:26-23:59

1 stop11h 33m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 15/10

08:20-14:01

1 stop7h 41m

$379

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 1/10

23:00-05:13

Nonstop4h 13m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 8/10

06:15-08:53

Nonstop4h 38m

$405

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 23/9

06:30-13:01

Nonstop4h 31m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 30/9

15:47-18:28

Nonstop4h 41m

$405

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 11/11

23:44-06:02

Nonstop4h 18m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 18/11

09:10-11:56

Nonstop4h 46m

$405

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 8/10

23:00-05:13

Nonstop4h 13m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 15/10

06:15-08:54

Nonstop4h 39m

$405

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 25/2

18:40-00:59

Nonstop4h 19m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 4/3

06:30-09:20

Nonstop4h 50m

$405

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 20/10

21:17-14:50

1 stop15h 33m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 21/10

19:59-11:06

1 stop17h 07m

$413

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 31/8

Showing 1-10 of 21 results

Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from San Francisco with our price prediction graph.

Estimated return price

Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from San Francisco to Chicago

How far ahead should I book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

The price you pay for your flight from San Francisco to Chicago may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 71 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SFO to CHI?

When flying from San Francisco to Chicago, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago

The most flights from SFO to CHI are scheduled on a Monday (88 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Wednesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (27 on average).

Related info for your journey

What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Chicago?
If you book a flight to Chicago from San Francisco, you will be flying from San Francisco, which is the city’s only airport. San Francisco (SFO) is located 19.0 km from the centre of San Francisco. There are 60 flights from San Francisco to Chicago per day from 0 different airlines.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?
For as low as $405, Alaska Airlines can have you in Chicago from San Francisco in 4h 13m. San Francisco and Chicago are separated by a distance of 2963 km. Both multi-stop and direct flights can be found to your destination and back.
What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Chicago?
Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from San Francisco to Chicago on time: Asiana Airlines (82%), Austrian Airlines (79%), Brussels Airlines (77%).
Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Chicago that include hotel bookings?
Yes. In addition to deals on San Francisco to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.
How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago?
After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago.
Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Chicago?
Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

See more FAQs

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Rogers Park car hire

Near North Side car hire

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Northalsted car hire

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How does Cheapflights help users find flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

900+ travel sites are searched through when a user searches for a flight using Cheapflights. From the search interface, users can use filters to choose airlines, airports, flight times, cabin classes and more to their preference. Book your flight to Chicago from San Francisco today with Cheapflights!

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from San Francisco to Chicago?

It’s simple! Cheapflights, which is free to use for everyone, saves millions of users time and money every year by helping them find the cheapest and most suitable flights from San Francisco to Chicago.

Can Cheapflights find flights from San Francisco to Chicago with no change fees?

Yes! Cheapflights helps users easily find flights from San Francisco to Chicago with no change fees.

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from San Francisco to Chicago become cheaper?

Yes, and it’s super simple to set up. Click the bell icon next to the flight deals above and provide a valid email address to enable Price Alerts. That’s it!

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Cheap flights from San Francisco to Chicago from $169

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 24/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Round-trip from

One-way from

Popular in

Cheapest in

Average price

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to ChicagoExplore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 2 September 2025.

Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 2 September 2025.

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Chicago that are best for you.

Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from San Francisco with our price prediction graph.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from San Francisco to Chicago

How far ahead should I book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from San Francisco to Chicago. Price data was last updated on 29 August 2025.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SFO to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 2 September 2025.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Chicago?

Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Complete your trip

Complete your trip to Chicago by adding a car hire and/or hotel booking to your travel itinerary.

Fly with Cheapflights

Find the best flight deals on Cheapflights, where travellers can enjoy low prices and a wide availability of flights to their desired destinations.

How does Cheapflights help users find flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from San Francisco to Chicago?

Can Cheapflights find flights from San Francisco to Chicago with no change fees?

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from San Francisco to Chicago become cheaper?

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Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 2 September 2025.