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Cheap Flights from Chicago to Columbus

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Flight deals from Chicago to Columbus

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Chicago to Columbus? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from R 2,367. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Columbus.R 802 per passenger.Departing Tue, 19 May.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Chicago Midway on Tue, 19 May, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 802, select.
Columbus.R 993 per passenger.Departing Wed, 15 Apr.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Chicago Midway on Wed, 15 Apr, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 993, select.
Columbus.R 1,298 per passenger.Departing Wed, 15 Apr.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Chicago Midway on Wed, 15 Apr, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,298, select.
Columbus.R 1,407 per passenger.Departing Wed, 25 Mar.One-way flight with Spirit Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Spirit Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Wed, 25 Mar, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,407, select.
Columbus.R 1,496 per passenger.Departing Sat, 28 Mar.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Sat, 28 Mar, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,496, select.
Columbus.R 1,813 per passenger.Departing Mon, 1 Jun.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 1 Jun, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,813, select.
Columbus.R 2,056 per passenger.Departing Sat, 29 Aug.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Sat, 29 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,056, select.
Columbus.R 2,291 per passenger.Departing Wed, 15 Jul.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Wed, 15 Jul, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,291, select.
Columbus.R 2,460 per passenger.Departing Wed, 23 Dec.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Wed, 23 Dec, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,460, select.
Columbus.R 2,622 per passenger.Departing Sat, 15 Aug.One-way flight with American Airlines.Outbound direct flight with American Airlines departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Sat, 15 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,622, select.
Columbus.R 2,633 per passenger.Departing Fri, 2 Oct.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Chicago Midway on Fri, 2 Oct, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,633, select.
Columbus.R 2,877 per passenger.Departing Thu, 17 Sep.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Thu, 17 Sep, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,877, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Columbus

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Chicago to Columbus flights are currently cheapest in May.
Mar
from R 1,407
Apr
from R 993
May
from R 802
Jun
from R 1,813
Jul
from R 2,291
Aug
from R 2,056
Sep
from R 2,877
Oct
from R 2,633
Nov
Find prices
Dec
from R 2,460
Jan
Find prices
Feb
Find prices

Direct flights from Chicago to Columbus

Alternative Chicago to Columbus routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Chicago to Columbus? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Port Columbus

11km from central Columbus
ClosestCheapest
from R 801
Search flights

Columbus Rickenbacker

17km from central Columbus
from R 1,972
Search flights

Chicago to Columbus: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 802
Cheapest month to flyMay
Average flight time1 hr, 23 mins
Most popular airlineAmerican Airlines
Average flights per week703

Check out these Columbus hotels

Ready to plan your stay? Other travellers rate these Columbus hotels for cleanliness, service and location.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Columbus West
12.85 km from city centre
R 2 885
Per night
Jungle House Modern Lofts – Arena District & Short North
1.70 km from city centre
R 2 353
Per night
Jungle House Luxury Lofts – Short North High Street
2.87 km from city centre
R 2 197
Per night
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Columbus West
12.85 km from city centre
R 2 885
Per night
Jungle House Modern Lofts – Arena District & Short North
1.70 km from city centre
R 2 353
Per night
Jungle House Luxury Lofts – Short North High Street
2.87 km from city centre
R 2 197
Per night
Explore top-rated hotels

Finding cheap flights from Chicago to Columbus: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Columbus: Port Columbus and Columbus Rickenbacker.
The best price we found for a return flight from Chicago to Columbus is R 2,284. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
1 hour and 23 minutes is the average flight time from Chicago to Columbus.
American Airlines, United and Alaska Airlines fly direct from Chicago to Columbus.
As of March 2026, there are 703 flights per week flying from Chicago to Columbus.
The cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Columbus is usually May.
If you're flying from Chicago, the cheapest airport near Columbus is Port Columbus – which is 10.8 km away from the centre of Columbus. We've found flights into this airport from R 2,284.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Chicago to Columbus on Friday, 15 May 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 1 hour and 23 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Columbus but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Columbus is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In March, the average temperature is usually around 4°C. July is typically the warmest month in Columbus, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in February. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging -7°C. The rainiest month is May.
The cheapest airline that flies to Columbus is Frontier Airlines. And the cheapest airline that flies to Columbus Rickenbacker Airport is Southwest Airlines.

Travelling from Chicago to Columbus: what you need to know

  • Begin your journey 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 Columbus taking off from either of these.

  • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) are the chief entry points to Columbus.

  • The average length of a direct Chicago to Columbus flight is 1 hour 20 minutes.

  • Columbus's timezone is UTC-4, making Columbus one hour ahead of Chicago.

  • With 91 weekly flights between the two airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is the busiest route. Hop on the first flight from Chicago to Columbus with American Airlines at 07:00. If you prefer to make the most of your day before flying, the latest flight from ORD to CMH is with American Airlines at 21:25.

  • To ensure you get on your Chicago to Columbus flight, allow plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.

  • Be prepared for bigger queues during popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.

How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Columbus

  • Book six months before you want to travel. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Chicago to Columbus flights.

  • September is the best month for scoring an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Chicago to Columbus. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for each month.

  • There's no need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Chicago to Columbus.

  • Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Or sort your Chicago to Columbus flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'

Flying from Chicago

O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

  • You can catch a direct flight from Chicago to Columbus jetting off from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Start your journey at ORD and end it at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH).

  • United Airlines is a well-known carrier that offers direct Chicago to Columbus plane tickets leaving from ORD.

  • Travelling from central Chicago to ORD takes about 55 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.

  • Catching an early flight from Chicago to Columbus? Avoid rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels near O'Hare International Airport:

  • Of the departures from O'Hare International Airport, 74.85% land on time at their destination.

  • You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

  • Consider booking your direct flight from Chicago to Columbus out of Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Nonstop connections from MDW will take you to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH).

  • From MDW, you can book a direct Chicago to Columbus plane ticket with Southwest Airlines.

  • MDW is around 14 kilometres from central Chicago. It takes 20 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.

  • Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before catching your flight from Chicago to Columbus? Check in to a hotel near Chicago Midway International Airport before your trip officially starts. Consider one of these stays:

  • 78% of flights out of Chicago Midway International Airport meet their expected arrival time.

  • You'll find MDW at 5700 South Cicero.

Arriving in Columbus

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

  • The distance from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to central Columbus is approximately 10 kilometres. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the centre driving.

  • It typically takes 1 hour 5 minutes to get there on public transport.

  • If you're coming in on a late flight from Chicago to Columbus, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these accommodation options near CMH:

  • Grab a John Glenn Columbus International Airport rental car and discover Columbus and beyond with your own wheels. Alamo, Budget and Avis are popular providers to choose from here.

  • To lock in the lowest rate, reserve your vehicle from John Glenn Columbus International Airport a few weeks in advance. Prices generally rise closer to your departure date.

  • CMH is located at 4600 International Gateway.

Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)

  • The centre of Columbus is located around 16 kilometres from Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK). Once your flight from Chicago to Columbus has touched down and you've made your way out of the airport, the drive should be around 25 minutes.

  • You can expect the journey to take about 1 hour 20 minutes on public transport.

Best time to go to Columbus

  • It's time to figure out your trip dates for your flight from Chicago to Columbus. July is the busiest month for a trip to Columbus. If you prefer a quieter atmosphere, go in April.

  • Lock in a Chicago to Columbus ticket departing in July if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Columbus to range from 15ºC (59ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).

  • Search for cheap flights from Chicago to Columbus in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -11ºC (12ºF) and 6ºC (43ºF) on average.

More about Columbus

Explore more of United States

  • Chicago is just one of the many cities in United States waiting to be explored after you've experienced Columbus. Around 451 kilometres to the north-west, top sights here include Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.

  • Indianapolis is another essential stop in United States and is around 274 kilometres west of Columbus. No journey is complete without experiencing The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.

Plan the rest of your trip from Chicago to Columbus

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.