Chicago to Los Angeles (MDW–LAX) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

MDW Airport Page →
1,747 mi airlines 49/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 23 flights Verified 5h ago
Nonstop 1-Stop 2-Stop Hide separate tickets Hide overnight
  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
WN2896
WN Southwest
7S7
6:15 AM
CDT
8:40 AM
PDT
4h 25m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN3719
WN Southwest
737
6:30 AM
CDT
9:05 AM
PDT
4h 35m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN2574
WN Southwest
7M8
7:06 AM
CDT
8:57 AM
PDT
3h 51m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN1102
WN Southwest
B38M
8:50 AM
CDT
11:25 AM
PDT
4h 35m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN2731
WN Southwest
7M8
10:10 AM
CDT
12:40 PM
PDT
4h 30m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN2192
WN Southwest
B38M
10:55 AM
CDT
1:25 PM
PDT
4h 30m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN2887
WN Southwest
7M8
2:40 PM
CDT
5:05 PM
PDT
4h 25m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN946
WN Southwest
7M8
3:55 PM
CDT
6:20 PM
PDT
4h 25m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN3034
WN Southwest
738
5:40 PM
CDT
8:15 PM
PDT
4h 35m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN898
WN Southwest
7M8
6:10 PM
CDT
8:35 PM
PDT
4h 25m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN2754
WN Southwest
B38M
6:55 PM
CDT
9:10 PM
PDT
4h 15m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN3290
WN Southwest
7M8
8:50 PM
CDT
11:15 PM
PDT
4h 25m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN1468
WN Southwest
7M8
9:20 PM
CDT
11:55 PM
PDT
4h 35m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN2341
WN Southwest
73H
5:15 AM
PDT T1
11:15 AM
CDT
4h
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN493
WN Southwest
B38M
5:30 AM
PDT T1
11:25 AM
CDT
3h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN1508
WN Southwest
73H
11:05 AM
PDT T1
5:00 PM
CDT
3h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN3067
WN Southwest
738
11:10 AM
PDT T1
5:00 PM
CDT
3h 50m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN3223
WN Southwest
7M8
11:35 AM
PDT T1
5:30 PM
CDT
3h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN1510
WN Southwest
7M8
12:00 PM
PDT T1
5:50 PM
CDT
3h 50m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN2867
WN Southwest
7M8
4:45 PM
PDT T1
10:40 PM
CDT
3h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN3708
WN Southwest
7M8
5:01 PM
PDT T1
11:19 PM
CDT
4h 18m
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN1537
WN Southwest
7S7
11:55 PM
PDT T1
5:55 AM+1
CDT
4h
M T W T F S S
Prices
WN991
WN Southwest
7S7
11:55 PM
PDT T1
5:50 AM+1
CDT
3h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

1-STOP
2-STOP Loading...
Chicago to Los Angeles
1 carrier, 49 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 49 Flights/wk 1,747 mi 3h 51m nonstop -2h behind 96 1-stop hubs

MDW–LAX is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Southwest Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 1,747 miles in approximately 3h 51m. Beyond nonstop, 96 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop MDW–LAX service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
WN Southwest Airlines 48 737, 738, 7M8, 7S7, B38M 3h51-4h35 100%
Aircraft on this route
737 Boeing 737-700 – WN
738 Boeing 737-800 – WN
7M8 Boeing 737 MAX 8 – WN
7S7 Boeing 737 MAX 7 – WN
B38MWN
Alliance coverage
Unaffiliated: WN (48 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, MDW to LAX direction.
Mon
8
flights
Tue
6
flights
Wed
6
flights
Thu
8
flights
Fri
8
flights
Sat
6
flights
Sun
6
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
13
Nonstop flights
49
Outbound / wk
49
Return / wk

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for MDW to LAX.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
96
Hubs
~4h
Fastest
~29h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
3,762
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.

On-Time Performance

What to expect at each end of your journey.
Outbound
MDW → LAX
100%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
100%
Arriving
90%
Return
LAX → MDW
75%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
75%
Arriving
80%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots. MDW delays → LAX delays →

Other ways to reach Los Angeles from Chicago

Nearby airports with service to Los Angeles International Airport.
Metric MDW→LAX ORD→LAX RFD→LAX
Distance from MDW 15 mi 75 mi
Nonstop airlines 1 14 1
Weekly flights 49 343 1
Flight time 3h 51m 3h 58m 3h 49m
Departure OTP 100%
Airports within 200 miles of MDW with service to Los Angeles International Airport.

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
-2h
Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago.
MDW: CDT · LAX: PDT

When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 4:00 PM in Los Angeles.
Distance & Flight Time
1,747 mi / 2,812 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 3h 51m to 4h 35m.
Getting from LAX

LAX has no direct rail link to downtown. The closest option is the free LAX Shuttle G to the Metro C Line station at Aviation/Century Blvd (fare $1.75 to Union Station, 40–50 min). Taxis use a meter; expect $35–55 to downtown and $30–45 to Santa Monica. Ride-shares cost $20–45 depending on destination and surge pricing.Rental car facilities are a short shuttle ride from terminals. FlyAway buses run to Union Station, Van Nuys, Hollywood, and Westwood ($9.75–11.25). For LAX Connect (the new people mover to Inglewood), check if it has opened at time of travel.

Los Angeles Climate

Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm and dry (24–30°C) with low humidity and almost no rain. Winters are mild (10–18°C) with occasional rain from November through March. Fog ("June Gloom") is common from late May through July, blanketing mornings until noon and causing departure delays.

Santa Ana winds occur in fall and spring, sometimes grounding departures briefly. Heat waves in September–October can push temperatures above 38°C inland, though LAX itself stays cooler near the coast.

MDW–LAX Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Chicago to Los Angeles route.
Route details
Distance1,747 mi / 2,812 km
Flight time3h 51m to 4h 35m
Time difference-2 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights49 out / 49 return
1-stop connections96 hubs
Origin: MDW
IATA / ICAOMDW / KMDW
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Passengers/yr20.7M
Elevation620 ft / 189 m
Destination: LAX
IATA / ICAOLAX / KLAX
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Passengers/yr76.6M
Elevation125 ft / 38 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MDW to LAX flights.
Nonstop flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport take approximately 3h 51m to 4h 35m. The route covers 1,747 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: Southwest Airlines.
There are approximately 49 nonstop flights per week from MDW to LAX. The return direction has about 49 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through LNK, RIL, TRM, SCF, BJC, APA, SDF, SUA, BUR, SGR, YVR, EGE, ASE, FCM, ICT, SBA, SAF, HDN, RNO, PDK, BZN, JAC, STS, MRY, YYZ, YYC, ROC, HPN, GSO, JAX, TEB, VRB, OPF, BJX, TUL, MLM, BCT, PBI, ZCL, SJD, MEM, DSM, SJU, PLS, IAD, IAH, DFW, PIT, RDU, MSY, RSW, OKC, CMH, STN, LAS, SAN, CUN, CLE, BNA, MCI, EWR, DTW, IND, AUS, BWI, DEN, DAL, HOU, PHX, MIA, MSP, PSP, SLC, PDX, SFO, CVG, SAT, SMF, OAK, OMA, STL, SEA, SJC, ATL, DCA, MCO, ABQ, TPA, BOS, PHL, TUS, FLL, CLT, GDL, AGU and HCR. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago.
Yes, return flights from LAX to MDW are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Nearby alternatives include ORD and RFD. See the Alternatives section for a full comparison.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
See the On-Time Performance section for the latest delay data at both airports. This shows departure and arrival reliability to help you plan.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Flights from MDW to LAX

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are connected by nonstop service from Southwest Airlines. With 49 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.

MDW to LAX Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from MDW to LAX ranges from 3 hours 51 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes. The route covers a distance of 1,747 miles (2,812 km). There are approximately 49 weekly flights outbound and 49 return, totaling 98 flights per week in both directions.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

96 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 4 hours via LNK. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Chicago (ORD) and Chicago/Rockford (RFD).