Flying from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
Begin your journey at one of Chicago's main airports, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Check out your options for booking a flight from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) departing from either of these.
4 hours 50 minutes is the average journey time for a direct Chicago to San Francisco International Airport flight.
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. The city operates on the UTC-8 timezone and is two hours behind Chicago.
With 106 direct flights a week between the two airports, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the most popular route. United Airlines operates the earliest flight at 6am. If you'd like to make the most of your day before leaving, the last departure from ORD to SFO is with United Airlines at 10pm.
Leave enough time to get on your flight from Chicago to SFO. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
If you're getting away during a peak month like July, be at the airport even earlier. You'll want to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures. You can expect lines to be longer during holiday periods like Christmas and New Year.
Airports in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
You can take a direct flight from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) out of Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
United Airlines is a well-known carrier that offers direct flights from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport leaving from ORD.
United is the most frequently booked airline offering flights from ORD to SFO.
United is the most punctual carrier operating on this route, with 75.15% of its services arriving on schedule.
ORD is about 27 kilometres from central Chicago. If you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 45 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by staying at one of these stays near Chicago O'Hare International Airport:
70% of flights that depart Chicago O'Hare International Airport make it to their destination on time.
ORD's address is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Prefer to leave from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)? Direct Chicago to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) plane tickets can be booked from this popular hub.
Take a direct flight from Chicago to SFO with Southwest Airlines. This is one of the leading carriers that operates this route out of MDW.
On the MDW to SFO route, Southwest Airlines is the go-to airline for most travellers on this route.
Flights between Chicago Midway International Airport and San Francisco International Airport are more likely to reach their destination on time with Southwest Airlines than with any other carrier.
You can arrive at MDW from the centre of Chicago in approximately 25 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The journey by public transport takes roughly 30 minutes to travel the 16 kilometres or so.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before your Chicago to SFO flight? Relax in a hotel near Chicago Midway International Airport before your break officially starts. Here's where you can stay:
76% of flights departing Chicago Midway International Airport arrive according to schedule.
The street address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
The trip to RFD from central Chicago is around 2 hours on public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you about 1 hour 40 minutes to cover the 145 kilometres or so.
Take the 'what ifs' out of departure day — stay near Chicago Rockford International Airport and know you'll get to your gate with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early Chicago to San Francisco International Airport flight:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that measures how often flights get to their destinations when they should. At RFD, that rate is 71%.
You'll find Chicago Rockford International Airport at 2 Airport Cir.
About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport. Make yourself comfy at one of these accommodation options near SFO instead:
Booking your ride around one week in advance of your Chicago to San Francisco International Airport flight can help you find the best deal.
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport is around 21 kilometres from central San Francisco. It takes around 25 minutes or so to get to the city by car.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey of about 35 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport is Rs30,327. For a return flight on this route, the best price is Rs61,228. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares may change.
To pick up cheap flights from Chicago to SFO, book early. Airlines typically offer lower fares when tickets first go on sale.
Cheap Chicago to San Francisco International Airport tickets are easier to find when your dates are flexible. Try using the 'Whole month' search function to compare fares across every month and then choose the cheapest day.
There's no need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you when there's a better deal on plane tickets from Chicago to SFO.
Lock in a cheap flight from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport by using filters. Select your ideal duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
It's time to decide when to book your flight from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). July is the busiest month to travel to San Francisco. If you're all about a more relaxed kind of trip, head there in December.
The warmest month in San Francisco is September, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC and 24ºC. Lock in your Chicago to SFO plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport in January when temperatures are between 5ºC and 16ºC.
More about San Francisco
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in San Francisco right here. Browse these hotels once you've booked your flight from Chicago to San Francisco International Airport:
Your visit to San Francisco wouldn't be complete without a bit of sightseeing. Highlights that belong on your itinerary include Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island.
Explore more of the United States
Fresno is just one of the many cities in the United States waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of San Francisco. Around 257 kilometres away to the east, well-known attractions include Forestiere Underground Gardens, Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
If you're eager to discover another side of the United States, consider Sacramento, about 129 kilometres northeast of San Francisco. California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum are the start of reasons to visit.
