San Francisco

$99+ 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 2/21. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SFO
Jan 28 — Feb 41
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Find cheap flights from Chicago to San Francisco with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go
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The best prices from Chicago to San Francisco are usually found in April or September, booked 67 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Saturday 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 January 23, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$199
(Orbitz)

One-way from

$99
(Southwest)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

April

Average price

$316

Good round-trip deal

$238 or less

Good one-way deal

$118 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. 1% potential increase in price ($4 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in January 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 January 23, 2025.

This Orbitz deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/22. 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 Orbitz is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 4/186:56 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 59mMultiple Airlines
Sun 4/2711:53 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop10h 13mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/22$199
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 2/77:25 amORD - SFO
1 stop7h 22mFrontier
Fri 2/148:10 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop19h 15mFrontier
Deal found 1/21$200
This Kissandfly.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/23. 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.
Sat 2/158:44 pmMDW - SFO
2 stops19h 56mFrontier
Sat 2/226:00 amSFO - MDW
1 stop16h 17mFrontier
Deal found 1/23$205
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/23. 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.
Wed 4/234:35 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop8h 45mSouthwest
Sat 4/266:45 amSFO - MDW
Nonstop4h 10mSouthwest
Deal found 1/23$207
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/23. 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.
Wed 3/56:30 amORD - SFO
Nonstop5h 00mUnited Airlines
Sun 3/95:15 amSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 23mUnited Airlines
Deal found 1/23$207
This Kissandfly.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/23. 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.
Sat 2/157:00 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop5h 10mAlaska Airlines
Sat 2/2211:55 pmSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 18mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 1/23$212
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/23. 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.
Thu 3/68:25 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop5h 03mAmerican Airlines
Sun 3/95:00 amSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 16mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/23$219
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/23. 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.
Sun 3/22:08 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop7h 04mDelta
Sun 3/910:45 pmSFO - MDW
1 stop8h 00mDelta
Deal found 1/23$257
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/23. 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.
Fri 2/147:10 pmORD - SFO
1 stop6h 41mDelta
Sun 2/165:55 amSFO - ORD
1 stop8h 18mDelta
Deal found 1/23$257
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/22. 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 2/115:45 amORD - SFO
1 stop7h 40mSouthwest
Fri 2/145:00 amSFO - ORD
1 stop7h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 1/22$267

Find flights from Chicago to San Francisco within your budget

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 January 23, 2025.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 4/18

6:56 pm-9:55 pm

Nonstop4h 59m

San Francisco

Sun 4/27

11:53 pm-12:06 pm

1 stop10h 13m

$199

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 2/7

7:25 am-12:47 pm

1 stop7h 22m

San Francisco

Fri 2/14

8:10 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop19h 15m

$200

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sat 2/15

8:44 pm-2:40 pm

2 stops19h 56m

San Francisco

Sat 2/22

6:00 am-12:17 am

1 stop16h 17m

$205

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Wed 4/23

4:35 pm-11:20 pm

1 stop8h 45m

San Francisco

Sat 4/26

6:45 am-12:55 pm

Nonstop4h 10m

$207

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/5

6:30 am-9:30 am

Nonstop5h 00m

San Francisco

Sun 3/9

5:15 am-11:38 am

Nonstop4h 23m

$207

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 2/15

7:00 pm-10:10 pm

Nonstop5h 10m

San Francisco

Sat 2/22

11:55 pm-6:13 am

Nonstop4h 18m

$212

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 3/6

8:25 pm-11:28 pm

Nonstop5h 03m

San Francisco

Sat 3/8

12:27 am-7:45 am

Nonstop4h 18m

$219

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Sun 3/2

2:08 pm-7:12 pm

1 stop7h 04m

San Francisco

Sun 3/9

10:45 pm-8:45 am

1 stop8h 00m

$257

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 2/14

7:10 pm-11:51 pm

1 stop6h 41m

San Francisco

Fri 2/21

12:40 am-10:28 am

1 stop7h 48m

$257

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 2/11

5:45 am-11:25 am

1 stop7h 40m

San Francisco

Fri 2/14

5:00 am-2:25 pm

1 stop7h 25m

$267

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/23

Showing 1-10 of 22 results
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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 January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapOairPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*2 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
MytripPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
AranGrantPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapflightsfaresPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
Kiwi.comPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapfaremartPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star

*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.

Travel insights for flights from Chicago to San Francisco

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from Chicago to San Francisco including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

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 January 17, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 67 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 $404). 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 January 23, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to San Francisco in the afternoon. By choosing this option you can save up to 7% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the morning.

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 January 21, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Chicago to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Friday 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 January 23, 2025.

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

Rainfall in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in San Francisco ranges from 0.0 - 4.4 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.4 in. July is typically the driest time to visit San Francisco when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

Temperature in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to San Francisco, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, September is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

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 January 23, 2025.
To help decide which airline to fly from Chicago to San Francisco, see what other customers have to say about Frontier, Southwest and Delta. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
8.1
Very good
4,647 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

8.1
Very good
4,647 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,647 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

8.0
Very good
9,699 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,647 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

8.0
Very good
8,508 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,647 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

7.4
Good
8,970 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,647 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
8.1
Very good
4,647 reviews

Entertainment

7.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

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 44 daily inbound flights from Chicago from 7 different airlines.

  • 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 $200. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Southwest and United Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $207 and $207, respectively. Users have found that Frontier is 37% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    $99 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Southwest. You may also be able to find cheap deals on United Airlines and Frontier, with prices starting from $99 and $101, 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: Air China (100%), ANA (93%), Asiana Airlines( 83%).

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

    While on average a flight from Chicago to San Francisco is generally $992, 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 $136 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 $404). 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 Chicago?

Book flights to Chicago if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
Mountain View
Turlock
Santa Cruz
Fairfield
Manteca
Sausalito
Watsonville
Hayward
Richmond
Hollister
South San Francisco
Antioch
Milpitas
Elk Grove
Newark
Alameda
Campbell
Lathrop
Pacific Grove

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 6 airlines flying from Chicago to San Francisco

Discover the top 6 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 January 23, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$89Average$219FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$128Average$402FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$141Average$336FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$153Average$304FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
American AirlinesCheapest$196Average$338FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$264Average$428FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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