Flights from San Francisco to Chicago
Goodtern scores every San Francisco–Chicago itinerary 0–100 against what you actually care about — price, time, stops, comfort, carbon — and shows the receipts for why #1 is #1.
Distance
2,964 km (1,842 mi)
Estimated non-stop time
~4h 9m
Usually cheapest
4–13 weeks before you fly
Route type
Medium-haul
Distance is great-circle; flight time is a physics-based estimate, not a schedule. Booking guidance reflects typical fare patterns, not a price promise.
When to book
On medium-haul routes like San Francisco to Chicago, fares typically bottom out 4–13 weeks before you fly, climb steeply in the final fortnight, and peak-season dates (summer holidays, Christmas and New Year, Easter) both cost more and sell out earlier. Goodtern's best-time-to-buy signal tracks this curve against your own search history and flags the moment a fare looks like a genuine deal.
Airports on this route
San FranciscoUnited States
- San Francisco (SFO)
ChicagoUnited States
- O'Hare (ORD)
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Chicago?
Non-stop, expect roughly 4h 9m in the air — an estimate based on the 2,964 km distance, not a schedule. Connecting itineraries take longer.
How far is Chicago from San Francisco?
About 2,964 km (1,842 miles) by great-circle distance — a medium-haul route.
When is the cheapest time to book flights from San Francisco to Chicago?
For medium-haul routes like this one, fares are typically at their lowest 4–13 weeks before you fly. That's a pattern, not a guarantee — peak dates (summer, Christmas) sell out earlier.
Which airports can I use for this route?
Served by San Francisco (SFO). Served by O'Hare (ORD). Goodtern's nearby-airport search compares all of them automatically.