Domestic route
Cheap flights from Chicago to San Diego
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN). 1,720 miles, 4h 10m nonstop.
ORD to SAN at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 1,720 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 4h 10mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- AADLUAWN6 airlinesAmerican, Delta, United
- Nonstop flights per day
- 28all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- January 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday19% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- 2h behindSan Diego vs Chicago
Chicago to San Diego
Round trips from $114
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Tue, Jan 12.
Cheapest month: January 2027
See fares on these datesLock any fare free — pay only when you accept your last-minute deal
Or ask an agent on WhatsAppChicago to San Diego fares by month
Lowest round-trip economy fare per traveler in each of the next six months, taxes and fees included. Select a month to search that date.
Airlines flying Chicago to San Diego
6 airlines fly nonstop with 28 departures a day combined, plus 4 more with one stop.
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 7 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 7 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 7 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- WNSouthwest AirlinesLow-costNonstop · 3 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- MXBreeze AirwaysLow-costNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $45
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- F9Frontier AirlinesLow-costConnecting via DEN, LAS, ATL, PHX, CLE · first checked bag from $55
- B6JetBlueConnecting via LAX · first checked bag from $40
- NKSpirit AirlinesLow-costConnecting via LAS, DTW, DFW, ATL, IAH · first checked bag from $55
- SYSun Country AirlinesLow-costConnecting via MSP · first checked bag from $45
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- Las Vegas (LAS)NKF92 airlines
- Atlanta (ATL)NKF92 airlines
- Los Angeles (LAX)B61 airline
- Detroit (DTW)NK1 airline
- Dallas (DFW)NK1 airline
Which airport should I use?
Chicago has 2 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Other departure airports near Chicago
Tips for this route
- American, Delta, United and Southwest all fly ORD to SAN nonstop, so compare the total with bags before picking the lowest base fare: the difference between a basic and a standard economy ticket is often less than one checked bag each way.
- January 2027 is the cheapest month to fly over the next six months, with round trips from $114; September 2026 is the most expensive at $146 and up, a difference of $32 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 19% less than a Sunday on this route. If your dates are flexible, shift the outbound by a day or two and check the calendar view before you book.
- Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks.
- San Diego is 2 hours behind Chicago. A morning departure lands in San Diego with most of the day left; an evening flight arrives close to local dinner time.
Destination guide
San Diego: 70 degrees, 70 miles of coastline
San Diego has the most reliable weather of any big US city and an airport ten minutes from downtown. Balboa Park, the zoo, La Jolla's coves and a fish-taco culture make it an easy, relaxed beach trip with strong fare competition from Southwest and Alaska.
Best time to visit: September–November is the warmest ocean and clearest skies. Spring is pleasant but 'May gray' fog is common at the coast; summer is peak for families. Winter is mild and inexpensive.
Flying the other way? San Diego to ChicagoFares, airlines and tips for SAN to ORD.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on ORD–SAN side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Chicago to San DiegoChicago to San Diego: common questions
How long is the flight from Chicago to San Diego?
A nonstop flight from Chicago (ORD) to San Diego (SAN) takes about 4h 10m gate to gate, covering 1,720 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 1 to 3 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from ORD to SAN?
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Breeze Airways operate nonstop flights from Chicago (ORD) to San Diego (SAN), with 28 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through LAS, ATL and LAX.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to San Diego?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Chicago (ORD) to San Diego (SAN), starting at $114 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book Chicago to San Diego flights?
Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks. Air1 Tickets includes free cancellation within 24 hours of booking on every fare, so you can lock in a good price and keep looking.
What is the time difference between Chicago and San Diego?
San Diego is 2 hours behind Chicago. ORD is on America/Chicago time and SAN on America/Los Angeles time. Departure and arrival times in search results are always shown in local time at each airport.
Related routes
Other popular city pairs from the same departure city and to the same destination, with the lowest round-trip fares we found.
More flights from Chicago
All routesMore flights to San Diego
All routes- New York to San DiegoJFK → SANfrom $191
- Dallas to San DiegoDFW → SANfrom $112
- Denver to San DiegoDEN → SANfrom $77
- Los Angeles to San DiegoLAX → SANfrom $44
- San Francisco to San DiegoSFO → SANfrom $52
- Seattle to San DiegoSEA → SANfrom $106
- Las Vegas to San DiegoLAS → SANfrom $62
- San Jose to San DiegoSJC → SANfrom $58