San Francisco

$100+ 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 8/30. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SFO
Jul 21 — Jul 281
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Chicago to San Francisco are usually found in September or February, booked 83 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap 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 July 16, 2025.

Round-trip from

$203
(Southwest)

One-way from

$100
(Southwest)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$297

Good round-trip deal

$207 or less

Good one-way deal

$153 or less
From Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($27 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
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.

Find 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 July 16, 2025.

This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 8/308:15 amMDW - SFO
Nonstop4h 35mSouthwest
Sat 9/65:00 amSFO - MDW
2 stops9h 40mSouthwest
Deal found 7/15$203
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/14. 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.
Sun 8/248:30 amORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 34mAmerican Airlines
Sat 8/301:20 pmSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 21mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 7/14$203
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 8/287:19 amORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 46mUnited Airlines
Tue 9/211:10 pmSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 13mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/15$207
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/13. 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.
Sat 8/162:44 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop10h 41mFrontier
Sat 8/2310:29 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop9h 39mFrontier
Deal found 7/13$209
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 8/179:56 pmORD - SFO
1 stop11h 45mFrontier
Thu 8/215:45 amSFO - ORD
1 stop13h 05mFrontier
Deal found 7/15$209
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/14. 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.
Sat 8/307:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop6h 20mSouthwest
Sat 9/65:00 amSFO - ORD
1 stop10h 55mSouthwest
Deal found 7/14$213
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/83:50 pmORD - SFO
1 stop18h 15mAlaska Airlines
Tue 10/1410:26 amSFO - ORD
1 stop11h 33mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 7/15$216
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/14. 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 8/2610:00 amORD - SFO
1 stop7h 52mMultiple Airlines
Sun 8/319:21 amSFO - ORD
1 stop13h 11mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/14$241
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 8/309:31 amMDW - SFO
1 stop6h 56mDelta
Sat 9/67:00 amSFO - MDW
1 stop9h 37mDelta
Deal found 7/15$257
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/15. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 8/125:45 amORD - SFO
1 stop10h 39mDelta
Wed 8/206:00 amSFO - ORD
1 stop8h 45mDelta
Deal found 7/15$257

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 July 16, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Chicago to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Chicago

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 8/30

8:15 am-10:50 am

Nonstop4h 35m

San Francisco

Sat 9/6

5:00 am-4:40 pm

2 stops9h 40m

$203

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 8/24

8:30 am-11:04 am

Nonstop4h 34m

San Francisco

Sat 8/30

1:20 pm-7:41 pm

Nonstop4h 21m

$203

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 8/28

7:19 am-10:05 am

Nonstop4h 46m

San Francisco

Tue 9/2

11:10 pm-5:23 am

Nonstop4h 13m

$207

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 8/16

2:44 pm-11:25 pm

1 stop10h 41m

San Francisco

Sat 8/23

10:29 pm-10:08 am

1 stop9h 39m

$209

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 8/17

9:56 pm-7:41 am

1 stop11h 45m

San Francisco

Thu 8/21

5:45 am-8:50 pm

1 stop13h 05m

$209

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 8/30

3:10 pm-8:25 pm

1 stop7h 15m

San Francisco

Sat 9/6

6:50 am-10:00 pm

2 stops13h 10m

$213

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 10/8

8:20 am-2:01 pm

1 stop7h 41m

San Francisco

Tue 10/14

10:26 am-11:59 pm

1 stop11h 33m

$216

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 8/15

7:18 pm-10:06 pm

Nonstop4h 48m

San Francisco

Tue 8/19

12:03 pm-11:39 pm

1 stop9h 36m

$227

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 8/26

10:00 am-3:52 pm

1 stop7h 52m

San Francisco

Sun 8/31

9:21 am-12:32 am

1 stop13h 11m

$241

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 8/30

9:31 am-2:27 pm

1 stop6h 56m

San Francisco

Sat 9/6

7:00 am-6:37 pm

1 stop9h 37m

$257

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/15

Showing 1-10 of 23 results
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The best insider tips for Chicago to San Francisco flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your Chicago to San Francisco trip
Airlines
United Airlines

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


Basic Economy on United allows a personal item but no carry-on bags.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska's Premium Class offers extra legroom and free cocktails, but no divider from Main Cabin.


Alaska's Wi-Fi is a flat fee, ideal for business travelers to stay productive.

Airports
ORD

For a quick snack before your flight, grab some Garrett Popcorn near gate B8, a Chicago favorite.

Read more about ORDby Ramsey Qubein
SFO

Travel from SFO to downtown San Francisco via BART. It's the least expensive option and takes about 40 minutes.

Read more about SFOby Harriet Baskas
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on United Airlines and SFO

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Read more
Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

Expert on Alaska Airlines

Robert Schrader

Robert Schrader

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.

Read more
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on ORD

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

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 July 11, 2025.

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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $358). 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 July 16, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to San Francisco in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 15% 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 July 13, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Chicago to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Thursday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at noon 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 July 16, 2025.

The most flights from CHI to SFO are scheduled on a Monday (95 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (61 on average).

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

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 July 16, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Delta 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.

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
8.0
Very good

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

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 80 daily inbound flights from Chicago from 8 different airlines.

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

    Flying on Southwest is currently your cheapest option to San Francisco, with prices starting at $203. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by American Airlines and Frontier, with the lowest prices starting at $203 and $204, respectively. Users have found that Southwest is 35% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    $100 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Southwest. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Frontier and American Airlines, with prices starting from $103 and $104, 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 (87%), Alaska Airlines (86%), Air China( 86%).

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

    While on average a flight from Chicago to San Francisco is generally $1,075, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $98. When looking at the most popular route, (Chicago O'Hare Intl - San Francisco), you can expect to pay $188 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Chicago to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $358). 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
Roseville
Mountain View
Santa Cruz
South San Francisco
Livermore
Turlock
Manteca
Antioch
Hollister
Watsonville
Newark
Milpitas
Sunnyvale
Campbell
Lathrop
Daly City
Foster City
Capitola
Santa Clara
Richmond

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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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 July 16, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$102Average$262FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Hawaiian AirlinesCheapest$108Average$217FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time85%
Sun Country AirCheapest$112Average$305FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time83%
DeltaCheapest$128Average$318FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$138Average$384FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$179Average$340FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$187Average$287FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
American AirlinesCheapest$197Average$308FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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