Chicago

$108+ Cheap flights from Sacramento (SMF) 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 12/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SMF — CHI
Oct 11 — Oct 181
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Sacramento Intl to Chicago are usually found in September or February, booked 59 days in advance, depart on a Tuesday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Sacramento to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Sacramento (SMF) 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 September 11, 2025.

Round-trip from

$211
(Expedia)

One-way from

$108
(Southwest)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$389
From Sacramento Intl to Chicago (CHI)
One-way flight from Sacramento Intl to Chicago (CHI)
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 4% potential increase in price ($24 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 0% potential price decrease ($3 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in September 2025

Find flight deals from Sacramento to Chicago

Cheapest flights from Sacramento to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Sacramento to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 11, 2025.

This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 11/17:00 amSMF - ORD
1 stop10h 55mMultiple Airlines
Mon 11/36:00 amORD - SMF
1 stop7h 38mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/9$211
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/8. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 11/1411:17 amSMF - ORD
1 stop10h 58mFrontier
Wed 11/197:20 amORD - SMF
2 stops32h 54mFrontier
Deal found 9/8$213
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/248:35 amSMF - ORD
1 stop25h 13mMultiple Airlines
Sun 9/288:49 pmORD - SMF
2 stops36h 51mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/9$219
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/266:30 amSMF - MDW
1 stop12h 22mMultiple Airlines
Mon 9/297:03 pmMDW - SMF
1 stop14h 37mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/9$221
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/248:35 amSMF - ORD
1 stop8h 16mMultiple Airlines
Wed 10/86:00 amORD - SMF
1 stop10h 03mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/9$221
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 9/186:30 amSMF - ORD
1 stop13h 02mSpirit Airlines
Mon 9/226:05 pmORD - SMF
1 stop15h 35mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 9/9$223
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/10. 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.
Wed 10/152:20 pmSMF - ORD
Nonstop4h 05mUnited Airlines
Wed 10/228:05 pmORD - SMF
Nonstop4h 38mUnited Airlines
Deal found 9/10$224
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/10. 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 10/148:00 pmSMF - MDW
1 stop7h 00mSouthwest
Wed 10/226:25 pmMDW - SMF
Nonstop4h 30mSouthwest
Deal found 9/10$226
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 9/238:35 amSMF - ORD
1 stop10h 57mSpirit Airlines
Tue 9/3011:15 amORD - SMF
1 stop12h 26mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 9/9$226
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/10. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/23:11 pmSMF - ORD
2 stops16h 26mFrontier
Sat 10/48:25 amORD - SMF
1 stop28h 56mFrontier
Deal found 9/10$227
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/18:35 amSMF - ORD
1 stop25h 13mMultiple Airlines
Sat 10/47:09 pmORD - SMF
1 stop21h 07mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/9$228
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/11. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/253:11 pmSMF - ORD
2 stops16h 26mFrontier
Sun 10/55:35 amORD - SMF
1 stop7h 46mFrontier
Deal found 9/11$229

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Sacramento 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 September 11, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Sacramento to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Sacramento

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Thu 10/30

2:56 pm-12:24 am

1 stop7h 28m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 11/4

2:54 pm-10:53 pm

1 stop9h 59m

$230

SacramentoChicago

SMF - MDW

SMFMDW

Sacramento Intl

Tue 10/28

6:15 am-12:15 pm

Nonstop4h 00m

Chicago Midway

Wed 10/29

12:40 pm-6:05 pm

2 stops7h 25m

$231

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Tue 10/28

2:20 pm-11:40 pm

1 stop7h 20m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 10/29

2:50 pm-10:20 pm

2 stops9h 30m

$241

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Tue 10/7

6:25 pm-8:30 am

2 stops12h 05m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 10/14

7:37 am-3:59 pm

1 stop10h 22m

$250

SacramentoChicago

SMF - MDW

SMFMDW

Sacramento Intl

Sat 11/8

7:40 am-6:30 pm

1 stop8h 50m

Chicago Midway

Tue 11/11

9:35 am-3:35 pm

1 stop8h 00m

$254

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Tue 3/3

11:59 pm-6:03 am

Nonstop4h 04m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/4

8:00 pm-10:35 pm

Nonstop4h 35m

$255

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Sat 11/8

9:15 am-5:01 am

2 stops17h 46m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 11/11

2:54 pm-10:53 pm

1 stop9h 59m

$255

SacramentoChicago

SMF - MDW

SMFMDW

Sacramento Intl

Tue 9/30

12:12 pm-9:36 pm

1 stop7h 24m

Chicago Midway

Fri 10/3

1:43 pm-8:30 pm

1 stop8h 47m

$257

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Sat 10/18

6:30 am-5:18 pm

1 stop8h 48m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/25

3:50 pm-8:16 pm

1 stop6h 26m

$257

SacramentoChicago

SMF - MDW

SMFMDW

Sacramento Intl

Sat 11/8

6:00 am-6:25 pm

2 stops10h 25m

Chicago Midway

Tue 11/11

1:14 pm-9:51 pm

2 stops10h 37m

$261

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 9/10

Showing 1-10 of 52 results
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The best insider tips for Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Chicago trip
Airports
SMF

Security lines at SMF can be hectic on weekday mornings, especially Mondays. Arrive early to avoid delays, particularly if flying out of Terminal A.

Read more about SMFby Matt Meltzer
ORD

Use the free shuttle train at ORD to navigate between terminals, especially if arriving at Terminal 5.

Read more about ORDby Ramsey Qubein
MDW

The Orange Line train is the easiest way to reach downtown Chicago from MDW, taking less than 30 minutes.

Read more about MDWby Ramsey Qubein
Our travel experts
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
Matt Meltzer

Matt Meltzer

Expert on SMF

Matt Meltzer

Matt Meltzer

Matt Meltzer has been a travel writer for over a decade, covering U.S. domestic locations and hotels for Thrillist, Fifty Grande, Matador Network, Conde Nast Traveler, and other top publications. He's won multiple travel journalism awards from the Society of American Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association, and currently resides in South Florida.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from Sacramento to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Chicago

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Sacramento to Chicago. Price data was last updated on August 29, 2025.

Booking 34 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Chicago?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Sacramento to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Sacramento 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 SMF to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from Sacramento 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 September 11, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Sacramento to Chicago in the afternoon. By choosing this option you can save up to 17% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight at noon.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Sacramento to Chicago. Price data was last updated on September 7, 2025.

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

Weekly flight availability from Sacramento to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from Sacramento 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 September 11, 2025.

The most flights from SMF to CHI are scheduled on a Wednesday (15 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (7 on average).

What’s the top layover airport for flights from Sacramento to Chicago?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from Sacramento to Chicago chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

Las Vegas (LAS) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 82% of 1-stop itineraries from Sacramento to Chicago on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from Sacramento to Chicago?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from Sacramento to Chicago, chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

Las Vegas (LAS) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $277.

What’s the fastest layover option from Sacramento to Chicago?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from Sacramento to Chicago, based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via Las Vegas (LAS) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 7h 04m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from Sacramento to Chicago?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from Sacramento to Chicago, chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via Denver (DEN) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 3h 05m.

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 September 11, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, United Airlines, and American Airlines from Sacramento to Chicago. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Related info for your journey

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

    Most people fly from Sacramento Intl (SMF) if they book a flight from Sacramento to Chicago. On average, Sacramento Intl has 11 outbound flights to Chicago per day from 6 airlines. Sacramento Intl is conveniently located just 9.4 mi from Sacramento’s city center.

  • How long is the flight from Sacramento to Chicago?

    Airlines like Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Delta fly from Sacramento to Chicago in about 4h. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 8h 05m. There are 1785 mi between Sacramento and Chicago. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

    Cheapflights users have booked flights from Sacramento to Chicago round-trip from $148. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Spirit Airlines, from $166, and American Airlines, from $247. Frontier is 67% cheaper than the average price of flights available within the next 90 days to this destination.

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

    The cheapest airline one-way is Southwest, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $108. However, be on the lookout for offers from Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines, as they are both options that can get you from Sacramento to Chicago for a low price.

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

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Chicago on time: Qatar Airways (83%), Lufthansa (79%), American Airlines (73%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Sacramento to Chicago?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $123. While the most popular route (Sacramento Intl - Chicago O'Hare Intl) can be booked for $165 on average, our data indicates $873 when flying from Sacramento to Chicago.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Chicago?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Sacramento to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Sacramento 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
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Porter
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Alternative routes for Sacramento to Chicago

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

Top 6 airlines flying from Sacramento to Chicago

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Sacramento 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 September 11, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$148Average$263FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$166Average$274FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
American AirlinesCheapest$247Average$437FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$295Average$460FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$344Average$491FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$345Average$519FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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