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Cheap flights from San Francisco to Chicago from $172

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 29/4. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — CHI
1 Apr — 8 Apr1
1 adult

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (CHI). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated 27 March 2025.

Round-trip from

$368

One-way from

$172

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$610

Good one-way deal

$170 or less
Alaska Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines
  • 29/4-29/4
  • 1 total stop
  • 13h 59m total
  • San Francisco to Chicago
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Alaska Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines
  • 29/4
  • Nonstop
  • 4h 32m total
  • San Francisco to Chicago
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($58 potential increase over avg. return price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($29 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for round-trip flights in March 2025
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from San Francisco to Chicago (CHI).
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Find flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 27 March 2025.

Tue 29/406:00SFO - ORD
1 stop9h 00mAlaska Airlines
Tue 29/418:58ORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 59mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 27/3$368
Wed 30/406:00SFO - ORD
1 stop8h 45mSouthwest
Wed 30/418:55ORD - SFO
1 stop6h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 27/3$376
Mon 28/405:15SFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 21mUnited Airlines
Thu 1/514:25ORD - SFO
Nonstop5h 01mUnited Airlines
Deal found 27/3$378
Mon 28/420:09SFO - ORD
1 stop7h 56mHawaiian Airlines
Wed 30/406:00ORD - SFO
1 stop9h 32mHawaiian Airlines
Deal found 27/3$411
Thu 24/708:00SFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 15mAmerican Airlines
Fri 5/920:25ORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 49mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 27/3$442
Thu 24/422:59SFO - ORD
1 stop6h 56mDelta
Mon 5/514:15ORD - SFO
1 stop10h 41mDelta
Deal found 27/3$448
Fri 23/518:09SFO - ORD
1 stop16h 18mSun Country Air
Mon 26/521:05ORD - SFO
1 stop18h 07mSun Country Air
Deal found 27/3$479

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customise your flight search to find flights from San Francisco to Chicago that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 134,765 searches. Data last updated 27 March 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Departure

Return

Price

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 29/4

06:00-17:00

1 stop9h 00m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 29/4

18:58-21:57

Nonstop4h 59m

$368

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 30/4

06:00-16:45

1 stop8h 45m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 30/4

18:55-23:20

1 stop6h 25m

$376

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 28/4

05:15-11:36

Nonstop4h 21m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/5

14:25-17:26

Nonstop5h 01m

$378

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Mon 28/4

20:09-06:05

1 stop7h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 30/4

06:00-13:32

1 stop9h 32m

$411

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 24/7

08:00-14:15

Nonstop4h 15m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 5/9

20:25-23:14

Nonstop4h 49m

$442

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 24/4

00:47-08:35

1 stop5h 48m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 29/4

06:45-14:49

1 stop10h 04m

$448

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 23/5

18:09-12:27

1 stop16h 18m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 26/5

21:05-13:12

1 stop18h 07m

$479

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 29/4

11:48-18:20

Nonstop4h 32m

$172

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 6/5

05:40-15:25

1 stop7h 45m

$188

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sat 3/5

00:10-06:30

Nonstop4h 20m

$190

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 27/3

Showing 1-10 of 15 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from San Francisco with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from San Francisco to Chicago. Price data was last updated on 21 March 2025.

The price you pay for your flight from San Francisco to Chicago may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 83 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SFO to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 27 March 2025.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from San Francisco to Chicago is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are in the morning tend to be the most expensive. A flight at midday could potentially save you up to 13% on airfare.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Chicago. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated 27 March 2025.

The most flights from SFO to CHI are scheduled on a Thursday (70 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (12 on average).

Rainfall in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Chicago ranges from 43.0 - 125.0 inches per month. August is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 125.0 mm. January is typically the driest time to visit Chicago when rainfall is around 43.0 mm.

Temperature in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Chicago, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 23.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around -5.0 C).

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Chicago. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Chicago. Reviews last updated 27 March 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, Alaska Airlines and Delta from San Francisco to Chicago to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,273 reviews
Check prices

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.6

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,273 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,273 reviews
Check prices

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.6

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,798 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,273 reviews
Check prices

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.6

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Delta
8.0
Very Good
7,895 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,273 reviews
Check prices

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.6

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Hawaiian Airlines
7.9
Good
2,336 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,273 reviews
Check prices

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.6

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,603 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very Good
4,273 reviews
Check prices

Food

7.1

Entertainment

7.6

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    If you book a flight to Chicago from San Francisco, you will be flying from San Francisco, which is the city’s only airport. San Francisco (SFO) is located 19.0 km from the centre of San Francisco. There are 31 flights from San Francisco to Chicago per day from 0 different airlines.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San Francisco to Chicago round-trip?

    According to our current data, Alaska Airlines ($368), Southwest ($376), and United Airlines ($378) offers the cheapest pricing from San Francisco to Chicago. Alaska Airlines is 38% cheaper than the average price of flights available within the next 90 days to this destination.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San Francisco to Chicago one-way?

    The cheapest airline one-way is Alaska Airlines, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $172. However, be on the lookout for offers from Southwest and United Airlines, as they are both options that can get you from San Francisco to Chicago for a low price.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Chicago?

    Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from San Francisco to Chicago on time: Royal Jordanian (99%), Asiana Airlines (97%), Brussels Airlines (95%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    On average you can expect to pay $174 for a flight from San Francisco to Chicago. The cheapest flight overall is $154 while the most popular route, (San Francisco - Chicago O'Hare Intl) is currently priced at $359.

  • Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on San Francisco to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San Francisco to Chicago.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Chicago?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Chicago by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

See more FAQs

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