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SFO - CHI

$138 Find cheap flights from San Francisco to Chicago

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago departing on 25/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
Sun 26/5
Sun 2/6

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Chicago

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days, travellers have searched 44,335,567 times on KAYAK, and here's why:

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Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago (SFO-CHI)

Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Chicago that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
23:59 - 06:20SFO-ORD
4h 21mdirect
06:35 - 09:12ORD-SFO
4h 37mdirect
$275Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 30 Jul - Sat, 3 Aug
23:12 - 05:35SFO-ORD
4h 23mdirect
08:00 - 13:14ORD-SFO
7h 14m1 stop
$289Alaska Airlines
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Sat, 18 May - Wed, 22 May
16:55 - 04:40SFO-ORD
9h 45m1 stop
14:54 - 21:35ORD-SFO
8h 41m1 stop
$304Alaska Airlines
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Tue, 21 May - Thu, 30 May
00:15 - 09:21SFO-ORD
7h 06m1 stop
06:00 - 11:30ORD-SFO
7h 30m1 stop
$362Delta
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Wed, 3 Jul - Tue, 9 Jul
06:00 - 00:06SFO-ORD
16h 06m1 stop
19:20 - 00:04ORD-SFO
6h 44m1 stop
$385Delta
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Tue, 4 Jun - Tue, 11 Jun
08:45 - 19:03SFO-ORD
8h 18m1 stop
20:00 - 16:11ORD-SFO
22h 11m1 stop
$445Sun Country Air
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Sun, 12 May - Mon, 13 May
01:10 - 07:30SFO-ORD
4h 20mdirect
05:04 - 09:27ORD-SFO
6h 23m1 stop
$461United Airlines
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Mon, 27 May - Fri, 31 May
17:46 - 19:06SFO-ORD
23h 20m1 stop
20:05 - 16:47ORD-SFO
22h 42m1 stop
$468Sun Country Air
Find Deal
Tue, 18 Jun - Mon, 24 Jun
01:10 - 07:30SFO-ORD
4h 20mdirect
06:05 - 08:45ORD-SFO
4h 40mdirect
$474United Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, 10 Jun - Sat, 29 Jun
19:50 - 17:00SFO-ORD
19h 10m2 stops
19:15 - 08:25ORD-SFO
15h 10m2 stops
$568Southwest
Find Deal
Mon, 8 Jul - Fri, 12 Jul

Flights from San Francisco to Chicago - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Francisco to Chicago to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest San Francisco to Chicago flight route?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for one-way flights from San Francisco to Chicago.
Our data shows that the cheapest route for a one-way flight from San Francisco to Chicago cost $139 and was between San Francisco and Chicago Midway Airport. On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is $596.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from San Francisco to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from San Francisco to Chicago is September, where tickets cost $427 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and May, where the average cost of tickets is $648 and $591 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from San Francisco to Chicago?

The average price for all direct flights, flights with one stopover, and flights with two stopovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
No, with an average price for the route of $174, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from San Francisco to Chicago, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from San Francisco to Chicago, you should book around 2 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 76 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
The best deals for a one-way ticket found by KAYAK users over the last 3 days were on Alaska Airlines ($138) and Delta ($181). The cheapest round-trip tickets were found on Alaska Airlines ($275) and Delta ($362).

Which airlines fly most frequently between San Francisco and Chicago?

United Airlines (17 flights per day), American Airlines (4 flights per day), and Alaska Airlines (2 flights per day) are the most frequent flyers of this route.

Which airlines fly direct between San Francisco and Chicago?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from San Francisco to Chicago.
There are 4 airlines that fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago. They are: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier and United Airlines. The cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with American Airlines at $237 for a one-way flight. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at American Airlines.

How many flights are there between San Francisco and Chicago per day?

Each day, there are between 23 and 30 nonstop flights that take off from San Francisco and land in Chicago, with an average flight time of 4h 22m. The most common departure time is 23:00 and most flights take off at night, while the most flights land at Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport. Each week, there are 173 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Saturday, when 17% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Tuesday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between San Francisco and Chicago?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 3 cabin class options for the route. These are First, Business and Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

How long does a flight from San Francisco to Chicago take?

Direct flights cover the 4,805 km separating San Francisco and Chicago in about 4h 13m.

What’s the earliest departure time from San Francisco to Chicago?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from San Francisco at 00:09 and will be landing in Chicago at 06:30.

What’s the latest departure time from San Francisco to Chicago?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from San Francisco to Chicago jets off at 23:59 and lands at 06:20.

Good to know

Low season

January

High season

June

Cheapest flight

$138
Best time to beat the crowds (17% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (21% more expensive on average)
Flight from San Francisco to Chicago

When to book flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Chicago based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from San Francisco to Chicago

  • Should I fly into Chicago O’Hare or Chicago Midway Airport?

    O’Hare Airport is located within Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. The smaller Midway International Airport is located 10 miles southwest of the center. Both airports offer easy public transport connections, so you can’t go wrong with either one.

  • What is the cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown Chicago?

    The “L” train is an inexpensive way to get downtown from the airport. The O’Hare train station is situated on the lower level concourse of Chicago O’Hare Airport, with direct connections from Terminals 1, 2, and 3. The CTA Blue Line trains from Chicago O’Hare run 24/7, with a travel time of 40-45 minutes. If you arrive at Midway Airport, the Midway train station is a short walk east of the airport. Orange Line train services run from early in the morning until 1 am. It takes 20-25 minutes to travel by train to the downtown loop.

  • How do I get around Chicago O’Hare Airport?

    Getting around Chicago O’Hare Airport is easy using the Airport Transit System (ATS), which operates 24 hours a day along a 2.5-mile-long track. This service connects all four terminals, various parking facilities, the Kiss ‘N’ Fly drop off point, and the PACE bus stop. The ATS service is free and takes nine minutes to complete a round trip.

  • What is the closest hotel to Chicago O’Hare?

    The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel is only a short walk from the airport’s domestic terminals. Amenities include a fitness center, restaurants, conference rooms, and a barber shop. If you need to freshen up after your flight, travelers can use the showers at the hotel’s health club for a small cost.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago was $90 for a one-way ticket and $179 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Francisco to Chicago?

    On your way to Chicago, you’ll fly out from San Francisco. You’ll be landing at Chicago O'Hare Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from San Francisco to Chicago?

    American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Francisco to Chicago flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San Francisco to Chicago?

    The Boeing 737-900 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Chicago flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between San Francisco and Chicago, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago?

    There are direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from San Francisco to Chicago.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Francisco to Chicago?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Chicago from San Francisco is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Chicago with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Chicago from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from San Francisco to Chicago

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $150 or less one-way.
  • Flights from San Francisco to Chicago usually depart from San Francisco International Airport. If you’re traveling with children, San Francisco International Airport has a number of interactive play areas to keep kids busy. Additionally, the video arts room showcases contemporary works from local filmmakers and many restaurants have special menus for children.
  • American Airlines and United Airlines offer regular, direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago O’Hare. Non-stop flights take less than four hours to arrive and the return trip takes around five hours.
  • The San Francisco International Airport incorporates a wide selection of art and exhibitions to provide a rich cultural and educational experience for travelers. While you’re waiting for your flight, you can visit more than twenty-five galleries throughout the terminals that reflect the history and cultural life of San Francisco. Travelers can also visit the Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, which house a permanent collection with a focus on local aviation history.
  • Want to relax before your flight from San Francisco to Chicago? Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, or massage at one of four XpresSpa outlets at San Francisco International Airport. There are also two dedicated spaces to practice yoga if you want to stretch out before getting on the plane.
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi is available at San Francisco International Airport, O’Hare International Airport, and Midway International Airport. Charging stations and power outlets can be found throughout the terminals and baggage claim areas.
See more tips

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago?

Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San Francisco to Chicago

Monday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Tuesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +23 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +24 more

Wednesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +22 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +23 more

Thursday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +22 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +23 more

Friday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Saturday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +24 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +25 more

Sunday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Chicago to San Francisco

Monday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Tuesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +23 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +24 more

Wednesday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +23 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +24 more

Thursday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +22 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +23 more

Friday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

Saturday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +24 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +25 more

Sunday

ANA, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, +21 more

ANA, Aer Lingus, +22 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Book cheap flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
25/5Sat
directAlaska Airlines
4h 23mSFO-ORD
$138
16/7Tue
1 stopAlaska Airlines
7h 20mSFO-ORD
$152
6/7Sat
directAlaska Airlines
4h 21mSFO-ORD
$169
3/7Wed
1 stopDelta
7h 06mSFO-ORD
$181
27/7Sat
1 stopDelta
7h 47mSFO-ORD
$183
16/6Sun
directAlaska Airlines
4h 21mSFO-ORD
$200
21/8Wed
directUnited Airlines
4h 24mSFO-ORD
$207
15/5Wed
1 stopSun Country Air
23h 23mSFO-ORD
$212
18/6Tue
1 stopSun Country Air
23h 20mSFO-ORD
$235
12/6Wed
directUnited Airlines
4h 13mSFO-ORD
$236

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Last minute flights from San Francisco to Chicago

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

 
These last-minute flight deals are the cheapest flights found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours for flights from San Francisco to Chicago that are departing in the next 10 days.
1/5Wed
multi-stopDelta
5h 51mSFO-ORD
4/5Sat
multi-stopDelta
8h 37mORD-SFO
$522
1/5Wed
directAlaska Airlines
4h 24mSFO-ORD
7/5Tue
directAlaska Airlines
4h 52mORD-SFO
$590
30/4Tue
directAlaska Airlines
4h 30mSFO-ORD
22/5Wed
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
7h 14mORD-SFO
$597
1/5Wed
directAlaska Airlines
4h 24mSFO-ORD
7/5Tue
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
7h 34mORD-SFO
$603
30/4Tue
multi-stopDelta
7h 20mSFO-ORD
7/5Tue
multi-stopDelta
6h 40mORD-SFO
$619
30/4Tue
directAlaska Airlines
4h 30mSFO-ORD
4/5Sat
directAlaska Airlines
4h 46mORD-SFO
$659
29/4Mon
directUnited Airlines
4h 21mSFO-ORD
15/5Wed
multi-stopUnited Airlines
6h 38mORD-SFO
$686
29/4Mon
directUnited Airlines
4h 21mSFO-ORD
21/5Tue
directUnited Airlines
4h 53mORD-SFO
$745
28/4Sun
multi-stopSouthwest
10h 00mSFO-ORD
1/5Wed
multi-stopSouthwest
8h 05mORD-SFO
$913
28/4Sun
multi-stopSouthwest
9h 40mSFO-ORD
1/5Wed
multi-stopSouthwest
8h 05mORD-SFO
$921

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San Francisco - Chicago Flights

Departure:

San Francisco (SFO)United States

Cabin classes:

$4,695
$364

Browse origins:

  • Flights » 
  • San Francisco

Browse destinations:

  • Flights » 
  • Worldwide » 
  • Chicago