Chicago to San Francisco (MDW–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
MDW–SFO is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and TWY lead the route. The flight covers 1,850 miles in approximately 4h 35m. Beyond nonstop, 157 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WN Southwest Airlines | 15 | 738, 7M8 | 4h35 | – | – | |
| UA United Airlines | 1 | 7M9 | 4h40 | Star Alliance | – | |
| TWY TWY | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach San Francisco from Chicago
| Metric | MDW→SFO | ORD→SFO | SBN→SFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from MDW | – | 15 mi | 74 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 22 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 16 | 505 | – |
| Flight time | 4h 35m | 4h 9m | 3h 50m |
| Departure OTP | 82% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
MDW: CDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 4:00 PM in San Francisco.
BART from SFO station (free AirTrain from any terminal to the station) to downtown San Francisco takes 30–40 minutes ($10.45 to Embarcadero). Traffic on 101 can make taxis and ride-hails much slower during peak hours; BART skips all of that. BART also reaches Oakland, Berkeley, and Millbrae for Caltrain connections.Ride-hails from SFO use a dedicated garage pickup area; follow signs. Taxis are metered; downtown SF costs $40–60. Caltrain to the Peninsula (Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose) requires taking BART to Millbrae station for the transfer. Rental cars are at a consolidated facility accessible by AirTrain.
Coastal fog dominates the climate pattern. The thick marine layer ("Karl the Fog") rolls into SFO from the Pacific regularly in summer (June–September), causing significant low-visibility delays even on days that appear sunny inland. Morning fog burns off by afternoon most days, but persistent IFR conditions can last all day. This is the primary flight disruption risk at SFO.
Temperatures are mild year-round (10–20°C) with little seasonal variation. Winters bring rain (December–March) and occasional atmospheric river events that cause brief but intense flooding on the 101. Summers are cool. Pack a light jacket year-round. Wind off the bay affects small aircraft approach paths.
MDW–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from MDW to SFO
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from TWY, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines. With 16 weekly departures, this is a well served route.
MDW to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from MDW to SFO ranges from 4 hours 35 minutes to 4 hours 40 minutes. The route covers a distance of 1,850 miles (2,977 km). There are approximately 16 weekly flights outbound and 17 return, totaling 33 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
157 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 4 hours via RAP. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Chicago (ORD), South Bend (SBN) and Milwaukee (MKE).