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$70+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to Columbus

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 4/16. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — CMH
Apr 20 — Apr 271
Mon 4/20
Mon 4/27
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to Columbus are usually found in May or August, booked 45 days in advance, depart on a Saturday or Thursday and return on a Thursday

Cheap flight deals from Chicago to Columbus

Cheapest flights from Chicago to Columbus
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to Columbus. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on March 21, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/15. 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.
Sun 4/265:50 am
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop8h 02m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 5/16:35 pm
CMH
-
ORD
2 stops16h 01m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/15$195
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/16. 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.
Mon 4/135:40 pm
MDW
-
CMH
1 stop4h 05m
Southwest
Wed 4/156:05 am
CMH
-
MDW
1 stop5h 35m
Southwest
Deal found 3/16$197
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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.
Mon 4/138:49 pm
ORD
-
CMH
Nonstop1h 33m
American Airlines
Wed 4/157:37 am
CMH
-
ORD
Nonstop1h 48m
American Airlines
Deal found 3/17$198
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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 4/71:05 pm
MDW
-
CMH
Nonstop1h 10m
Southwest
Tue 4/77:10 pm
CMH
-
MDW
Nonstop1h 15m
Southwest
Deal found 3/17$198
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/16. 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.
Sat 5/96:24 am
ORD
-
CMH
2 stops5h 59m
Delta
Mon 5/117:59 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop5h 00m
Delta
Deal found 3/16$202
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/16. 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.
Sat 5/91:22 pm
MDW
-
CMH
2 stops7h 14m
Delta
Mon 5/113:02 pm
CMH
-
MDW
1 stop7h 07m
Delta
Deal found 3/16$202
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. 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 4/165:50 am
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop8h 02m
Frontier
Mon 4/208:21 pm
CMH
-
ORD
2 stops14h 19m
Frontier
Deal found 3/20$205
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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.
Wed 4/89:49 am
ORD
-
CMH
Nonstop1h 32m
American Airlines
Sat 4/115:05 am
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop4h 25m
American Airlines
Deal found 3/17$207
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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 4/167:50 am
MDW
-
CMH
Nonstop1h 10m
Southwest
Mon 4/203:30 pm
CMH
-
MDW
Nonstop1h 20m
Southwest
Deal found 3/17$207
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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.
Tue 4/144:17 pm
ORD
-
CMH
1 stop6h 09m
American Airlines
Tue 4/218:55 pm
CMH
-
ORD
Nonstop1h 44m
American Airlines
Deal found 3/17$208
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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 4/97:50 am
MDW
-
CMH
Nonstop1h 10m
Southwest
Mon 4/138:00 pm
CMH
-
MDW
Nonstop1h 15m
Southwest
Deal found 3/17$208
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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 4/169:44 pm
ORD
-
CMH
2 stops18h 56m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 4/2012:10 pm
CMH
-
ORD
1 stop22h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/17$209

Find flight deals from Chicago to Columbus

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Chicago (CHI) to Columbus (C01). 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 March 21, 2026.

Round-trip from

$195
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$70
(Frontier)

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$413
From Chicago (CHI) to Columbus
Search Deals
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to Columbus
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 14% potential increase in price ($57 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 5% potential price decrease ($19 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in March 2026
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Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to Columbus 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 March 21, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to Columbus that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

ChicagoColumbus

MDW - CMH

MDWCMH

Chicago Midway

Mon 4/13

5:40 pm-10:45 pm

1 stop4h 05m

Columbus

Wed 4/15

6:05 am-10:40 am

1 stop5h 35m

$197

ChicagoColumbus

MDW - CMH

MDWCMH

Chicago Midway

Thu 4/30

6:05 am-1:05 pm

1 stop6h 00m

Columbus

Thu 5/7

8:30 pm-11:30 pm

1 stop4h 00m

$197
Quickest round-trip

ChicagoColumbus

MDW - CMH

MDWCMH

Chicago Midway

Tue 4/7

1:05 pm-3:15 pm

Nonstop1h 10m

Columbus

Tue 4/7

7:10 pm-7:25 pm

Nonstop1h 15m

$198

ChicagoColumbus

ORD - CMH

ORDCMH

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 4/18

7:00 am-6:45 pm

2 stops10h 45m

Columbus

Sat 4/25

3:00 pm-8:16 pm

1 stop6h 16m

$202

ChicagoColumbus

ORD - CMH

ORDCMH

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 4/16

7:43 pm-12:05 am

1 stop3h 22m

Columbus

Sat 4/18

7:00 am-12:49 pm

2 stops6h 49m

$202

ChicagoColumbus

MDW - CMH

MDWCMH

Chicago Midway

Sat 4/11

10:45 am-3:57 pm

1 stop4h 12m

Columbus

Sat 4/18

7:00 am-12:43 pm

2 stops6h 43m

$202

ChicagoColumbus

ORD - CMH

ORDCMH

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/13

2:40 pm-10:05 pm

1 stop6h 25m

Columbus

Wed 4/15

6:35 am-12:50 pm

1 stop7h 15m

$202

ChicagoColumbus

ORD - CMH

ORDCMH

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 4/10

2:40 pm-10:05 pm

1 stop6h 25m

Columbus

Mon 4/13

6:25 am-12:50 pm

1 stop7h 25m

$202

ChicagoColumbus

MDW - CMH

MDWCMH

Chicago Midway

Thu 4/16

5:30 am-12:00 pm

1 stop5h 30m

Columbus

Sat 4/18

12:00 pm-5:10 pm

2 stops6h 10m

$202

ChicagoColumbus

MDW - CMH

MDWCMH

Chicago Midway

Sat 5/2

12:45 pm-11:20 pm

2 stops9h 35m

Columbus

Sat 5/9

7:30 pm-10:35 pm

1 stop4h 05m

$202

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/20

Showing 1-10 of 44 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Best time to book a flight from Chicago to Columbus

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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Chicago to Columbus. Price data was last updated on March 13, 2026.

Booking 44 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Chicago to Columbus. 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 Chicago to Columbus?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Columbus (average of $81). Flying from Chicago to Columbus in December is currently the most expensive (average of $209). 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 CHI to CMH?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to Columbus. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated March 21, 2026.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Chicago to Columbus in the afternoon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 9% on your trip compared to booking a flight at noon.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Chicago to Columbus. Price data was last updated on March 14, 2026.

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

Weekly flight availability from Chicago to Columbus

Explore weekly flight availability from Chicago to Columbus. 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 March 21, 2026.

The most flights from CHI to C01 are scheduled on a Thursday (57 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (22 on average).

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

How often are flights from Chicago to Columbus delayed?

About 16% of weekly flights between Chicago and Columbus have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 123 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Chicago to Columbus flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving at night tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Tuesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Sunday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Chicago to Columbus flights?

Over the last year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 14% of flights being delayed.

Reviews of airlines servicing Columbus

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Columbus. 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 Columbus. Reviews last updated March 21, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,United Airlines, andAmerican Airlines from Chicago to Columbus by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,325 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,325 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,325 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,451 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,325 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
American Airlines
7.1
Good
11,488 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,325 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Chicago to Columbus. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • How long is the flight from Chicago to Columbus?

    For as low as $197, Southwest can have you in Columbus from Chicago in 4h 05m. Chicago and Columbus are separated by a distance of 282 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

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

    Currently priced at $155, Southwest will fly you from Chicago to Columbus and back. In addition to Southwest, many other airlines offer competitively priced options for your trip. Search Cheapflights for deals from American Airlines and United Airlines - these airlines can fly you to your destination from $155 and $206, respectively. Users have found that Southwest is 55% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    For one-way options, check prices for American Airlines. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $91. Users have also found prices from $93 and $96 on Frontier and United Airlines, respectively.

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

    No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from Chicago to Columbus consider choosing GoJet (80%), Envoy Air (75%) or Alaska Airlines (74%) as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Chicago to Columbus?

    On average you can expect to pay $399 for a flight from Chicago to Columbus. The cheapest flight overall is $48 while the most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - Columbus) is currently priced at $157.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Columbus (average of $81). Flying from Chicago to Columbus in December is currently the most expensive (average of $209). 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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 3 airlines flying from Chicago to Columbus

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to Columbus. 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 March 21, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
SouthwestCheapest$155Average$408FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$155Average$305FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$199Average$334FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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