HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
South Lake Tahoe

$65+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to South Lake Tahoe, CA

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 1/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SMF
Jan 3 — Jan 101
Sat 1/3
Sat 1/10
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe 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

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe are usually found in April or March, booked 45 days in advance, depart on a Saturday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe

Cheapest flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 4, 2025.

This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/2. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/109:14 pmORD - RNO
2 stops18h 44mSpirit Airlines
Mon 12/1510:56 amRNO - ORD
2 stops22h 12mSpirit Airlines
Deal found 12/2$254
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/3. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/127:00 amORD - RNO
1 stop6h 17mFrontier
Mon 12/1512:12 pmRNO - ORD
1 stop10h 00mFrontier
Deal found 12/3$258
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/3. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/188:39 amORD - RNO
1 stop16h 28mAlaska Airlines
Sat 1/107:45 amRNO - ORD
1 stop13h 52mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 12/3$283
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/2. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/104:01 pmORD - RNO
2 stops49h 31mFrontier
Mon 12/1512:12 pmRNO - ORD
1 stop10h 00mFrontier
Deal found 12/2$297
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/4. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/225:50 pmORD - RNO
1 stop6h 40mUnited Airlines
Fri 12/2611:59 pmRNO - ORD
Nonstop3h 57mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/4$314
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/1. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/2512:39 pmORD - RNO
2 stops27h 03mMultiple Airlines
Wed 12/312:37 pmRNO - ORD
1 stop21h 40mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/1$322
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/3. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/1111:44 amORD - RNO
2 stops29h 48mFrontier
Sun 12/144:27 pmRNO - ORD
1 stop17h 15mFrontier
Deal found 12/3$325
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/2. 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.
Wed 12/313:37 pmORD - RNO
1 stop9h 30mAlaska Airlines
Tue 1/66:33 amRNO - ORD
1 stop29h 56mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 12/2$326
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/2. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/187:40 pmORD - RNO
1 stop6h 17mDelta
Sat 1/106:45 amRNO - ORD
2 stops13h 07mDelta
Deal found 12/2$329
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/3. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/238:00 pmORD - RNO
Nonstop4h 29mUnited Airlines
Mon 12/2911:59 pmRNO - ORD
Nonstop3h 57mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/3$330
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/2. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/246:00 amMDW - RNO
1 stop8h 01mDelta
Thu 12/251:11 pmRNO - MDW
1 stop7h 11mDelta
Deal found 12/2$334
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/2. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/246:00 amMDW - RNO
1 stop8h 01mDelta
Fri 12/261:11 pmRNO - MDW
1 stop7h 11mDelta
Deal found 12/2$359

Find flight deals from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Chicago to South Lake Tahoe flight deals. Data was last updated December 4, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$124
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$65
(Trip.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

April

Average price

$429
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-Reno flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-Reno flights.
Search Deals
From Chicago (CHI) to South Lake Tahoe
Search Deals
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to South Lake Tahoe
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 10% potential increase in price ($51 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($10 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in December 2025
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe 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 4, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe that are best for you.

Fly from

Chicago

Fly to

South Lake Tahoe

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Sat 1/24

8:35 am-1:50 pm

1 stop7h 15m

Reno

Wed 1/28

10:45 am-7:00 pm

1 stop6h 15m

$194

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Sat 2/7

1:10 pm-7:40 pm

1 stop8h 30m

Reno

Wed 2/11

8:30 pm-5:05 am

1 stop6h 35m

$194

ChicagoReno

ORD - RNO

ORDRNO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 2/3

9:00 am-10:49 pm

1 stop15h 49m

Reno

Sat 2/7

7:45 am-11:37 pm

1 stop13h 52m

$204

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Fri 1/23

2:10 pm-9:40 pm

1 stop9h 30m

Reno

Wed 1/28

5:10 am-1:10 pm

1 stop6h 00m

$217

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Thu 2/5

5:00 am-3:15 pm

1 stop12h 15m

Reno

Mon 2/9

2:40 pm-11:45 pm

1 stop7h 05m

$223

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Sat 2/21

2:05 pm-9:35 pm

2 stops9h 30m

Reno

Wed 2/25

6:50 am-6:45 pm

2 stops9h 55m

$228

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Thu 2/5

5:00 am-9:55 am

1 stop6h 55m

Reno

Tue 2/10

8:55 am-4:45 pm

1 stop5h 50m

$229

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Wed 3/4

2:10 pm-7:50 pm

2 stops7h 40m

Reno

Mon 3/9

9:40 pm-5:20 am

1 stop5h 40m

$234

ChicagoReno

ORD - RNO

ORDRNO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 2/21

3:05 pm-11:05 pm

2 stops10h 00m

Reno

Wed 2/25

8:30 pm-12:15 pm

2 stops13h 45m

$234

ChicagoReno

MDW - RNO

MDWRNO

Chicago Midway

Thu 2/5

5:00 am-3:15 pm

1 stop12h 15m

Reno

Sun 2/8

8:30 pm-5:05 am

1 stop6h 35m

$259

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/3

Showing 1-10 of 43 results
1
2
3
...
5

Best time to book a flight from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe

How far ahead should I book a flight from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe. Price data was last updated on November 28, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe, you should look to book at least 45 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 South Lake Tahoe?

Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe (average of $92). Flying from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe in June is currently the most expensive (average of $288). 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 SL9?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated December 4, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe in the morning. By choosing this option you can save up to 33% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight at noon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe. Price data was last updated on November 29, 2025.

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

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe?

Reviews of airlines servicing South Lake Tahoe

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to South Lake Tahoe. 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 South Lake Tahoe. Reviews last updated December 4, 2025.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe, such as Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,250 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

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.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,250 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,250 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

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.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,011 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,250 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

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.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,066 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,250 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

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.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,047 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,250 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

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.
Frontier
5.8
Fair
3,091 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,250 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

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 South Lake Tahoe. 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 South Lake Tahoe?

    Southwest and Alaska Airlines can get you from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe in just under 7h 15m. Your travel time can differ by up to 8h 34m. There are 1675 mi between Chicago and South Lake Tahoe. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe one-way?

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe are Spirit Airlines ($79), Frontier ($90), and American Airlines ($92).

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe?

    Before booking your flight to South Lake Tahoe from Chicago, check out the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time: American Airlines (72%), Air Canada (68%), Lufthansa( 61%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $197. While the most popular route (Chicago O'Hare Intl - Reno) can be booked for $131 on average, our data indicates $451 when flying from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe that include hotel bookings?

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

  • How can I find direct flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe?

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

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe?

    Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe (average of $92). Flying from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe in June is currently the most expensive (average of $288). 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

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Chicago to South Lake Tahoe

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
O'Hare Intl to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Los Angeles flights
O'Hare Intl to San Francisco flights
Midway to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to San Diego flights
O'Hare Intl to Santa Ana flights
Midway to Los Angeles flights
O'Hare Intl to Ontario flights
St. Louis to Las Vegas flights
Midway to San Francisco flights
O'Hare Intl to Palm Springs flights
Rockford to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Reno flights
O'Hare Intl to Sacramento flights
St. Louis to Los Angeles flights
Midway to San Diego flights
O'Hare Intl to San Jose flights
O'Hare Intl to Burbank flights
O'Hare Intl to Oakland flights
St. Louis to San Francisco flights
Midway to Palm Springs flights
Midway to Santa Ana flights
St. Louis to San Diego flights
Midway to Ontario flights
St. Louis to Ontario flights
O'Hare Intl to Long Beach flights
Midway to Oakland flights
St. Louis to Santa Ana flights
Midway to San Jose flights
O'Hare Intl to Fresno flights
Midway to Reno flights
St. Louis to Burbank flights
O'Hare Intl to Santa Barbara flights
Moline to Las Vegas flights
Moline to Los Angeles flights
Midway to Sacramento flights
Peoria to San Diego flights
Bloomington to Las Vegas flights
Peoria to Las Vegas flights
St. Louis to San Jose flights
Midway to Burbank flights
St. Louis to Palm Springs flights
Midway to Long Beach flights
St. Louis to Long Beach flights
Peoria to Ontario flights
Peoria to Los Angeles flights
St. Louis to Sacramento flights
Peoria to Santa Ana flights
O'Hare Intl to Monterey flights
St. Louis to Oakland flights

Top 6 airlines flying from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to South Lake Tahoe. 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 4, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$95Average$199FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$134Average$239FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
American AirlinesCheapest$181Average$383FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$268Average$347FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$285Average$499FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$324Average$472FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.