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Cheap flights from San Francisco to Chicago from $168

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 7/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — CHI
21 Apr — 28 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 16 April 2025.

Round-trip from

$357

One-way from

$168

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$524
Alaska Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines
  • 4/6-4/6
  • 1 total stop
  • 12h 52m total
  • San Francisco to Chicago
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Hawaiian Airlines
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • 7/5
  • Nonstop
  • 4h 32m total
  • San Francisco to Chicago
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($59 potential increase over avg. return price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($27 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for round-trip flights in April 2025
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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 16 April 2025.

Wed 4/607:00SFO - ORD
1 stop8h 02mAlaska Airlines
Wed 4/619:59ORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 50mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 16/4$357
Tue 3/606:00SFO - ORD
1 stop8h 45mSouthwest
Tue 10/618:55ORD - SFO
1 stop6h 35mSouthwest
Deal found 15/4$365
Thu 17/718:43SFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 16mUnited Airlines
Tue 22/715:54ORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 50mUnited Airlines
Deal found 15/4$408
Fri 30/500:40SFO - ORD
1 stop5h 54mDelta
Sat 7/606:24ORD - SFO
1 stop7h 06mDelta
Deal found 16/4$435
Fri 30/512:33SFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 26mHawaiian Airlines
Thu 12/619:18ORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 48mHawaiian Airlines
Deal found 15/4$484
Wed 2/723:59SFO - ORD
1 stop15h 16mSun Country Air
Sun 6/706:45ORD - SFO
1 stop27h 23mSun Country Air
Deal found 16/4$651

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 16 April 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

Wed 4/6

07:00-17:02

1 stop8h 02m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 4/6

19:59-22:49

Nonstop4h 50m

$357

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 3/6

06:00-16:45

1 stop8h 45m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 10/6

18:55-23:30

1 stop6h 35m

$365

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Thu 17/7

18:43-00:59

Nonstop4h 16m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 22/7

15:54-18:44

Nonstop4h 50m

$408

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Fri 30/5

00:40-08:34

1 stop5h 54m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 6/6

14:25-20:01

1 stop7h 36m

$435

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 27/8

11:30-22:03

1 stop8h 33m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 1/9

20:59-23:49

Nonstop4h 50m

$496

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 2/7

23:59-17:15

1 stop15h 16m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 6/7

06:45-08:08

1 stop27h 23m

$651

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 7/5

11:48-18:20

Nonstop4h 32m

$168

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Wed 6/8

23:47-06:05

Nonstop4h 18m

$169

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Tue 1/7

22:45-12:45

1 stop12h 00m

$178

San FranciscoChicago

SFO - ORD

SFOORD

San Francisco

Sun 18/5

18:55-01:16

Nonstop4h 21m

$184

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 16/4

Showing 1-10 of 13 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 11 April 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 76 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 16 April 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 16 April 2025.

The most flights from SFO to CHI are scheduled on a Monday (80 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (48 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 16 April 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Alaska Airlines, Southwest 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.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,876 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Cheri,Jan 2025

FAT - SEA

Very friendly. I really liked that they had water for us in cartons not plastic. Impressed with Alaska Airlines, First time I had flown them
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,876 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,876 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Cheri,Jan 2025

FAT - SEA

Very friendly. I really liked that they had water for us in cartons not plastic. Impressed with Alaska Airlines, First time I had flown them
Southwest
8.0
Very Good
4,282 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,876 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Cheri,Jan 2025

FAT - SEA

Very friendly. I really liked that they had water for us in cartons not plastic. Impressed with Alaska Airlines, First time I had flown them
Delta
8.0
Very Good
7,918 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,876 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Cheri,Jan 2025

FAT - SEA

Very friendly. I really liked that they had water for us in cartons not plastic. Impressed with Alaska Airlines, First time I had flown them
Hawaiian Airlines
7.9
Good
2,375 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,876 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Cheri,Jan 2025

FAT - SEA

Very friendly. I really liked that they had water for us in cartons not plastic. Impressed with Alaska Airlines, First time I had flown them
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,658 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very Good
9,876 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Cheri,Jan 2025

FAT - SEA

Very friendly. I really liked that they had water for us in cartons not plastic. Impressed with Alaska Airlines, First time I had flown them

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 62 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 ($357), Southwest ($365), and United Airlines ($408) offers the cheapest pricing from San Francisco to Chicago. Alaska Airlines is 37% 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 Hawaiian Airlines, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $168. However, be on the lookout for offers from American Airlines and Southwest, 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%), Brussels Airlines (92%), Asiana Airlines (91%).

  • 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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