How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Delta, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines can get you from San Francisco to Chicago in just under 4h 20m. Your travel time can differ by up to 5h 36m. The distance between San Francisco and Chicago is about 2963 km. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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.

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?

Before booking your flight to Chicago from San Francisco, have a look at the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: Fiji Airways (100%), Royal Jordanian (92%), China Southern( 91%).

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

San Francisco (SFO) is the airport you will fly out of if you book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago. You should not have trouble finding flights to Chicago from San Francisco; the airport handles an average of 61 outbound flights to Chicago per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 0 airlines have flights from the San Francisco airport to Chicago. It is only a 19.0 km journey to San Francisco (SFO) from San Francisco’s city centre.

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.

$191+ Flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

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 23 December 2025.

Wed 31/1214:35SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 24mDelta

Mon 19/117:35ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 50mDelta

Deal found 22/12$431

Wed 31/1215:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Tue 20/119:58ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 02mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$462

Wed 31/1216:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Wed 21/118:29ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 01mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$485

Wed 31/1216:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Sat 24/114:40ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 56mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$491

Wed 31/1216:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Sun 25/108:55ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 54mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$509

Wed 31/1223:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 23mUnited Airlines

Sun 4/121:05ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 58mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$568

Mon 29/1219:20SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 42mAlaska Airlines

Tue 20/115:44ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 03mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$574

Mon 29/1219:20SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 42mAlaska Airlines

Wed 21/115:44ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 03mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$581

Mon 29/1219:20SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 42mAlaska Airlines

Sat 24/115:44ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 03mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$587

Wed 31/1223:05SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 22mUnited Airlines

Mon 5/119:45ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 10mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$601

Mon 29/1219:20SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 42mAlaska Airlines

Fri 23/115:44ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 03mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$605

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 23 December 2025.

Sat 31/114:05SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 51mDelta

Mon 2/214:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 34mDelta

Deal found 20/12$399

Thu 12/306:30SFO - ORD

1 stop8h 03mAlaska Airlines

Mon 16/315:54ORD - SFO

1 stop10h 05mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 21/12$402

Fri 16/123:56SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 29mUnited Airlines

Tue 20/114:40ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 56mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$408

Fri 20/200:40SFO - ORD

1 stop9h 05mDelta

Tue 24/207:40ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 29mDelta

Deal found 22/12$399

Sat 14/308:11SFO - ORD

1 stop13h 48mAlaska Airlines

Wed 18/306:00ORD - SFO

1 stop10h 01mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 23/12$413

Wed 21/122:54SFO - ORD

1 stop8h 47mDelta

Fri 23/114:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 34mDelta

Deal found 21/12$399

Tue 20/114:35SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 18mDelta

Fri 23/114:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 34mDelta

Deal found 21/12$399

Tue 20/114:35SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 18mDelta

Tue 27/114:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 34mDelta

Deal found 21/12$399

Sat 21/305:40SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 38mDelta

Tue 24/307:25ORD - SFO

1 stop10h 39mDelta

Deal found 22/12$405

Fri 6/223:05SFO - ORD

1 stop9h 39mDelta

Sun 8/208:50ORD - SFO

2 stops12h 10mDelta

Deal found 22/12$416

Thu 29/106:00SFO - ORD

2 stops9h 44mDelta

Sun 1/218:45ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 02mDelta

Deal found 22/12$416

Thu 22/112:10SFO - ORD

1 stop6h 55mDelta

Mon 26/114:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 34mDelta

Deal found 21/12$416

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 23 December 2025.

Wed 21/112:25SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 23mUnited Airlines

Sun 25/106:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$396

Wed 21/113:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 30mUnited Airlines

Thu 22/112:45ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 50mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$402

Fri 16/115:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Sat 17/116:16ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$408

Mon 19/123:56SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 29mUnited Airlines

Thu 22/118:29ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 01mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$420

Wed 21/123:56SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 29mUnited Airlines

Fri 23/109:00ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 10mUnited Airlines

Deal found 23/12$437

Fri 16/123:56SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 29mUnited Airlines

Mon 19/106:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$450

Wed 18/213:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 20mUnited Airlines

Sun 22/206:25ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 05mUnited Airlines

Deal found 23/12$455

Wed 10/623:30SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 27mUnited Airlines

Tue 16/621:39ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 55mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$474

Sun 18/106:45SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 25mUnited Airlines

Thu 22/119:58ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 02mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$480

Fri 10/422:50SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 37mUnited Airlines

Mon 13/415:45ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$488

Sat 7/215:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Sat 14/220:20ORD - SFO

Nonstop5h 04mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$492

Last-minute flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago. Data last updated 23 December 2025 and is based on user searches.

Sat 10/107:57SFO - ORD

2 stops13h 53mAlaska Airlines

Sat 17/115:44ORD - SFO

1 stop9h 03mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 21/12$406

Sun 11/105:45SFO - ORD

1 stop9h 41mDelta

Tue 13/114:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 35mDelta

Deal found 22/12$416

Tue 13/119:40SFO - ORD

1 stop26h 10mAlaska Airlines

Mon 19/109:00ORD - SFO

1 stop28h 01mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 21/12$426

Thu 15/107:00SFO - ORD

1 stop29h 29mAlaska Airlines

Sun 18/114:06ORD - SFO

1 stop7h 37mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$429

Fri 16/115:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 17mUnited Airlines

Sat 17/116:16ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$408

Sat 17/118:18SFO - ORD

1 stop20h 52mAlaska Airlines

Mon 19/115:44ORD - SFO

1 stop21h 17mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 23/12$425

Mon 19/123:56SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 29mUnited Airlines

Mon 26/106:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$420

Tue 20/114:35SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 18mDelta

Fri 23/114:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 34mDelta

Deal found 21/12$399

Wed 21/112:25SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 23mUnited Airlines

Sun 25/106:47ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 53mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$396

Wed 21/113:35SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 30mUnited Airlines

Thu 22/112:45ORD - SFO

Nonstop4h 50mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$402

Wed 28/110:30SFO - ORD

2 stops9h 22mDelta

Wed 4/214:20ORD - SFO

2 stops10h 34mDelta

Deal found 22/12$413

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 23 December 2025.

Sun 15/208:42SFO - ORD

1 stop13h 14mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$191

Wed 21/116:55SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 19mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$193

Tue 10/315:15SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 21mUnited Airlines

Deal found 22/12$194

Sat 7/200:40SFO - ORD

1 stop6h 00mDelta

Deal found 22/12$196

Tue 20/111:41SFO - ORD

1 stop9h 56mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 23/12$197

Tue 14/413:35SFO - ORD

1 stop8h 24mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$202

Mon 9/218:56SFO - ORD

1 stop16h 14mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 23/12$203

Thu 1/105:00SFO - ORD

Nonstop4h 25mUnited Airlines

Deal found 21/12$209

Wed 31/1205:30SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 55mSouthwest

Deal found 21/12$211

Mon 23/320:59SFO - ORD

1 stop7h 40mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 21/12$212

Sat 17/118:18SFO - ORD

2 stops16h 52mAlaska Airlines

Deal found 22/12$214

Tue 27/109:55SFO - ORD

2 stops10h 40mSouthwest

Deal found 22/12$215

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Round-trip from	$390
One-way from	$191
Popular in	December
Cheapest in	February
Average price	$693

Delta
5/2-1/3
2 total stops
13h 48m total
San Francisco to Chicago

Search Deals

Alaska Airlines
15/2
1 total stop
15h 26m total
San Francisco to Chicago

Search Deals

Highest demand for flights based on searches. 14% potential increase in price ($128 potential increase over avg. return price).

Search Deals

Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($24 potential savings vs. average return price).

Search Deals

Average for round-trip flights in December 2025

Search Deals

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

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 31/1

14:05-23:56

1 stop7h 51m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 2/2

14:20-22:54

2 stops10h 34m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 20/2

00:40-11:45

1 stop9h 05m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 24/2

07:40-16:09

2 stops10h 29m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 21/1

22:54-09:41

1 stop8h 47m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 23/1

14:20-22:54

2 stops10h 34m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 20/1

14:35-23:53

1 stop7h 18m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 23/1

14:20-22:54

2 stops10h 34m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 20/1

14:35-23:53

1 stop7h 18m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 27/1

14:20-22:54

2 stops10h 34m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 12/3

06:30-16:33

1 stop8h 03m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 16/3

15:54-23:59

1 stop10h 05m

$402

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 21/3

05:40-15:18

1 stop7h 38m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 24/3

07:25-16:04

1 stop10h 39m

$405

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 16/1

23:56-06:25

Nonstop4h 29m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 20/1

14:40-17:36

Nonstop4h 56m

$408

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 14/3

08:11-23:59

1 stop13h 48m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 18/3

06:00-14:01

1 stop10h 01m

$413

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 6/2

23:05-10:44

1 stop9h 39m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 8/2

08:50-19:00

2 stops12h 10m

$416

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 22/12

Showing 1-10 of 24 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 best time to book flights from San Francisco to Chicago is 71 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago (average of $161). Flying from San Francisco to Chicago in November is currently the most expensive (average of $316). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

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

Unlike in the morning, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 27% on flights from San Francisco to Chicago by exploring options for tickets at midday.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago

The most flights from SFO to CHI are scheduled on a Friday (72 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Wednesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (52 on average).

How often are flights from San Francisco to Chicago delayed?

About 10% of weekly flights between San Francisco and Chicago have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 182 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for San Francisco to Chicago flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Tuesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Sunday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on San Francisco to Chicago flights?

Over the past year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 9% of flights being delayed.

Related info for your journey

What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Chicago?
San Francisco (SFO) is the airport you will fly out of if you book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago. You should not have trouble finding flights to Chicago from San Francisco; the airport handles an average of 61 outbound flights to Chicago per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 0 airlines have flights from the San Francisco airport to Chicago. It is only a 19.0 km journey to San Francisco (SFO) from San Francisco’s city centre.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?
Delta, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines can get you from San Francisco to Chicago in just under 4h 20m. Your travel time can differ by up to 5h 36m. The distance between San Francisco and Chicago is about 2963 km. This flight may include one or multiple stops.
What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Chicago?
Before booking your flight to Chicago from San Francisco, have a look at the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: Fiji Airways (100%), Royal Jordanian (92%), China Southern( 91%).
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.
What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?
Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago (average of $161). Flying from San Francisco to Chicago in November is currently the most expensive (average of $316). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

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Alternative routes for San Francisco to Chicago

Los Angeles to O'Hare Intl flights

San Francisco to O'Hare Intl flights

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

Cheapflights makes it easy to find San Francisco to Chicago flights by helping our users search from 900+ travel sites for deals. We also provide you with filters for cabin, price, airline, airports, number of stops, and many more to narrow down that perfect flight.

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

Cheapflights taps into our reliable network of hundreds of airlines and travel agencies to find the best deals for flights from San Francisco to Chicago for you. Better yet — we are completely free to use.

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

Users can book flights with no change fees policies with our dedicated filters. Book flights from San Francisco to Chicago flexibly with Cheapflights today.

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 $191

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 24/2. 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

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 23 December 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 23 December 2025.

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Round-trip from

One-way from

Popular in

Cheapest in

Average price

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 19 December 2025.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

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 23 December 2025.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago

How often are flights from San Francisco to Chicago delayed?

What is the most punctual flight time for San Francisco to Chicago flights?

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Which airline has the best punctuality record on San Francisco to Chicago flights?

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?

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Alternative routes for San Francisco to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

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 23 December 2025.