How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines can get you from San Francisco to Chicago in just under 4h 23m. Your travel time can differ by up to 3h 34m. 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: China Southern (100%), Porter Airlines (92%), ITA Airways( 89%).

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 84 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 17.7 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.

$202+ Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

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Best

Direct

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One-way

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 9 November 2026.

Thu 3/1207:00 -

2 stops10h 00m

Mon 7/1214:13 -

1 stop9h 07m

Deal found 5/11$480

Wed 25/1115:20 -

Nonstop4h 25m

Fri 27/1107:35 -

Nonstop4h 53m

Deal found 4/11$485

Thu 3/1208:10 -

Nonstop4h 29m

Sat 5/1207:29 -

Nonstop4h 56m

Deal found 6/11$486

Wed 30/1213:00 -

1 stop8h 59m

Tue 5/108:00 -

2 stops14h 23m

Deal found 5/11$491

Sat 5/1211:50 -

1 stop7h 11m

Sat 12/1206:20 -

1 stop6h 42m

Deal found 8/11$493

Tue 1/1206:35 -

Nonstop4h 24m

Fri 4/1208:45 -

Nonstop4h 51m

Deal found 9/11$501

Fri 18/1200:30 -

Nonstop4h 29m

Sat 9/116:05 -

Nonstop5h 00m

Deal found 5/11$502

Wed 16/1209:58 -

2 stops12h 01m

Mon 11/114:11 -

1 stop7h 43m

Deal found 9/11$504

Thu 10/1206:00 -

1 stop6h 53m

Thu 10/1219:18 -

1 stop6h 54m

Deal found 5/11$507

Mon 7/1216:45 -

Nonstop4h 14m

Mon 14/1208:45 -

Nonstop4h 51m

Deal found 9/11$508

Fri 11/1214:19 -

1 stop7h 38m

Wed 16/1215:47 -

2 stops9h 56m

Deal found 5/11$510

Fri 4/1210:46 -

1 stop11h 13m

Mon 7/1214:13 -

1 stop10h 40m

Deal found 8/11$511

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Round-trip from	$480
One-way from	$202
Popular in	July
Cheapest in	February
Average price	$662

Alaska Airlines
17/12-19/12
3 total stops
24h 48m total
San Francisco to Chicago

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Alaska Airlines
2/12-31/12
1 total stop
8h 49m total
San Francisco to Chicago

Search Deals

Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($58 potential increase over avg. return price).

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Cheapest flight prices on average. 0% potential price decrease ($9 potential savings vs. average return price).

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Average for round-trip flights in November 2026

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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

Cheapest return flight

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sun 20/12

18:53-01:16

Nonstop4h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$307

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sun 3/1

18:53-01:16

Nonstop4h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$341

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 17/12

05:00-11:28

Nonstop4h 28m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$342

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 23/12

18:53-01:16

Nonstop4h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$342

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 26/12

22:34-04:57

Nonstop4h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$376

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 14/11

11:30-23:36

1 stop10h 06m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 26/11

08:20-14:49

Nonstop4h 29m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$399

Fastest return journey

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 24/11

17:10-23:27

Nonstop4h 17m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 16/11

05:00-11:24

Nonstop4h 24m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$399

San FranciscoChicago

SFO San Francisco - ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 24/11

23:35-09:04

1 stop7h 29m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$413

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 5/11

Showing 1-10 of 22 resultsSorted by cheapest first

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.

SFO-CHI

SFO-ORD

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

SFO-CHI

SFO-ORD

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago (average of $537). Flying from San Francisco to Chicago in June is currently the most expensive (average of $705). 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 afternoon, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 31% 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 (98 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (74 on average).

How much does it cost for a return flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

San Francisco to Chicago flights typically cost between $517 and $882 in December.
The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $480 on Alaska Airlines (3 Dec–7 Dec).

How often are flights from San Francisco to Chicago delayed?

About 9% of weekly flights between San Francisco and Chicago have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 185 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 Monday 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.

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 66 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.

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 84 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 17.7 km journey to San Francisco (SFO) from San Francisco’s city centre.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?
Alaska Airlines and United Airlines can get you from San Francisco to Chicago in just under 4h 23m. Your travel time can differ by up to 3h 34m. 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: China Southern (100%), Porter Airlines (92%), ITA Airways( 89%).
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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago (average of $537). Flying from San Francisco to Chicago in June is currently the most expensive (average of $705). 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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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.

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Cheap flights from San Francisco to Chicago from $202

This is the cheapest retur flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 2/12. 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 9 November 2026.

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 9 November 2026.

Best flights from San Francisco to ChicagoDiscover 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 9 November 2026.

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 9 November 2026.

Direct flights from San Francisco to ChicagoExplore 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 9 November 2026.

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 9 November 2026.

Last-minute flights from San Francisco to ChicagoDiscover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago. Data last updated 9 November 2026 and is based on user searches.

Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago. Data last updated 9 November 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from San Francisco to ChicagoSearch for one-way flight options from San Francisco to Chicago. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 9 November 2026.

Search for one-way flight options from San Francisco to Chicago. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 9 November 2026.

Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

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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

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 9 November 2026.

Unlike in the afternoon, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 31% 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 (98 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (74 on average).

How much does it cost for a return flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

San Francisco to Chicago flights typically cost between $517 and $882 in December.The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $480 on Alaska Airlines (3 Dec–7 Dec).

How often are flights from San Francisco to Chicago delayed?

About 9% of weekly flights between San Francisco and Chicago have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 185 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 Monday 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.

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 66 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.

Related info for your journey

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

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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 9 November 2026.

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 9 November 2026.

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 9 November 2026.

Last-minute flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Discover last-minute flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago. Data last updated 9 November 2026 and is based on user searches.

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 9 November 2026.

San Francisco to Chicago flights typically cost between $517 and $882 in December.
The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $480 on Alaska Airlines (3 Dec–7 Dec).