Flying from Chicago to Denver International Airport (DEN): What you need to know
The first chapter of your trip begins at one of Chicago's main airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Explore your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Denver International Airport (DEN) taking off from either of these.
The average duration of a direct Chicago to Denver International Airport flight is 2 hours 45 minutes.
Denver is one hour behind Chicago. Denver International Airport is located in Denver, which runs on the UTC-6 timezone.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Denver International Airport (DEN) is the most popular route. There are 108 direct weekly departures to pick from. If you have plans before you fly, hop on the last flight with United Airlines at 10:17pm. Choose the first ORD to DEN departure with United Airlines at 5am if you want to get going earlier.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for hassle-free flying. Show up at the airport on time to board your flight from Chicago to DEN.
Planning to travel during a peak period like public or school holidays? Expect longer lines at security and check-in. To play it safe, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures.
Airports in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Take the express route from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Direct flights from Chicago to Denver International Airport (DEN) are available from here.
At ORD, you'll find a variety of carriers offering direct flights from Chicago to Denver International Airport, such as:
The airline most travellers choose when flying between ORD and DEN is United Airlines.
Southwest Airlines is the top-ranked carrier for punctuality on this route.
ORD is about 40 kilometres from central Chicago. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 35 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 55 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Chicago to Denver International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by staying at one of these stays near O'Hare International Airport:
When it comes to O'Hare International Airport's on-time performance, 74.85% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
You can book a direct Chicago to Denver International Airport (DEN) plane ticket with departures from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Decide if leaving from MDW is a better fit for your trip.
From MDW, direct flights from Chicago to DEN are offered by Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines is the top choice for travellers flying from MDW to DEN.
Southwest Airlines is the most consistently on-time carrier operating flights between Chicago Midway International Airport and Denver International Airport.
With public transport, you can travel from central Chicago to MDW in around 45 minutes. The terminal is roughly 19 kilometres away, and getting there by car will take approximately 20 minutes.
Start your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before your Chicago to DEN flight, unwind in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport:
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 77.88%.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
From the centre of Chicago, RFD is around 137 kilometres away. It takes roughly 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the airport by car and 4 hours 15 minutes or so on public transport.
Skip the morning rush on departure day — stay close to Chicago Rockford International Airport and know you'll be at the terminal with time to spare. Get settled at one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early Chicago to Denver International Airport flight:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that monitors how often flights arrive as expected. At RFD, that figure is 76.19%.
The street address of Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
About Denver International Airport (DEN)
Have a late flight from Chicago to Denver International Airport? Don't let it rob you of real rest. Stay within easy reach of DEN at Baymont by Wyndham Denver International Airport.
Pick up a Denver International Airport rental car and discover Denver and beyond with your own set of wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Dollar and Budget are top outlets to choose from here.
To get the lowest price, book your ride around one week in advance of your Chicago to Denver International Airport flight.
DEN is located at 8500 Pena Boulevard.
Getting from Denver International Airport (DEN) to central Denver
Central Denver is roughly 31 kilometres from Denver International Airport. Journey times by cab or car hire will vary depending on time of day, so do some research ahead of your trip.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Denver International Airport (DEN)
R 720 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Denver International Airport. A return flight starts at R 1,406. These prices can change based on demand and availability.
Book 11 months before travelling. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Chicago to DEN.
The best month for landing cheap Chicago to Denver International Airport tickets is April. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates that offer the biggest savings.
You don't need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a lower fare pops up on plane tickets from Chicago to DEN.
Save money on your flight from Chicago to Denver International Airport by using the search filters. Select your ideal times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Chicago to Denver International Airport (DEN)
April is the quietest month for flights from Chicago to Denver International Airport (DEN), while July is the busiest. Pick the best time to go to Denver based on whether you like a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Lock in a Chicago to DEN plane ticket departing in July if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Denver to range from 14ºC (57ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
January has temperatures of between -9ºC (16ºF) and 7ºC (45ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Chicago to Denver International Airport around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Denver
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Denver right here. Explore these hotels after locking in your flight from Chicago to Denver International Airport:
There are loads of fantastic things to do in Denver when you're in the mood to sightsee. Kick off your itinerary at Denver Art Museum followed by Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station and Ballpark.
Explore more of the United States
You've seen Denver, now it's time to discover more of the United States. Travel about 113 kilometres south to Colorado Springs to check off its must-visit sights. From Garden of the Gods to Pikes Peak Region Attractions and Red Rock Canyon, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
If you want to check out another great destination in the United States, consider Pueblo, about 177 kilometres south of Denver. Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Rosemount Museum and Minnequa Lake Park are key highlights.
