Domestic route
Cheap flights from Chicago to San Francisco
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 1,842 miles, 4h 25m nonstop.
ORD to SFO at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 1,842 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 4h 25mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- AADLUAB66 airlinesAmerican, Delta, United
- Nonstop flights per day
- 27all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- January 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday20% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- 2h behindSan Francisco vs Chicago
Chicago to San Francisco
Round trips from $142
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Tue, Jan 5.
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 Francisco 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 Francisco
6 airlines fly nonstop with 27 departures a day combined, plus 3 more with one stop.
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 11 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 5 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 5 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- F9Frontier AirlinesLow-costNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $55
- B6JetBlueNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- WNSouthwest AirlinesLow-costConnecting via DAL, HOU, DEN, LAS, PHX, ATL, BNA, LAX, SAN, STL, AUS · first checked bag from $35
- 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)WNNK2 airlines
- Atlanta (ATL)WNNK2 airlines
- Dallas (DAL)WN1 airline
- Houston (HOU)WN1 airline
- Denver (DEN)WN1 airline
Which airport should I use?
Chicago has 2 airports and San Francisco has 3 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 JetBlue all fly ORD to SFO 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 $142; September 2026 is the most expensive at $196 and up, a difference of $54 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 20% 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 Francisco is 2 hours behind Chicago. A morning departure lands in San Francisco with most of the day left; an evening flight arrives close to local dinner time.
Destination guide
San Francisco: Fog, hills and the Golden Gate
San Francisco packs cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and world-class food into 49 square miles. SFO is the main gateway; Oakland and San Jose are handy alternatives with lower fares on many routes.
Best time to visit: September and October are the warmest, clearest months. Spring (April–May) is green and mild. Summer fog ('Karl') keeps the coast cool; winter is rainy but inexpensive.
Flying the other way? San Francisco to ChicagoFares, airlines and tips for SFO to ORD.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on ORD–SFO side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Chicago to San FranciscoChicago to San Francisco: common questions
How long is the flight from Chicago to San Francisco?
A nonstop flight from Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 4h 25m gate to gate, covering 1,842 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 1 to 3 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from ORD to SFO?
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and Frontier Airlines operate nonstop flights from Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO), with 27 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through LAS, ATL and DAL.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to San Francisco?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO), starting at $142 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 Francisco 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 Francisco?
San Francisco is 2 hours behind Chicago. ORD is on America/Chicago time and SFO 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.
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