Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chicago: what you need to know
Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago.
The timezone in Chicago is UTC-5. The city is two hours ahead of San Francisco, where San Francisco International Airport is located.
The most popular route is from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). You can choose from 104 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to get on your way as soon as you can, the earliest flight from SFO to ORD is the 00:08 United Airlines service. If you'd rather fly out later on, the last departure is at 23:59 with American Airlines.
For a relaxed start to your SFO to Chicago flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
If you're heading away during a major holiday or another peak period, give yourself extra time. A good rule is two hours before domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Check-in and security lines will be longer.
Direct San Francisco International Airport to Chicago tickets are available for booking. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is where you'll step off the plane.
Leading carriers that operate direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago include:
SFO is around 18 kilometres from central San Francisco. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 45 minutes.
Catching an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to SFO:
Of the flights that depart from San Francisco International Airport, 77.36% land on time at their destination.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chicago
Rs20,772 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Chicago flight. A round-trip flight ticket right now is Rs41,504. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares may change.
To secure cheap flights from SFO to Chicago, book your journey one month ahead of your departure.
The best month for finding cheap San Francisco International Airport to Chicago tickets is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates that offer the lowest fares.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from SFO to Chicago by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Snag an affordable flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago with the help of our filters. Select your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Airports in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to the centre of Chicago takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 40 kilometres away.
It'll take around 55 minutes to get there by public transport.
Look into staying at a hotel near ORD if you have a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago. Choose one of these accommodation options and make your first night all about rest:
Pick up an O'Hare International Airport rental car and discover Chicago and beyond with your own set of wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Dollar and Budget are popular providers to choose from here.
For the lowest price, reserve your ride from O'Hare International Airport about four weeks in advance of your flight from SFO to Chicago.
The street address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
The centre of Chicago is about 19 kilometres from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). After your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of about 20 minutes.
Travelling by public transport will take about 45 minutes.
Following your SFO to Chicago flight, settle in at a hotel close to MDW. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Dollar, Hertz and Budget make picking up a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car easy and quick. These trusted companies are located in or around the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Snap up a deal by securing your ride from MDW four weeks in advance. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
Chicago Midway International Airport can be found at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is about 137 kilometres from the centre of Chicago. It takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the city centre in a ride-share or cab once you've hopped off your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago.
If you're travelling on public transport, the journey time is around 4 hours 15 minutes.
If you don't want to travel into the centre, choose a hotel close to RFD. Get settled at one of these stays after your SFO to Chicago flight:
Be in the driver's seat of the next leg of your journey with a Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car. Budget, Alamo and National make getting on the road smooth sailing.
If you prefer a specific kind of vehicle, booking early increases your chances of getting exactly what you want. Secure your ride from RFD a couple of weeks ahead of your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago.
The address for Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
Carefully consider your dates before securing your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago. The city buzzes in peak season, but prices are typically higher and top attractions can get busy. Visit Chicago in the low season if you want a quieter vibe.
The warmest month in Chicago is July, with temperatures ranging between 15ºC and 29ºC. Lock in your San Francisco International Airport to Chicago flight ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from SFO to Chicago in January when temperatures average between -12ºC and 3ºC.
More about Chicago
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Chicago right here. Check out these hotels once you've locked in your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be hard to work out where to start. Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier are top sights which should feature on any good Chicago itinerary.
Explore more of United States
Chicago is always a good idea, but there are so many other parts of United States just waiting to be discovered. Around 451 kilometres south-east of Chicago, a trip to Columbus will keep you busy. Start with leading attractions like Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio Statehouse and German Village.
Indianapolis is another must-experience destination in United States and is around 257 kilometres south-east of Chicago. No trip is complete without visiting The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.
