San Francisco

$95+ 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 12/19. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SFO
Nov 25 — Dec 21
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The best prices from Chicago to San Francisco are usually found in April or September, booked 88 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 November 20, 2024.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

April

Round-trip from

$203
(Orbitz)

One-way from

$95
(CheapOair)
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-San Francisco flights.
High demand for flights, 18% potential price rise
Best time to find cheap flights, 14% potential price drop
From Chicago (CHI) to San Francisco
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 November 20, 2024.

This Orbitz deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 Orbitz is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/58:56 pmORD - SFO
1 stop13h 52mMultiple Airlines
Wed 1/15:55 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop9h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/19$203
This Kissandfly.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 Kissandfly.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/98:20 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 48mFrontier
Thu 12/1210:59 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop18h 31mFrontier
Deal found 11/19$204
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/177:10 amORD - SFO
1 stop6h 35mUnited Airlines
Tue 12/3112:59 amSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 27mUnited Airlines
Deal found 11/19$207
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/20. 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 Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/208:27 pmMDW - SFO
1 stop13h 42mFrontier
Fri 12/276:00 amSFO - MDW
1 stop11h 32mFrontier
Deal found 11/20$208
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/125:59 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop4h 59mAlaska Airlines
Tue 12/315:55 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop9h 35mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 11/19$226
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/20. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/126:00 amMDW - SFO
1 stop8h 42mDelta
Sat 12/1412:38 amSFO - MDW
1 stop7h 12mDelta
Deal found 11/20$256
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/143:35 pmORD - SFO
1 stop6h 54mDelta
Sat 1/116:15 amSFO - ORD
1 stop9h 14mDelta
Deal found 11/19$256
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/104:50 pmMDW - SFO
Nonstop4h 40mSouthwest
Thu 12/1210:20 amSFO - MDW
1 stop7h 45mSouthwest
Deal found 11/19$257
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/158:45 pmORD - SFO
Nonstop5h 04mAmerican Airlines
Sat 1/115:20 amSFO - ORD
Nonstop4h 16mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 11/19$293
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/19. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/121:45 pmORD - SFO
2 stops9h 30mSouthwest
Sun 12/157:45 pmSFO - ORD
1 stop13h 00mSouthwest
Deal found 11/19$336

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 2,629,791 searches. Data last updated November 20, 2024.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 12/5

8:56 pm-8:48 am

1 stop13h 52m

San Francisco

Wed 1/1

5:55 pm-5:30 am

1 stop9h 35m

$203

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 12/9

8:20 pm-11:08 pm

Nonstop4h 48m

San Francisco

Thu 12/12

10:59 pm-7:30 pm

1 stop18h 31m

$204

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 12/17

7:10 am-11:45 am

1 stop6h 35m

San Francisco

Tue 12/31

12:59 am-7:26 am

Nonstop4h 27m

$207

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Fri 12/20

8:27 pm-8:09 am

1 stop13h 42m

San Francisco

Fri 12/27

6:00 am-7:32 pm

1 stop11h 32m

$208

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/9

6:55 pm-9:54 pm

Nonstop4h 59m

San Francisco

Sat 2/22

10:48 am-5:00 pm

Nonstop4h 12m

$217

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 1/23

8:30 am-11:24 am

Nonstop4h 54m

San Francisco

Wed 1/29

5:20 am-11:36 am

Nonstop4h 16m

$219

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Thu 12/12

6:00 am-12:42 pm

1 stop8h 42m

San Francisco

Sat 12/14

12:38 am-9:50 am

1 stop7h 12m

$256

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Fri 1/10

7:20 am-12:42 pm

1 stop7h 22m

San Francisco

Wed 2/19

1:30 pm-11:56 pm

1 stop8h 26m

$256

ChicagoSan Francisco

MDW - SFO

MDWSFO

Chicago Midway

Wed 1/8

2:35 pm-10:35 pm

1 stop10h 00m

San Francisco

Tue 2/18

6:15 am-12:25 pm

Nonstop4h 10m

$272

ChicagoSan Francisco

ORD - SFO

ORDSFO

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 2/3

6:15 am-9:25 pm

2 stops17h 10m

San Francisco

Thu 2/6

5:55 am-10:35 pm

2 stops14h 40m

$316

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 11/19

Showing 1-10 of 23 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 November.
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*3 stars
CheapflightsfaresPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
MytripPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
AranGrantPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
GotogatePrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*2 stars
Kiwi.comPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust 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.

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 November 15, 2024.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to San Francisco, you should look to book at least 88 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 $381). 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 November 20, 2024.

It’s optimal to fly from Chicago to San Francisco in the afternoon. By choosing this option you can save up to 11% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight at noon.

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 November 18, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Chicago to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Wednesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Monday 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 November 20, 2024.

The most flights from CHI to SFO are scheduled on a Monday (76 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (20 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 November 20, 2024.
To help decide which airline to fly from Chicago to San Francisco, see what other customers have to say about Frontier, American Airlines and Southwest. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
8.1
Very good
5,014 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.7

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

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
5,014 reviews
8.1
Very good
5,014 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.7

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

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
9,461 reviews
8.1
Very good
5,014 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.7

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

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
8,756 reviews
8.1
Very good
5,014 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.7

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

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
9,171 reviews
8.1
Very good
5,014 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.7

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

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.

7.3
Good
2,811 reviews
8.1
Very good
5,014 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.7

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.2

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 50 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 $204. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $207 and $217, respectively. Users have found that Frontier is 34% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    $95 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Frontier. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Southwest and Alaska Airlines, with prices starting from $99 and $99, 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 (100%), Air China (91%), Air Canada( 87%).

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

    While on average a flight from Chicago to San Francisco is generally $972, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $94. 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 $381). 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

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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 2,629,791 searches. Data last updated November 20, 2024.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$89Average$219FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$140Average$298FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
American AirlinesCheapest$167Average$332FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$174Average$388FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$179Average$334FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$247Average$417FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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