San Francisco to Chicago (SFO–ORD) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
Flight Schedule
165 flights
Verified 34m ago
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GF6456cs
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GF6457+1
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No flights match your filters.
No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
✦ 1-Stop
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San Francisco to Chicago
3 carriers, 521 flights/week nonstop.
3 Airlines
521 Flights/wk
1,842 mi
4h 6m nonstop
+2h ahead
184 1-stop hubs
SFO–ORD is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, American Airlines and EVA Air lead the route. The flight covers 1,842 miles in approximately 4h 6m. Beyond nonstop, 184 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 Also: AC, EK, OS, OZ, SN, VA | 152 | 32Q, 739, 752, 753, 777, 788, 7M9, A21N, B39M | 4h06-14h25 | Star Alliance | AC, EK, OS, OZ, SN, VA | |
| AA American Airlines Also: AY, BA, EI, FJ, GF, IB, QF, QR, RJ | 78 | 321, 738, 7M8, A21N | 4h28-4h52 | Oneworld | AY, BA, EI, FJ, GF, IB, QF, QR, RJ | |
| BR EVA Air | 1 | – | – | Star Alliance | – |
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
74
flights
Tue
72
flights
Wed
75
flights
Thu
75
flights
Fri
76
flights
Sat
72
flights
Sun
77
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
85
Nonstop flights
521
Outbound / wk
505
Return / wk
Connections
Connection Landscape
Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for SFO to ORD.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
184
Hubs
~3h
Fastest
~53h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
6,088
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.
Alternatives
Other ways to reach Chicago from San Francisco
Nearby airports with service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
| Metric | SFO→ORD | SJC→ORD | MRY→ORD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from SFO | – | 30 mi | 77 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 521 | 16 | 1 |
| Flight time | 4h 6m | 3h 45m | 4h 34m |
| Departure OTP | 97% | – | – |
San Jose (SJC) to Chicago flights · Monterey (MRY) to Chicago flights · Sacramento (SMF) to Chicago flights
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 4h 6m to 14h 25m.
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 time4h 6m to 14h 25m
Time difference+2 hours
Airlines (nonstop)3
Weekly flights521 out / 505 return
1-stop connections184 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 4h 6m to 14h 25m. The route covers 1,842 miles.
3 airlines operate nonstop service: American Airlines, EVA Air and United Airlines. Plus 15 codeshare partners.
There are approximately 521 nonstop flights per week from SFO to ORD. The return direction has about 505 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through GJT, FTW, RAP, CMI, SUS, RIL, APA, ENW, YLW, TUL, MSN, VNY, SCF, ATW, SAF, UDD, LGB, COS, CID, FWA, MDW, GUC, MKE, RFD, HDN, CXO, MBS, MEM, MQY, YHM, PTK, EGE, SUN, HOU, MTJ, ICT, SDF, OKC, BFI, CKB, ROW, YWG, TYS, CHO, FOK, PAE, TEB, AGS, SBN, ELP, ABE, LYH, CHS, ECP, BED, HVN, SYR, BTV, OPF, GNV, GRR, APF, HPN, LGA, SUA, BGR, PVD, PBI, NAS, RSW, ZIH, YHZ, PWM, GCM, BZE, YYC, SJU, SXM, BGI, KOA, KEF, SMF, RNO, IND, CLT, FAT, SJO, BNE, OMA, CAN, ONT, TUS, CMH, STL, DAL, DTW, PIT, MSP, DEN, BNA, EUG, PHX, ATL, BWI, LAS, LAX, MCI, PDX, PSP, DFW, SAN, IAH, AUS, JAC, MTY, OGG, ABQ, YVR, RDU, IAD, SEA, SLC, CLE, FLL, MEX, PHL, MRY, SAT, SBA, SNA, GDL, EWR, GEG, BOS, MCO, TPA, AMS, ASE, YYZ, BOI, CVG, MSY, VIE, PTY, ANC, NGO, DCA, JFK, MIA, GIG, YUL, BZN, GUM, LHR, FCA, MSO, CPH, FRA, CUN, XMN, CDG, YEG, SJD, PVR, LIS, HNL, LIR, IST, MUC, NRT, ICN, BCN, HND, ZRH, DUB, TPE, MAD, FCO, HKG, DXB, PVG, KIX, DOH and SIN. 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.