San Francisco to Chicago (SFO–ORD) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
Flight Schedule
97 flights
Verified 2h ago
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No flights match your filters.
No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
✦ 1-Stop Connections
→
Separate tickets — book each leg independently. Collect and recheck bags at .
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✧ 2-Stop Connections
Separate tickets — book each leg independently. Collect and recheck bags at each hub.
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San Francisco to Chicago
8 carriers, 296 flights/week nonstop.
8 Airlines
296 Flights/wk
1,842 mi
3h 36m nonstop
+2h ahead
138 1-stop hubs
SFO–ORD is served by 8 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada lead the route. The flight covers 1,842 miles in approximately 3h 36m. Beyond nonstop, 138 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Carriers on this route
Airline Landscape
All carriers operating nonstop SFO–ORD service, compared side by side.
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines | 105 | 32Q, 788, 7M9, A21N, B39M | 4h11-4h39 | Star Alliance | – | |
| AA American Airlines | 60 | 321, 738, 7M8 | 3h36-4h46 | Oneworld | – | |
| AC Air Canada | 42 | 32Q, 739, 753, 7M9, A21N | 4h20-4h38 | Star Alliance | – | |
| IB Iberia | 35 | 738, 7M8 | 4h12-4h44 | Oneworld | – | |
| EI Aer Lingus | 21 | 738 | 4h16-4h29 | – | – | |
| GF Gulf Air | 21 | 738 | 4h16-4h46 | – | – | |
| BA British Airways | 9 | 738 | 4h24-4h32 | Oneworld | – | |
| FJ Fiji Airways | 3 | 738 | 4h17 | Oneworld | – |
Aircraft on this route
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.
Schedule
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, SFO to ORD direction.
Mon
42
flights
Tue
41
flights
Wed
43
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Thu
43
flights
Fri
43
flights
Sat
40
flights
Sun
44
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
49
Nonstop flights
296
Outbound / wk
283
Return / wk
Connections
Connection Landscape
Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for SFO to ORD.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
138
Hubs
~5h
Fastest
~45h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
6,054
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.
Reliability
On-Time Performance
What to expect at each end of your journey.
Outbound
SFO → ORD
80%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
80%
Arriving
90%
Return
ORD → SFO
68%
Moderate delays possible. Allow buffer time.
Departing
68%
Arriving
100%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots.
SFO delays → ORD delays →
Alternatives
Other ways to reach Chicago from San Francisco
Nearby airports with service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
| Metric | SFO→ORD | SJC→ORD | SMF→ORD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from SFO | – | 30 mi | 86 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| Weekly flights | 296 | 15 | 57 |
| Flight time | 3h 36m | 4h 19m | 3h 43m |
| Departure OTP | 80% | – | – |
Airports within 200 miles of SFO with service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Know before you go
Travel Essentials
Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
+2h
Chicago is 2 hours
ahead of
San Francisco.
SFO: PDT · ORD: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 8:00 PM in Chicago.
SFO: PDT · ORD: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 8:00 PM in Chicago.
Distance & Flight Time
1,842 mi / 2,964 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 3h 36m to 4h 46m.
Getting to SFO
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs from downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell St.) to the SFO station and then a free AirTrain shuttle to all terminals (30–40 min from Embarcadero, $10.45). BART also connects Oakland and Berkeley; useful for East Bay travelers. Trains run from ~4am to midnight.Taxis from downtown San Francisco cost $40–60. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) pick up in the designated area in the garage and are often $30–50 depending on surge pricing. SamTrans buses serve Peninsula cities. Highway 101 and I-280 are heavily congested during commute hours; BART is faster than driving at those times.
Getting from ORD
CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from O'Hare to downtown Chicago (45 min, $5). Taxis use a flat-rate zone system; downtown is around $40–45 plus tip. Ride-shares are typically $30–50.The Airport Transit System (ATS) connects all terminals and parking. Metra commuter rail does not serve O'Hare directly; transfer downtown via Blue Line.
Chicago Climate
Continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid (25–32°C) with afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are cold (−10 to −2°C) with heavy snowfall that regularly delays flights December through March.
Spring and fall are mild but unpredictable. Pack layers. Lake Michigan moderates temperatures near the lakefront, but O'Hare sits inland and runs colder.
Facts
SFO–ORD Quick Facts
Key statistics for the San Francisco to Chicago route.
Route details
Distance1,842 mi / 2,964 km
Flight time3h 36m to 4h 46m
Time difference+2 hours
Airlines (nonstop)8
Weekly flights296 out / 283 return
1-stop connections138 hubs
Origin: SFO
Full nameSan Francisco International Airport
IATA / ICAOSFO / KSFO
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Passengers/yr52.3M
Elevation13 ft / 4 m
Destination: ORD
Full nameChicago O'Hare International Airport
IATA / ICAOORD / KORD
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Passengers/yr80.0M
Elevation680 ft / 207 m
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about SFO to ORD flights.
Nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport take approximately 3h 36m to 4h 46m. The route covers 1,842 miles.
8 airlines operate nonstop service: American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Fiji Airways, Gulf Air, Iberia and United Airlines.
There are approximately 296 nonstop flights per week from SFO to ORD. The return direction has about 283 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through RAP, TUL, CMI, RIL, YLW, SUS, GJT, MSN, ATW, SCF, UDD, SAF, FWA, SJC, BFI, GUC, MTJ, RFD, YHM, CXO, MEM, EUG, CVG, MSO, OKC, SBN, TYS, TEB, ABE, BTV, GNV, SYR, APF, HPN, SUA, BED, OPF, PBI, PWM, SXM, KEF, SMF, BZE, ATL, CMH, BNA, DAL, CUN, DEN, ONT, IND, TUS, IAD, MSP, ASE, DTW, BWI, IAH, LAX, SAN, PDX, MTY, LAS, OGG, AUS, PHX, STL, MCI, RDU, RNO, PIT, DFW, SLC, SEA, GDL, SUN, PSP, CLE, CLT, YYZ, KOA, BOI, ABQ, MCO, EWR, OMA, PHL, SBA, MEX, BOS, BZN, GEG, JFK, SAT, SNA, AMS, BCN, VIE, TPA, DCA, FLL, YVR, MSY, MIA, RSW, JAC, YUL, LHR, EGE, YYC, NRT, HNL, GUM, PTY, SJD, HDN, FRA, FCA, XMN, CDG, PVR, ZIH, MUC, LIR, SJO, CPH, HND, IST, TPE, ZRH, ICN, HKG, DUB, FCO, KIX, LIS, DXB and DOH. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Chicago is 2 hours ahead of San Francisco.
Yes, return flights from ORD to SFO are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
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.
At SFO, United operates from Terminal 3 and the International Terminal's G gates. American uses Terminal 2. At O'Hare, United is based in Terminal 1 (Concourses B and C) and American in Terminal 3. Both airports offer airside connections within each carrier's own terminal cluster, so cross-airline connections require exiting and re-entering security.
SFO's marine-layer fog is one of the most consistent delay generators in the US system. Instrument approaches and departure sequencing in low visibility can push early morning departures back 30–90 minutes. The fog typically burns off by mid-morning. ORD in winter adds its own delay risk from snowstorms and deicing queues. The combination means this pairing has above-average delay exposure at both ends seasonally.
United and American both deploy widebody aircraft on some SFO–ORD rotations, particularly morning and evening business-heavy banks. Polaris business class on United and Flagship business on American are available on select departures. Narrowbody 737 and A321 equipment also operates the route, offering standard first-class recliners rather than flat beds. Check the aircraft type when booking if this matters.
San Francisco to Chicago O'Hare: West Coast–Midwest Trunk
SFO–ORD is a four-hour transcontinental corridor connecting two of the largest hub airports in the US network. United and American operate the majority of capacity, with both carriers running multiple daily rotations including premium widebody service on peak business banks. Alaska, Spirit, and Frontier add lower-fare competition. The route sustains demand from the tech sector connecting Bay Area offices to Chicago's financial and logistics industries, as well as a significant connecting passenger base using SFO or ORD as gateways to the Pacific or transatlantic networks.
Delay Environment and Hub Dynamics
Both airports rank among the most delay-prone in the US. SFO's marine fog affects morning banks; O'Hare's exposure to Great Lakes winter systems affects the November–March period. Eastbound flights cross several en-route convective zones in summer that can require reroutings. Despite these factors, the dense frequency. Upward of 30 daily departures across carriers. Means rebooking options are plentiful when delays occur. Both airports connect to downtown Chicago (Blue Line, 45 minutes) and San Francisco (BART, 30 minutes) via rapid transit.