SFO - CHI

$276 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chicago – Compare and Save

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 7/10. 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
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
$483
Typical prices: $549-$997
United Airlines
Mon 5/10Thu 8/10
SFO - ORD • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
$276
Typical prices: $253-$524
United Airlines
Wed 7/10
SFO - ORD • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with American Airlines, Southwest, and United Airlines. Average duration is 4h 24m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Top routes
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Avoid delays
Most punctual • 90% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 42% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
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When to travel
Cheapest • 18% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
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Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Chicago (SFO-CHI)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return 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 for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Mon, 5 Oct - Thu, 8 Oct
United Airlines Logo
18:38 - 00:55SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
4h 17mdirect
United Airlines Logo
06:07 - 08:45ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
4h 38mdirect
$483United Airlines
Fri, 4 Sep - Sun, 6 Sep
United Airlines Logo
15:10 - 21:34SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
4h 24mdirect
United Airlines Logo
16:25 - 19:17ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
4h 52mdirect
$488United Airlines
Tue, 1 Sep - Sat, 5 Sep
Frontier Logo
20:23 - 06:17SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
7h 54m1 stop Los Angeles Los Angeles
Frontier Logo
21:20 - 18:45ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
23h 25m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Denver Intl
$498Frontier
Wed, 2 Sep - Sat, 5 Sep
Delta Logo
09:41 - 18:19SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
6h 38m1 stop Salt Lake City
Delta Logo
08:28 - 22:15ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
15h 47m2 stops Minneapolis St Paul Los Angeles Los Angeles
$502Delta
Fri, 28 Aug - Sat, 29 Aug
United Airlines Logo
22:35 - 05:04SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
4h 29mdirect
United Airlines Logo
20:09 - 22:59ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
4h 50mdirect
$505United Airlines
Sat, 22 Aug - Thu, 3 Sep
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:32 - 19:21SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
6h 49m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
06:01 - 10:53ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
6h 52m1 stop San Diego
$512Alaska Airlines
Wed, 2 Sep - Sun, 6 Sep
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:32 - 19:21SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
6h 49m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
14:18 - 21:42ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
9h 24m1 stop San Diego
$522Alaska Airlines
Fri, 4 Sep - Fri, 11 Sep
United Airlines Logo
18:38 - 00:59SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
4h 21mdirect
United Airlines Logo
06:00 - 08:38ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
4h 38mdirect
$524United Airlines
Fri, 4 Sep - Sun, 6 Sep
United Airlines Logo
16:30 - 22:59SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
4h 29mdirect
United Airlines Logo
08:40 - 11:20ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
4h 40mdirect
$526United Airlines
Mon, 24 Aug - Sun, 30 Aug
Alaska Airlines Logo
15:25 - 23:59SFO  San Francisco-ORD Chicago O'Hare Intl
6h 34m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
20:17 - 08:46ORD  Chicago O'Hare Intl-SFO San Francisco
14h 29m1 stop San Diego
$527Alaska Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to Chicago flights

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.

How much is a return flight from San Francisco to Chicago?

This analysis is based on the cheapest return trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago departing in October.

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to Chicago from San Francisco usually cost between $527 and $871 in October.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $483 on United Airlines (5 Oct–8 Oct).

What is the cheapest San Francisco to Chicago flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest return flight from San Francisco to Chicago costs $958 on the route between San Francisco (SFO) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 12% cheaper than other San Francisco-Chicago routes. It is also the most popular route.

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 round-trip 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 $582 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $823 and $808 respectively.

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

The average return 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.

Yes, flying with a stopover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop stopover the cheapest option at $617 on average.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip 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 week.

To get a below average price on the flight from San Francisco to Chicago, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 42% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 21 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$276
Best time to beat the crowds (9% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (12% 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 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago was $276 for a one-way ticket and $483 for a return.

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

    When flying out of San Francisco you will be using San Francisco. You will be landing at Chicago, also known as Chicago O'Hare Intl.

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

    American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines 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 737-800 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Chicago flight 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.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from San Francisco to Chicago

  • 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.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Chicago?

 
Nonstop data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying nonstop from San Francisco to Chicago.
Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Airport to Chicago, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San Francisco to Chicago

Monday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Chicago to San Francisco

Monday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Tuesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Wednesday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Thursday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Friday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Saturday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

Sunday

American Airlines,Southwest,United Airlines

American Airlines,Southwest, +1 more

See more direct flights

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to Chicago

Information on your arrival and departure airports