Flying from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport (KEF): What you need to know
There are a couple of airports you can take off from in Chicago. Check out your options departing from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) when booking your flight from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
6 hours 15 minutes is the average duration of a direct Chicago to Keflavik International Airport flight.
Keflavik International Airport is located in Reykjavik. The city is in the UTC+0 timezone and is five hours ahead of Chicago.
The busiest route is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Keflavik International Airport (KEF), with 12 direct services every week. If you're ready to head out sooner, the earliest flight from ORD to KEF is the 6:30pm Icelandair option. If a later flight fits your day better, the last departure is at 10:15pm with Icelandair.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are travel rules worth sticking to. Show up at the airport on time to board your flight from Chicago to KEF.
If you're jetting off during a major holiday or other peak period, allow for even more time. Arrive two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Lines at check-in and security will be longer.
Airports in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) offers an easy route to your destination. Nonstop flights from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) can be booked from this terminal.
Icelandair is a popular carrier that offers direct flights from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport jetting out of ORD.
Icelandair is the airline most travellers choose for flights from ORD to KEF.
The carrier with the top on-time arrival performance on this route is Icelandair.
Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Chicago to KEF. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Slip in a stop (and skip the high fares) by flying through one of these airports:
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
ORD is about 40 kilometres from central Chicago. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 35 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 55 minutes.
Want a hassle-free start to your travels? Stay near O'Hare International Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport or prefer not to feel hurried, these hotels are the ideal choice:
Of all flights leaving O'Hare International Airport, 74.85% land on time at their destination.
ORD's address is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Check a new destination off your list or just take a moment to reset with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your flight from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport, check out these options when setting off from Chicago Midway International Airport:
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
You can reach MDW from the centre of Chicago in approximately 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey by public transport will take roughly 45 minutes to travel the 19 kilometres or so.
Got a crack-of-dawn departure? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your Chicago to KEF flight:
Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time performance of 77.88%. This figure provides insight into how often flights that take off from this airport land at their destination on schedule.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
From the centre of Chicago, RFD is around 137 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour 25 minutes to arrive by car and 4 hours 15 minutes or so if you're on public transport.
Make catching an early Chicago to Keflavik International Airport flight the easiest part of your journey. Book a room at one of these hotels near Chicago Rockford International Airport and get to your boarding gate with plenty of time to spare:
The on-time performance record of RFD is 76.19%. To put it simply, that's how frequently flights from this airport arrive at their destination as planned.
The address of Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
About Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
If you're arriving on a late flight from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport, nothing tops the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these options near KEF:
Follow your own route with a Keflavik International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Ice Rental 4x4, FairCar or Flizzr and experience more of Reykjavik and beyond.
For the best deal, book your vehicle around four weeks ahead of your Chicago to Keflavik International Airport flight.
Getting from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to central Reykjavik
Central Reykjavik is around 40 kilometres from Keflavik International Airport. Journey times by cab or car hire will vary based on traffic conditions and time of day, so do a little research ahead of your trip.
It takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to get there using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
167 € is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport. A return flight starts at 367 €. These prices may change depending on demand.
Snap up cheap flights from Chicago to KEF by booking two months ahead. Based on our research, that's the ideal time frame for bagging a bargain.
Plan your trip for July. That's the best month for landing cheap Chicago to Keflavik International Airport tickets. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a new deal shows up on plane tickets from Chicago to KEF.
Find a cheap flight from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport by using filters. Choose your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
February is the quietest month for flights from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport (KEF), while July is the most popular. Find the best time to visit Reykjavik based on whether you like a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Reykjavik is July, with temperatures ranging between 8ºC (46ºF) and 15ºC (59ºF). Book your Chicago to KEF plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport in December when temperatures are between -6ºC (21ºF) and 4ºC (39ºF).
More about Reykjavik
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Reykjavik right here. Browse these hotels after you've booked your flight from Chicago to Keflavik International Airport:
There are loads of awesome things to do in Reykjavik when you're in the mood to sightsee. Head straight for The Northern Light Centre followed by Harpa and Sun Voyager.
Explore more of Iceland
You've visited Reykjavik, now it's time to explore other parts of Iceland. Journey around 290 kilometres north-east to Akureyri to tick off its must-visit sights. From Kjarnaskógur to Nordurslod - Into the Arctic and Regnbogastiginn, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
If you're ready to explore another major stop in Iceland, consider Vestmannaeyjar, roughly 137 kilometres south-east of Reykjavik. Puffins of Westman Isles, Heimaey Island, Vestmanna Islands and Heimaklettur are among the biggest draws.
