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$106+ 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 9/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SMF — CHI
Jul 8 — Jul 151
Tue 7/8
Tue 7/15
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Sacramento Intl to Chicago are usually found in September or August, 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 July 3, 2025.

Round-trip from

$239
(Trip.com)

One-way from

$106
(FlightHub)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$471
From Sacramento Intl to Chicago (CHI)
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One-way flight from Sacramento Intl to Chicago (CHI)
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 4% potential increase in price ($23 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 0% potential price decrease ($3 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
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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 July 3, 2025.

This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 7/137:26 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop23h 40mMultiple Airlines
Tue 8/57:08 amORD - SMF
1 stop13h 19mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/1$239
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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.
Wed 8/138:25 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop13h 18mSpirit Airlines
Sun 8/177:09 pmORD - SMF
2 stops28h 25mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 7/3$240
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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.
Sat 7/267:26 pmSMF - RFD
1 stop14h 28mMultiple Airlines
Thu 8/1412:38 pmRFD - SMF
1 stop10h 56mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/3$255
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 7/2512:11 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop9h 59mFrontier
Mon 7/285:40 amORD - SMF
1 stop7h 36mFrontier
Deal found 7/1$269
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 11/67:00 amSMF - ORD
1 stop14h 59mAlaska Airlines
Sun 11/97:55 pmORD - SMF
1 stop28h 54mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 7/2$283
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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.
Thu 8/71:45 pmSMF - MDW
Nonstop4h 00mSouthwest
Mon 8/119:20 pmMDW - SMF
Nonstop4h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 7/2$297
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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.
Tue 8/511:15 pmSMF - MDW
1 stop7h 29mDelta
Wed 8/131:43 pmMDW - SMF
1 stop8h 46mDelta
Deal found 7/1$317
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 10/3112:11 pmSMF - MDW
1 stop8h 27mFrontier
Sun 11/24:29 pmMDW - SMF
1 stop20h 57mFrontier
Deal found 7/2$323

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 July 3, 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

Sun 7/13

7:26 pm-9:06 pm

1 stop23h 40m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 8/5

7:08 am-6:27 pm

1 stop13h 19m

$239

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Wed 8/13

8:25 pm-11:43 am

1 stop13h 18m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 8/17

7:09 pm-9:34 pm

2 stops28h 25m

$240

SacramentoChicago

SMF - RFD

SMFRFD

Sacramento Intl

Sat 7/26

7:26 pm-11:54 am

1 stop14h 28m

Chicago Greater Rockford

Thu 8/14

12:38 pm-9:34 pm

1 stop10h 56m

$255

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Fri 7/25

12:11 pm-12:10 am

1 stop9h 59m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 7/28

5:40 am-11:16 am

1 stop7h 36m

$269

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Thu 11/6

7:00 am-11:59 pm

1 stop14h 59m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 11/9

7:55 pm-10:49 pm

1 stop28h 54m

$283

SacramentoChicago

SMF - MDW

SMFMDW

Sacramento Intl

Thu 8/7

1:45 pm-7:45 pm

Nonstop4h 00m

Chicago Midway

Mon 8/11

9:20 pm-11:45 pm

Nonstop4h 25m

$297

SacramentoChicago

SMF - MDW

SMFMDW

Sacramento Intl

Tue 8/5

11:15 pm-8:44 am

1 stop7h 29m

Chicago Midway

Wed 8/13

1:43 pm-8:29 pm

1 stop8h 46m

$317

SacramentoChicago

SMF - MDW

SMFMDW

Sacramento Intl

Fri 10/31

12:11 pm-10:38 pm

1 stop8h 27m

Chicago Midway

Sun 11/2

4:29 pm-11:26 am

1 stop20h 57m

$323

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Tue 9/2

8:25 pm-5:15 pm

1 stop18h 50m

$106

SacramentoChicago

SMF - ORD

SMFORD

Sacramento Intl

Sun 11/2

12:11 pm-11:53 pm

1 stop9h 42m

$108

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/3

Showing 1-10 of 19 results
1
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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
Airlines
United Airlines

Basic Economy allows a personal item only; no carry-on bags unless exceptions apply.


United Polaris Lounges offer showers, daybeds, and dining for premium passengers.

Read more about United Airlinesby Harriet Baskas
Southwest

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


Southwest's free in-flight entertainment includes early-release movies and live TV.

Read more about Southwestby Marisa Garcia
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
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
Marisa Garcia

Marisa Garcia

Expert on 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
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 June 27, 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 July 3, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Sacramento to Chicago in the afternoon. By choosing this option you can save up to 13% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the morning.

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 June 29, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Sacramento to Chicago flight should consider departing on Tuesday evenings 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 July 3, 2025.

The most flights from SMF to CHI are scheduled on a Thursday (13 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Friday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (6 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Sacramento to Chicago?

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 3, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Sacramento to Chicago. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

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
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

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
7,982 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

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
8,861 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Spirit Airlines
6.3
Okay
8,086 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Frontier
5.9
Fair
3,286 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

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 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 9 outbound flights to Chicago per day from 6 airlines. Sacramento Intl is conveniently located just 9.4 mi from Sacramento’s city center.

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

    Cheapflights users have booked flights from Sacramento to Chicago round-trip from $240. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Frontier, from $269, and Southwest, from $297. Spirit Airlines is 47% 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 Spirit Airlines, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $106. However, be on the lookout for offers from Frontier and Southwest, 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?

    The most popular flight routes from Sacramento to Chicago are Sacramento Intl - Chicago O'Hare Intl, Sacramento Intl - Chicago Midway and Sacramento Intl - Chicago Greater Rockford.

  • 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: Air Canada (84%), Lufthansa (83%), United Airlines (75%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Sacramento to Chicago?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $173. While the most popular route (Sacramento Intl - Chicago O'Hare Intl) can be booked for $151 on average our data indicates $1,203 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 Sacramento?

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

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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.
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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 July 3, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$144Average$250FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$149Average$273FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
American AirlinesCheapest$282Average$437FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$295Average$455FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$313Average$507FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$381Average$485FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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