Domestic route
Cheap flights from Houston to Chicago
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). 925 miles, 2h 15m nonstop.
IAH to ORD at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 925 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 2h 15mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- AAUAASNK5 airlinesAmerican, United, Alaska
- Nonstop flights per day
- 23all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- January 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday17% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- Same time zone
Houston to Chicago
Round trips from $89
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Wed, Jan 6.
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 WhatsAppHouston to Chicago 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 Houston to Chicago
5 airlines fly nonstop with 23 departures a day combined, plus 3 more with one stop.
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 11 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 5 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- NKSpirit AirlinesLow-costNonstop · 3 flights a day · first checked bag from $55
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- SYSun Country AirlinesLow-costNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $45
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamConnecting via ATL, MSP, DTW · first checked bag from $35
- F9Frontier AirlinesLow-costConnecting via ATL, CLE · first checked bag from $55
- WNSouthwest AirlinesLow-costConnecting via DAL, ATL, BNA, STL, AUS · first checked bag from $35
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- Atlanta (ATL)DLWNF93 airlines
- Minneapolis (MSP)DL1 airline
- Detroit (DTW)DL1 airline
- Dallas (DAL)WN1 airline
- Nashville (BNA)WN1 airline
Which airport should I use?
Houston has 2 airports and 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 Houston
Other arrival airports near Chicago
Tips for this route
- American, United, Alaska and Spirit all fly IAH to ORD 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 $89; September 2026 is the most expensive at $121 and up, a difference of $32 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 17% 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.
Destination guide
Chicago: Big-shoulders architecture and a lakefront for everyone
Chicago is America's most connected inland hub — O'Hare and Midway between them have nonstops from nearly every US city — so fares are consistently reasonable. The lakefront, the architecture and the food make it a strong long weekend.
Best time to visit: June–September is warm, with festivals almost every weekend (and the highest hotel rates). May and October are cool and cheaper; winter is cold but hotels are a bargain.
Flying the other way? Chicago to HoustonFares, airlines and tips for ORD to IAH.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on IAH–ORD side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Houston to ChicagoHouston to Chicago: common questions
How long is the flight from Houston to Chicago?
A nonstop flight from Houston (IAH) to Chicago (ORD) takes about 2h 15m gate to gate, covering 925 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 1 to 3 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from IAH to ORD?
American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Sun Country Airlines operate nonstop flights from Houston (IAH) to Chicago (ORD), with 23 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through ATL, MSP and DTW.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Houston to Chicago?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Houston (IAH) to Chicago (ORD), starting at $89 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book Houston to Chicago 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 Houston and Chicago?
Chicago is in the same time zone as Houston, so there is no clock change. IAH is on America/Chicago time and ORD on America/Chicago 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.