Flying from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chicago: what you need to know
Around 4 hours 50 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago.
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. Based in the UTC-6 timezone, Chicago is two hours ahead of San Francisco.
The most popular route is from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). You can select from 106 services every week between these two airports. If you want to get on your way as soon as possible, the earliest flight from SFO to ORD is the 00:08 United Airlines service. If you'd rather fly out later on, the final departure is at 23:59 with American Airlines.
For stress-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to catch your SFO to Chicago flight.
During popular months like July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.
Direct San Francisco International Airport to Chicago tickets are available for booking. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is where you'll complete your journey.
Leading carriers that offer direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago include:
Located around 18 kilometres from central San Francisco, SFO can be reached in about 25 minutes by car (depending on traffic). Travelling on public transport takes roughly 35 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near SFO:
Of the flights that depart from San Francisco International Airport, 78% touch down on time at their destination.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chicago
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Chicago flight is 71 €. The cheapest price for a return flight is 146 €. Bear in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to pick up cheap flights from SFO to Chicago if you book in advance. Airlines often offer some great early bird rates.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago throughout the entire month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from SFO to Chicago by creating a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your trip with filters. Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago.
Airports in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
The distance from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 27 kilometres. It'll take you around 30 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Getting to the centre on public transport will take you around 45 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel near ORD if you have a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago. Select one of these options and make arrival day easier:
Get the best deal by booking your vehicle from Chicago O'Hare International Airport around four weeks before your flight from SFO to Chicago.
The street address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Once your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago has touched down, you can make your way to the city centre in about 25 minutes by car. Central Chicago is roughly 16 kilometres from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
If you choose to travel on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 30 minutes or so.
After stepping off your SFO to Chicago flight, unwind at a hotel near MDW. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Call dibs on the best options. Securing your ride from MDW four weeks in advance often means better prices and a wider choice of vehicles.
Chicago Midway International Airport can be found at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is around 145 kilometres from central Chicago. It'll take you about 1 hour 40 minutes to reach the city centre by ride-share or taxi once you've stepped off your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago.
Public transport can take you there in roughly 2 hours.
If you don't want to make your way into the centre, find a hotel close to RFD. Make yourself comfortable at one of these stays after your SFO to Chicago flight:
Booking a couple of weeks ahead of your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago is always a good idea. Along with better deals, you'll likely have a better variety of makes and models to choose from at RFD.
The street address for Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
It's time to work out your dates for your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago. July is the busiest month for a trip to Chicago. If you like a more relaxed vibe, go in January.
Before booking a San Francisco International Airport to Chicago plane ticket, think about the kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Chicago, with temperatures ranging from 16ºC (61ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SFO to Chicago in January when temperatures average between -12ºC (10ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF).
More about Chicago
Start your Chicago trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago, browse our selection of hotels including:
Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park are just the start of the top-rated attractions to add to your Chicago to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Willis Tower.
Explore more of the United States
Columbus is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Chicago. Around 451 kilometres away to the southeast, well-known attractions include Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Whetstone Park / Park of Roses and Ohio Theatre.
If you're interested in discovering another major stop in the United States, head for Indianapolis, roughly 257 kilometres southeast of Chicago. Lucas Oil Stadium, Eiteljorg Museum and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis are the start of reasons to visit.
