Chicago

$83+ Cheap flights from Raleigh (RDU) to Chicago (CHI)

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 9/3. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
RDU — CHI
Aug 3 — Aug 101
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Find cheap flights from Raleigh to Chicago with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Raleigh-Durham to Chicago are usually found in August or September, booked 90 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Thursday

Cheap flight deals from Raleigh to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Raleigh (RDU) 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 July 29, 2025.

Round-trip from

$153
(Frontier)

One-way from

$83
(Cheapflightsfares)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$217

Good round-trip deal

$217 or less

Good one-way deal

$113 or less
From Raleigh-Durham to Chicago (CHI)
One-way flight from Raleigh-Durham to Chicago (CHI)
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 19% potential increase in price ($65 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($8 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Raleigh-Durham to Chicago (CHI).
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Raleigh-Durham to Chicago (CHI).

Find flight deals from Raleigh to Chicago

Cheapest flights from Raleigh to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Raleigh to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 29, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 8/73:13 pmRDU - ORD
Nonstop2h 25mFrontier
Thu 8/1411:15 amORD - RDU
Nonstop2h 13mFrontier
Deal found 7/28$153
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/29. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/49:23 amRDU - ORD
1 stop9h 16mMultiple Airlines
Mon 9/811:36 amORD - RDU
Nonstop2h 14mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/29$154
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/48:51 amRDU - ORD
Nonstop2h 17mAmerican Airlines
Sat 10/411:55 amORD - RDU
Nonstop2h 11mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 7/26$168
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 8/261:35 pmRDU - MDW
Nonstop1h 55mSouthwest
Tue 9/26:05 pmMDW - RDU
Nonstop2h 00mSouthwest
Deal found 7/27$173
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/29. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 9/610:00 amRDU - ORD
Nonstop2h 23mUnited Airlines
Sun 9/77:10 amORD - RDU
Nonstop2h 11mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/29$175
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/46:38 pmRDU - MDW
1 stop5h 42mFrontier
Sun 9/78:06 amMDW - RDU
1 stop4h 32mFrontier
Deal found 7/27$176
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/29. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/269:23 amRDU - ORD
1 stop9h 16mSpirit Airlines
Sun 9/2810:18 amORD - RDU
1 stop9h 36mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 7/29$182
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/275:20 amRDU - ORD
1 stop4h 17mDelta
Wed 9/37:15 amORD - RDU
1 stop3h 49mDelta
Deal found 7/28$197
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/279:49 amRDU - MDW
1 stop3h 39mDelta
Tue 9/26:17 pmMDW - RDU
1 stop3h 59mDelta
Deal found 7/28$197
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/29. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/43:30 pmRDU - RFD
3 stops23h 55mMultiple Airlines
Mon 9/810:37 amRFD - RDU
2 stops22h 10mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/29$332

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Raleigh 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 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 29, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Raleigh to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Raleigh

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

RaleighChicago

RDU - ORD

RDUORD

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 8/7

3:13 pm-4:38 pm

Nonstop2h 25m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 8/14

11:15 am-2:28 pm

Nonstop2h 13m

$153

RaleighChicago

RDU - ORD

RDUORD

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 9/4

9:23 am-5:39 pm

1 stop9h 16m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 9/8

11:36 am-2:50 pm

Nonstop2h 14m

$154

RaleighChicago

RDU - ORD

RDUORD

Raleigh-Durham

Sat 10/4

8:51 am-10:08 am

Nonstop2h 17m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/4

11:55 am-3:06 pm

Nonstop2h 11m

$168

RaleighChicago

RDU - MDW

RDUMDW

Raleigh-Durham

Tue 8/26

1:35 pm-2:30 pm

Nonstop1h 55m

Chicago Midway

Tue 9/2

6:05 pm-9:05 pm

Nonstop2h 00m

$173

RaleighChicago

RDU - MDW

RDUMDW

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 9/4

6:38 pm-11:20 pm

1 stop5h 42m

Chicago Midway

Sun 9/7

8:06 am-1:38 pm

1 stop4h 32m

$176

RaleighChicago

RDU - ORD

RDUORD

Raleigh-Durham

Fri 9/19

6:30 am-7:53 am

Nonstop2h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 9/21

7:10 am-10:21 am

Nonstop2h 11m

$177

RaleighChicago

RDU - ORD

RDUORD

Raleigh-Durham

Sun 8/10

3:26 pm-9:49 pm

1 stop7h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 8/16

5:05 am-6:31 pm

1 stop12h 26m

$179

RaleighChicago

RDU - ORD

RDUORD

Raleigh-Durham

Wed 8/27

5:20 am-8:37 am

1 stop4h 17m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 9/3

7:15 am-12:04 pm

1 stop3h 49m

$197

RaleighChicago

RDU - MDW

RDUMDW

Raleigh-Durham

Wed 8/27

9:49 am-12:28 pm

1 stop3h 39m

Chicago Midway

Tue 9/2

6:17 pm-11:16 pm

1 stop3h 59m

$197

RaleighChicago

RDU - RFD

RDURFD

Raleigh-Durham

Thu 9/4

3:30 pm-2:25 pm

3 stops23h 55m

Chicago Greater Rockford

Mon 9/8

10:37 am-9:47 am

2 stops22h 10m

$332

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/27

Showing 1-10 of 23 results
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The best insider tips for Raleigh to Chicago flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Raleigh to Chicago trip
Airlines
Frontier

Frontier's UpFront Plus seats guarantee an empty middle seat for added comfort.


Early check-in helps secure your spot due to frequent overbooking by Frontier.

Read more about Frontierby Marisa Garcia
United Airlines

Basic Economy allows a personal item only; no carry-on bags unless you're a MileagePlus member.


Economy Plus offers extra legroom seats at the front of the economy cabin for MileagePlus members.

Southwest

Southwest offers two free checked bags, including oversized items like skis.


Southwest's open seating policy allows you to choose any available seat upon boarding.

Airports
RDU

RDU's compact layout makes navigating its two terminals easy. Know your terminal in advance to streamline your departure process.

Read more about RDUby John Walton
ORD

At ORD, take the free shuttle train between terminals to navigate the sprawling airport layout efficiently.

Read more about ORDby Ramsey Qubein
MDW

Use the Orange Line train for a quick, affordable ride to downtown Chicago from MDW, taking less than 30 minutes.

Read more about MDWby Ramsey Qubein
Our travel experts
Marisa Garcia

Marisa Garcia

Expert on Frontier and Southwest

Marisa Garcia

Marisa Garcia

Marisa knows planes inside and out, spending 16 years working on aircraft in hangars at airports around the world. She is an aviation industry expert, specialized in airline interiors and regulations. Ten years ago, she pivoted to journalism. She shares her insights in leading aviation, travel, and business publications and on her site FlightChic.

Read more
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Read more
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on ORD and MDW

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more
John Walton

John Walton

Expert on RDU

John Walton

John Walton

Independent aviation journalist John Walton took his first flight at eight weeks old and hasn’t stopped travelling since. A world-renowned expert in airlines and the passenger experience, he writes in depth on aviation, is a resident expert on travel in Japan and France, and offers a uniquely queer perspective on travelling the world.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Raleigh to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from Raleigh with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip 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 Raleigh to Chicago

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Raleigh to Chicago. Price data was last updated on July 25, 2025.

Booking 90 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Raleigh to Chicago. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Raleigh to Chicago?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Raleigh to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Raleigh to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

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

Find hourly flight availability from Raleigh 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 July 29, 2025.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from Raleigh to Chicago is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are at noon tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the evening could potentially save you up to 50% on airfare.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Raleigh to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Raleigh to Chicago. Price data was last updated on July 27, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Raleigh to Chicago flight should consider departing on Thursday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at noon flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Raleigh to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from Raleigh 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 July 29, 2025.

The most flights from RDU to CHI are scheduled on a Monday (36 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (24 on average).

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 July 29, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Raleigh to Chicago by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Gina,Jul 2025

LAS - DEN

We experienced bad weather, which turned our 1.5 hour flight from Las Vegas to Denver, into 3.5. The pilot and crew kept us updated and explained that we had to circle and or possibly redirect to another airport. After circling for sometime, we were able to land smoothly in Denver. Thank you to all the flight crew, tower control, and all who got us to our destination safely.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Gina,Jul 2025

LAS - DEN

We experienced bad weather, which turned our 1.5 hour flight from Las Vegas to Denver, into 3.5. The pilot and crew kept us updated and explained that we had to circle and or possibly redirect to another airport. After circling for sometime, we were able to land smoothly in Denver. Thank you to all the flight crew, tower control, and all who got us to our destination safely.
8.0
Very good

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Gina,Jul 2025

LAS - DEN

We experienced bad weather, which turned our 1.5 hour flight from Las Vegas to Denver, into 3.5. The pilot and crew kept us updated and explained that we had to circle and or possibly redirect to another airport. After circling for sometime, we were able to land smoothly in Denver. Thank you to all the flight crew, tower control, and all who got us to our destination safely.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Gina,Jul 2025

LAS - DEN

We experienced bad weather, which turned our 1.5 hour flight from Las Vegas to Denver, into 3.5. The pilot and crew kept us updated and explained that we had to circle and or possibly redirect to another airport. After circling for sometime, we were able to land smoothly in Denver. Thank you to all the flight crew, tower control, and all who got us to our destination safely.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Gina,Jul 2025

LAS - DEN

We experienced bad weather, which turned our 1.5 hour flight from Las Vegas to Denver, into 3.5. The pilot and crew kept us updated and explained that we had to circle and or possibly redirect to another airport. After circling for sometime, we were able to land smoothly in Denver. Thank you to all the flight crew, tower control, and all who got us to our destination safely.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Gina,Jul 2025

LAS - DEN

We experienced bad weather, which turned our 1.5 hour flight from Las Vegas to Denver, into 3.5. The pilot and crew kept us updated and explained that we had to circle and or possibly redirect to another airport. After circling for sometime, we were able to land smoothly in Denver. Thank you to all the flight crew, tower control, and all who got us to our destination safely.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Chicago?

    Raleigh-Durham (RDU) is the airport you will fly out of if you book a flight from Raleigh to Chicago. You should not have trouble finding flights to Chicago from Raleigh-Durham; the airport handles an average of 31 outbound flights to Chicago per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 6 airlines have flights from the Raleigh airport to Chicago. It is only a 11.1 mi journey to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) from Raleigh’s city center.

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

    Flying on Frontier is currently your cheapest option to Chicago, with prices starting at $153. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by American Airlines and Southwest, with the lowest prices starting at $168 and $173, respectively. Users have found that Frontier is 44% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    The cheapest airline one-way is Frontier, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $83. However, be on the lookout for offers from United Airlines and Southwest, as they are both options that can get you from Raleigh to Chicago for a low price.

  • What are the most popular routes from Raleigh to Chicago?

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Raleigh to Chicago?

    Consider SkyWest Airlines (100%), ANA (89%) or SWISS (88%) when booking your flight. These represent the most reliable airlines when flying from Raleigh to Chicago.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Raleigh to Chicago?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Raleigh to Chicago? While on average our users pay $1,264, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $87. The most popular route (Raleigh-Durham - Chicago O'Hare Intl), is priced around $135.

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

    Yes. In addition to deals on Raleigh to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Raleigh to Chicago?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Raleigh 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.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Raleigh to Chicago?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Raleigh to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Raleigh to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Chicago?

Book flights to Chicago if you plan to visit one of these locations
Merrillville
Lansing
Hammond
Benton Harbor
Porter
Valparaiso
Chesterton

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Alternative routes for Raleigh to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 6 airlines flying from Raleigh to Chicago

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Raleigh to Chicago. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 29, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$45Average$168FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$98Average$263FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
DeltaCheapest$102Average$318FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$149Average$330FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$151Average$291FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$168Average$312FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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