Sacramento

$80+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to Sacramento (SMF)

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 1/25. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SMF
Jan 11 — Jan 181
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Find cheap flights from Chicago to Sacramento with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

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3. Compare prices and book

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to Sacramento Intl are usually found in January or August, booked 44 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Thursday and return on a Tuesday

Cheap flight deals from Chicago to Sacramento

Cheapest flights from Chicago to Sacramento
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to Sacramento. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 12, 2025.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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.
Sun 12/2110:49 pmORD - SMF
1 stop20h 32mFrontier
Wed 12/246:16 pmSMF - ORD
2 stops24h 07mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$425
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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.
Sun 12/2110:49 pmORD - SMF
1 stop20h 32mMultiple Airlines
Thu 12/259:46 amSMF - ORD
1 stop8h 16mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/10$445
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/178:55 amORD - SMF
1 stop16h 04mAlaska Airlines
Thu 1/85:03 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop28h 47mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 12/10$451
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Fri 12/197:00 amORD - SMF
1 stop6h 57mMultiple Airlines
Wed 1/141:16 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop23h 22mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/9$458
This Super.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Super.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/197:00 amORD - SMF
1 stop6h 57mFrontier
Mon 12/226:16 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop18h 01mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$467
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/207:00 amORD - SMF
1 stop7h 16mFrontier
Sat 1/31:11 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop9h 01mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$470
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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.
Sun 12/2110:49 pmORD - SMF
1 stop20h 32mFrontier
Fri 1/26:16 pmSMF - ORD
2 stops27h 56mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$472
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/183:27 pmORD - SMF
1 stop27h 54mFrontier
Fri 12/2612:52 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop9h 20mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$478
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/313:37 pmORD - SMF
1 stop10h 22mAlaska Airlines
Mon 1/56:00 amSMF - ORD
1 stop22h 29mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 12/10$482
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/147:00 amORD - SMF
1 stop6h 40mFrontier
Mon 12/1512:35 pmSMF - ORD
1 stop9h 37mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$483
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/171:50 pmMDW - SMF
1 stop8h 52mDelta
Wed 12/2412:43 pmSMF - MDW
1 stop7h 39mDelta
Deal found 12/10$584
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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.
Thu 12/259:40 amMDW - SMF
1 stop7h 05mSouthwest
Wed 12/316:10 amSMF - MDW
Nonstop4h 00mSouthwest
Deal found 12/10$586

Find flight deals from Chicago to Sacramento

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Chicago (CHI) to Sacramento (SMF). 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 December 12, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

Expedia
3 stars

Round-trip from

$270
(Alaska Airlines)

One-way from

$80
(Booking.com)

Popular in

November

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$482
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-Sacramento Intl flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-Sacramento Intl flights.
From Chicago (CHI) to Sacramento Intl
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to Sacramento Intl
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($27 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in December 2025

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to Sacramento 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 December 12, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to Sacramento that are best for you.

Fly from

Chicago

Fly to

Sacramento

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSacramento

ORD - SMF

ORDSMF

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/4

8:20 am-2:30 pm

1 stop8h 10m

Sacramento Intl

Sat 3/7

12:47 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop9h 12m

$270

ChicagoSacramento

ORD - SMF

ORDSMF

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 1/16

3:44 pm-10:58 pm

1 stop9h 14m

Sacramento Intl

Sun 1/25

9:00 am-11:50 pm

1 stop12h 50m

$281

ChicagoSacramento

MDW - SMF

MDWSMF

Chicago Midway

Sat 1/10

9:32 am-4:05 pm

2 stops8h 33m

Sacramento Intl

Wed 1/14

10:40 pm-10:27 am

1 stop9h 47m

$284

ChicagoSacramento

MDW - SMF

MDWSMF

Chicago Midway

Fri 1/9

1:49 pm-8:58 pm

1 stop9h 09m

Sacramento Intl

Wed 1/14

12:30 pm-10:07 pm

1 stop7h 37m

$289

ChicagoSacramento

ORD - SMF

ORDSMF

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 1/10

6:50 am-4:05 pm

2 stops11h 15m

Sacramento Intl

Wed 1/14

6:15 am-5:55 pm

2 stops9h 40m

$289

ChicagoSacramento

ORD - SMF

ORDSMF

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 1/7

5:30 am-5:15 pm

2 stops13h 45m

Sacramento Intl

Mon 1/12

10:45 am-11:53 pm

2 stops11h 08m

$291

ChicagoSacramento

ORD - SMF

ORDSMF

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 2/26

2:20 pm-11:43 pm

2 stops11h 23m

Sacramento Intl

Fri 3/6

6:35 am-9:41 pm

2 stops13h 06m

$294

ChicagoSacramento

ORD - SMF

ORDSMF

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/15

3:44 pm-10:58 pm

1 stop9h 14m

Sacramento Intl

Mon 1/19

7:00 am-2:29 pm

1 stop29h 29m

$295

ChicagoSacramento

MDW - SMF

MDWSMF

Chicago Midway

Fri 1/30

9:50 am-5:30 pm

2 stops9h 40m

Sacramento Intl

Mon 2/2

12:30 pm-10:22 pm

1 stop7h 52m

$296

ChicagoSacramento

ORD - SMF

ORDSMF

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 2/25

8:52 am-5:28 pm

2 stops10h 36m

Sacramento Intl

Thu 3/5

9:10 am-9:52 pm

2 stops10h 42m

$299

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/10

Showing 1-10 of 37 results
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Compare providers for flights from Chicago to Sacramento

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Chicago to Sacramento in December.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-Sacramento flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Chicago-Sacramento flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Chicago-Sacramento flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-Sacramento flights, Cheapflights users trust Expedia the most. Expedia has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Chicago-Sacramento flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Chicago to Sacramento

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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Chicago to Sacramento. Price data was last updated on December 5, 2025.

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

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Sacramento (average of $130). Flying from Chicago to Sacramento in June is currently the most expensive (average of $196). 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 SMF?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to Sacramento. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated December 12, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Chicago to Sacramento in the morning. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 41% on your trip compared to booking a flight at noon.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Chicago to Sacramento. Price data was last updated on December 6, 2025.

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

The best insider tips for Chicago to Sacramento flights

AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Chicago to Sacramento trip
Airports
ORD

Consider using the 'L' train to ORD to avoid Chicago traffic delays, offering a reliable alternative to taxis or rideshares.

MDW

Use the 'L' train for a quick, cost-effective route to MDW, taking less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago.

SMF

For a quick trip to downtown Sacramento, take the SacRT Route 142 express bus, running every hour from SMF.

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

Reviews of airlines servicing Sacramento

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Sacramento. 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 Sacramento. Reviews last updated December 12, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, United Airlines, and American Airlines from Chicago to Sacramento to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Overall

7.9

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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

Overall

7.9

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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

Overall

7.9

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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

Overall

7.9

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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

Overall

7.9

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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

Overall

7.9

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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 Chicago to Sacramento. 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 into for flights to Sacramento from Chicago?

    Sacramento Intl (SMF) is the airport you will fly into if you book a flight from Chicago to Sacramento. You should not have trouble finding flights to Sacramento Intl from Chicago; the airport handles an average of 5 inbound flights from Chicago per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 5 airlines have flights to the Sacramento airport from Chicago. It is only a 9.4 mi journey from Sacramento Intl (SMF) to Sacramento’s city center.

  • How long is the flight from Chicago to Sacramento?

    Departing from Chicago to Sacramento will take you 8h 10m. The distance between Chicago and Sacramento is about 1776 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

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

    According to our current data, Spirit Airlines ($134), Frontier ($145), and American Airlines ($181) offers the cheapest pricing from Chicago to Sacramento. Spirit Airlines is 69% cheaper than the average price of flights available within the next 90 days to this destination.

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

    The cheapest airline one-way is Frontier, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $81. However, be on the lookout for offers from Spirit Airlines and Delta, as they are both options that can get you from Chicago to Sacramento for a low price.

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

    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 Chicago to Sacramento on time: American Airlines (72%), Air Canada (68%), Lufthansa (61%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Chicago to Sacramento?

    On average you can expect to pay $469 for a flight from Chicago to Sacramento. The cheapest flight overall is $212 while the most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - Sacramento Intl) is currently priced at $209.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Sacramento (average of $130). Flying from Chicago to Sacramento in June is currently the most expensive (average of $196). 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
Placerville
Yuba City
Oroville
Plymouth
Auburn
Rocklin
Lincoln

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Alternative routes for Chicago to Sacramento

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

Top 5 airlines flying from Chicago to Sacramento

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to Sacramento. 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 December 12, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$134Average$211FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
FrontierCheapest$145Average$178FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$181Average$388FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$357Average$479FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$364Average$538FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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