Domestic route
Cheap flights from San Diego to Chicago
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). 1,720 miles, 3h 45m nonstop.
SAN to ORD 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
- 3h 45mnonstop, 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
- Tuesday16% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- 2h aheadChicago vs San Diego
San Diego to Chicago
Round trips from $113
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Tue, Jan 26.
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 WhatsAppSan Diego 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 San Diego to Chicago
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?
San DiegoChicago has 2 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Other arrival airports near Chicago
Tips for this route
- American, Delta, United and Southwest all fly SAN 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 $113; September 2026 is the most expensive at $154 and up, a difference of $41 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 16% 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.
- Chicago is 2 hours ahead of San Diego. Expect to lose 2 hours on the clock heading east, so an overnight or late-afternoon departure tends to arrive at a more usable hour.
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 San DiegoFares, airlines and tips for ORD to SAN.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on SAN–ORD side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search San Diego to ChicagoSan Diego to Chicago: common questions
How long is the flight from San Diego to Chicago?
A nonstop flight from San Diego (SAN) to Chicago (ORD) takes about 3h 45m 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 SAN to ORD?
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Breeze Airways operate nonstop flights from San Diego (SAN) to Chicago (ORD), 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 San Diego to Chicago?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from San Diego (SAN) to Chicago (ORD), starting at $113 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book San Diego 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 San Diego and Chicago?
Chicago is 2 hours ahead of San Diego. SAN is on America/Los Angeles 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.
More flights from San Diego
All routes- San Diego to New YorkSAN → JFKfrom $194
- San Diego to DallasSAN → DFWfrom $115
- San Diego to DenverSAN → DENfrom $80
- San Diego to Los AngelesSAN → LAXfrom $47
- San Diego to San FranciscoSAN → SFOfrom $52
- San Diego to SeattleSAN → SEAfrom $105
- San Diego to Las VegasSAN → LASfrom $63
- San Diego to San JoseSAN → SJCfrom $59