San Francisco

$123+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco (SFO)

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 5/15. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SFO
Apr 21 — Apr 281
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Find cheap flights from Chicago to San Francisco 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”

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to San Francisco are usually found in May or July, booked 83 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on March 22, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 4/149:45 am
ORD
-
SFO
2 stops30h 07m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 4/186:29 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop9h 21m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/18$235
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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.
Mon 4/62:29 pm
ORD
-
SFO
1 stop7h 46m
Frontier
Tue 4/79:00 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop15h 19m
Frontier
Deal found 3/18$236
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 4/149:00 pm
MDW
-
SFO
Nonstop4h 35m
Southwest
Tue 4/215:25 am
SFO
-
MDW
Nonstop4h 10m
Southwest
Deal found 3/17$237
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.
Fri 5/295:30 pm
ORD
-
SFO
1 stop19h 11m
Frontier
Sat 5/308:48 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop7h 19m
Frontier
Deal found 3/17$237
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/19. 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 4/148:20 am
ORD
-
SFO
1 stop8h 17m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 4/1711:16 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop12h 51m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/19$238
This Cheapflightsfares 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 Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 4/158:58 pm
ORD
-
SFO
1 stop13h 25m
Frontier
Sat 4/186:29 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop9h 21m
Frontier
Deal found 3/17$239
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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.
Sat 5/1612:05 pm
ORD
-
SFO
1 stop12h 59m
Frontier
Sat 5/3011:59 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop14h 17m
Frontier
Deal found 3/18$240
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.
Wed 4/153:27 pm
ORD
-
SFO
2 stops18h 56m
Frontier
Fri 4/1711:16 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop12h 51m
Frontier
Deal found 3/17$241
This Super.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 Super.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/77:45 pm
ORD
-
SFO
1 stop27h 28m
Frontier
Mon 4/1310:50 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop29h 18m
Frontier
Deal found 3/20$242
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 5/286:55 am
ORD
-
SFO
1 stop14h 39m
Frontier
Sat 6/68:56 am
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop9h 41m
Frontier
Deal found 3/18$243
This Kissandfly.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 Kissandfly.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/96:55 am
ORD
-
SFO
Nonstop4h 57m
Hawaiian Airlines
Wed 4/151:35 pm
SFO
-
ORD
1 stop8h 24m
Hawaiian Airlines
Deal found 3/18$244
This Trip.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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/76:00 am
MDW
-
SFO
1 stop15h 34m
Frontier
Sun 5/1010:15 pm
SFO
-
MDW
1 stop10h 54m
Frontier
Deal found 3/17$245

Find flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco (SFO). 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 22, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$235
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$123
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

February

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$397

Good round-trip deal

$327 or less

Good one-way deal

$133 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flights.
From Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 14% potential increase in price ($60 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 March 2026
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco.

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to San Francisco 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 22, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 4/8

6:25 am-9:16 am

Nonstop4h 51m

San Francisco

Sun 4/12

12:45 am-7:07 am

Nonstop4h 22m

$251
Quickest round-trip

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Thu 4/23

9:45 pm-12:20 am

Nonstop4h 35m

San Francisco

Mon 4/27

11:25 pm-5:40 am

Nonstop4h 15m

$265

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 4/16

9:40 pm-12:39 am

Nonstop4h 59m

San Francisco

Thu 4/23

10:50 pm-5:27 am

Nonstop4h 37m

$265

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 4/16

10:45 pm-1:35 am

Nonstop4h 50m

San Francisco

Mon 4/27

11:52 pm-6:20 am

Nonstop4h 28m

$265

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 4/18

5:30 pm-9:55 pm

1 stop6h 25m

San Francisco

Sat 4/25

5:40 am-5:15 pm

2 stops9h 35m

$290

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 5/19

9:51 pm-12:50 am

Nonstop4h 59m

San Francisco

Sun 5/24

12:50 am-7:16 am

Nonstop4h 26m

$296

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Wed 5/6

9:00 pm-11:35 pm

Nonstop4h 35m

San Francisco

Wed 5/13

11:25 pm-5:40 am

Nonstop4h 15m

$313

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 5/27

10:30 am-7:55 pm

2 stops11h 25m

San Francisco

Tue 6/2

10:05 am-10:55 pm

2 stops10h 50m

$317

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Wed 5/27

12:50 pm-9:25 pm

2 stops10h 35m

San Francisco

Fri 5/29

2:25 pm-11:40 pm

1 stop7h 15m

$320

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 4/15

6:00 am-5:44 pm

2 stops13h 44m

San Francisco

Wed 4/29

12:26 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop9h 33m

$329

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/17

Showing 1-10 of 43 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Compare providers for flights from Chicago to San Francisco

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 San Francisco in March.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
JustAirTicketPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapflightsfaresPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*2 stars
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-San Francisco flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Chicago-San Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Chicago-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub 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-San Francisco 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 San Francisco

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

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

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

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 83 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $80). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in February is currently the most expensive (average of $217). 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 SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated March 22, 2026.

It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to San Francisco in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 30% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Chicago to San Francisco?

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

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Chicago to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Tuesday 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 Chicago to San Francisco

Explore weekly flight availability from Chicago to San Francisco. 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 22, 2026.

The most flights from CHI to SFO are scheduled on a Sunday (75 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (33 on average).

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

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

Denver (DEN) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 60% of 1-stop itineraries from Chicago to San Francisco on Cheapflights.

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

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

Atlanta (ATL) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $177.

What’s the fastest layover option from Chicago to San Francisco?

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

Flights via Denver (DEN) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 9h 32m.

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

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

Flights via Atlanta (ATL) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 2h 59m.

How often are flights from Chicago to San Francisco delayed?

About 21% of weekly flights between Chicago and San Francisco have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 175 minutes.

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

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

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

Thursday 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 San Francisco flights?

Over the last year, United Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 19% of flights being delayed.

The best insider tips for Chicago to San Francisco 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 San Francisco trip
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines and SFO

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.

Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on Alaska Airlines

One of the web's original travel bloggers, Robert launched his first site Leave Your Daily Hell in 2009. Since then, he's expanded into destination niche sites (one each for Japan, Thailand and Taiwan), in addition to having written for the inflight magazines of Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. Overall, he's visited nearly 100 countries, and flies business as often as possible.

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on ORD

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.

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. 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 San Francisco. Reviews last updated March 22, 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest,Alaska Airlines, andUnited Airlines from Chicago to San Francisco. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

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.

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

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.

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

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.

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

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.

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

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.

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

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.

Chicago to San Francisco Travel Guide

Dozens of flights are waiting to carry you from the freeways and skyscrapers of Chicago to the fishing piers and historic neighborhoods of San Francisco. A major metropolis along the California coastline, the Bay Area is famous for its maritime atmosphere and architectural marvels such as the Ferry Building Marketplace and the Legion of Honor. Browse direct flights between these two major travel hubs to find a cheap flight to match your travel schedule.

The moment you leave the Windy City behind and step onto the hilly streets San Francisco, the historic Bay Area instantly transports you to a world of cable cars and charming wharfs. Trade the trains of Chicago for the ferries and whale-watching bay cruises of this California city, and enjoy milder winter months with temperatures hovering in the 60's F. Before saying goodbye to the Golden Gate Bridge, don't forget to tour Alcatraz Island and enjoy the catch of the day at one of the bay-side seafood shacks.

The Golden Gate Bridge is just a short flight away, so what's stopping you? Try out our smart search engine to find great flight deals and start planning your San Francisco adventure.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Chicago to San Francisco. 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 San Francisco?

    Flights times from Chicago to San Francisco usually range from four hours and 15 minutes to four and a half hours. If you have a connection in another city, total travel time may be upwards of six hours.

  • Which airlines operate flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    American Airlines, United, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines all offer non-stop service from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and you can find direct flights from Midway International Airport through Southwest Airlines.

  • How frequent are flights between Chicago and San Francisco?

    Upwards of 20 direct flights to San Francisco leave from Chicago O'Hare per day, with planes departing every hour or so. From Midway, You can choose from around 3 flights leaving each day.

  • Which airports serve Chicago and San Francisco?

    Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the Chicago metro area as well as a major U.S. travel hub, offering daily flights to San Francisco through multiple airlines. Chicago Midway International Airport is a smaller airport that also offers a few flights to the Bay Area, though you have a smaller selection of flight times and prices. When your plane lands in San Francisco, you find yourself in San Francisco International Airport, the area's major airport located a few miles south of the central city area.

  • Which direct flight route between Chicago and San Francisco is cheapest?

    Find the lowest prices on direct flights running from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. You can also occasionally snag a great deal taking off from Midway International Airport, so be sure to keep your options open while searching.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to San Francisco from Chicago?

    Located just 11.8 mi from the city center, San Francisco is the airport most travelers will use when flying to San Francisco from Chicago. Booking flights from Chicago to San Francisco (SFO) should be relatively easy as there are 56 daily inbound flights from Chicago from 8 different airlines.

  • How long is the flight from Chicago to San Francisco?

    Departing from Chicago to San Francisco will take you 4h 35m. Chicago and San Francisco are separated by a distance of 1849 mi. All flights are typically nonstop.

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

    Flying on Frontier is currently your cheapest option to San Francisco, with prices starting at $90. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Hawaiian Airlines and Delta, with the lowest prices starting at $108 and $128, respectively. Users have found that Frontier is 73% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    $73 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from JetBlue. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Frontier and Alaska Airlines, with prices starting from $85 and $89, respectively.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Chicago to San Francisco?

    Before booking your flight to San Francisco from Chicago, check out the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: ANA (88%), Air China (83%), Air New Zealand( 78%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

    While on average a flight from Chicago to San Francisco is generally $1,083, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $118. When looking at the most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Francisco), you can expect to pay $189 for that flight.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from Chicago to San Francisco?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Chicago to San Francisco 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 San Francisco?

    Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $80). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in February is currently the most expensive (average of $217). 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 San Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
South San Francisco
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Livermore
Roseville
Watsonville
Rancho Cordova
San Bruno
San Ramon
Sunnyvale
Vacaville
San Carlos
Redwood City
Turlock
San Lorenzo
Davis
Manteca
Union City
Elk Grove
Rohnert Park

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Alternative routes for Chicago to San Francisco

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

Top 8 airlines flying from Chicago to San Francisco

Discover the top 8 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to San Francisco. 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 22, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$108Average$217FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
FrontierCheapest$120Average$237FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$128Average$364FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$138Average$386FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
JetBlueCheapest$159Average$304FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$186Average$267FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
American AirlinesCheapest$197Average$317FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$207Average$404FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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