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Cheap Flights from Sacramento International to Chicago

Compare Sacramento International to Chicago flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Chicago

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Flight deals from Sacramento International to Chicago

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from R 2,610. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Chicago.R 1,305 per passenger.Departing Sat, 9 May.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Sacramento International on Sat, 9 May, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,305, select.
Chicago.R 1,728 per passenger.Departing Tue, 2 Jun.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Sacramento International on Tue, 2 Jun, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,728, select.
Chicago.R 2,054 per passenger.Departing Sat, 11 Jul.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Sacramento International on Sat, 11 Jul, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,054, select.
Chicago.R 2,055 per passenger.Departing Thu, 6 Aug.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Sacramento International on Thu, 6 Aug, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,055, select.
Chicago.R 2,944 per passenger.Departing Tue, 21 Apr.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Sacramento International on Tue, 21 Apr, arriving in Chicago Midway.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,944, select.
Chicago.R 2,944 per passenger.Departing Sat, 9 May.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Sacramento International on Sat, 9 May, arriving in Chicago Midway.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,944, select.
Chicago.R 2,966 per passenger.Departing Wed, 2 Sep.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Sacramento International on Wed, 2 Sep, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,966, select.
Chicago.R 3,075 per passenger.Departing Sat, 13 Jun.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Sacramento International on Sat, 13 Jun, arriving in Chicago Midway.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,075, select.
Chicago.R 3,429 per passenger.Departing Wed, 1 Jul.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Sacramento International on Wed, 1 Jul, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,429, select.
Chicago.R 3,434 per passenger.Departing Wed, 2 Sep.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Sacramento International on Wed, 2 Sep, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,434, select.
Chicago.R 3,587 per passenger.Departing Wed, 21 Oct.One-way flight with Alaska Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from Sacramento International on Wed, 21 Oct, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,587, select.
Chicago.R 4,262 per passenger.Departing Wed, 21 Oct.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Sacramento International on Wed, 21 Oct, arriving in Chicago Midway.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,262, select.
Chicago.R 4,265 per passenger.Departing Thu, 6 Aug.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Sacramento International on Thu, 6 Aug, arriving in Chicago Midway.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,265, select.
Chicago.R 4,336 per passenger.Departing Sun, 20 Dec.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Sacramento International on Sun, 20 Dec, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,336, select.
Chicago.R 9,661 per passenger.Departing Sun, 29 Nov.One-way flight with Alaska Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from Sacramento International on Sun, 29 Nov, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 9,661, select.
Chicago.R 11,824 per passenger.Departing Sun, 29 Nov.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Sacramento International on Sun, 29 Nov, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 11,824, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Sacramento International to Chicago

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Sacramento International to Chicago flights are currently cheapest in May.
Apr
from R 2,944
May
from R 1,305
Jun
from R 1,728
Jul
from R 2,054
Aug
from R 2,055
Sep
from R 2,966
Oct
from R 3,587
Nov
from R 9,661
Dec
from R 4,336
Jan
Find prices
Feb
Find prices
Mar
Find prices

Direct flights from Sacramento International to Chicago

Alternative Sacramento International to Chicago routes

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

Chicago Midway

14km from central Chicago
Closest
from R 2,252
Search flights

Chicago O'Hare International

25km from central Chicago
Cheapest
from R 1,305
Search flights

Chicago Dupage County

51km from central Chicago
Search flights

Chicago Rockford

126km from central Chicago
from R 2,781
Search flights

Sacramento to Chicago: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 1,305
Cheapest month to flyMay
Average flight time4 hrs, 3 mins
Most popular airlineSouthwest Airlines
Average flights per week93

Finding cheap flights from Sacramento International to Chicago: Frequently asked questions

There are 4 airports in Chicago: Chicago Midway, Chicago O'Hare International, Chicago Dupage County, and Chicago Rockford.
The best price we found for a return flight from Sacramento International to Chicago is R 2,610. 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.
4 hours and 3 minutes is the average flight time from Sacramento International to Chicago.
Southwest Airlines, United and American Airlines fly direct from Sacramento International to Chicago.
As of April 2026, there are 93 flights per week flying from Sacramento International to Chicago.
The cheapest month to fly from Sacramento International to Chicago is usually May.
If you're flying from Sacramento International Airport, the cheapest airport near Chicago is Chicago O'Hare International – which is 25.4 km away from the centre of Chicago. We've found flights into this airport from R 2,610.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago on Saturday, 9 May 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 4 hours and 3 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 Chicago 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 Chicago is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In April, the average temperature is usually around 8°C. July is typically the warmest month in Chicago, when it usually averages around 26°C. You can expect the least rain in January. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging -8°C. The rainiest month is August.
Currently, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines offer the cheapest flight tickets to Chicago.

Travelling from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Chicago: what you need to know

  • Approximately 4 hours 35 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago.

  • Chicago is two hours ahead of Sacramento, where Sacramento International Airport is located. Chicago runs on the UTC-5 timezone.

  • With 24 flights a week between the two airports, Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular route. United Airlines operates the earliest flight at 07:00. If you're eager to make the most of your day before taking off, the last flight from SMF to ORD is with American Airlines at 23:59.

  • Leave enough time to catch your SMF to Chicago flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • Heading off during a peak period like school or public holidays? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. To play it safe, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures.

  • Direct Sacramento International Airport to Chicago tickets are available for booking. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is where you'll disembark.

  • There's a good selection of airlines that offer direct flights from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago, such as:

  • SMF is about 14 kilometres from central Sacramento. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 25 minutes.

  • Get your flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago off to a leisurely start. Just a short ride from SMF, stay at Not Here do not Book and be well-rested for the journey ahead.

  • 82.15% of flights leaving Sacramento International Airport arrive at their destination as planned. With its strong on-time performance, you're unlikely to face delays when setting off from SMF.

  • You'll find SMF at 6900 Airport Boulevard.

How to find the cheapest flights from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Chicago

  • R 1,305 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way Sacramento International Airport to Chicago flight. A return flight ticket right now is R 2,610. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares can change.

  • Get cheap flights from SMF to Chicago by booking one month ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.

  • The best month for landing cheap Sacramento International Airport to Chicago tickets is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates that offer the biggest savings.

  • Locking in a cheap flight from SMF to Chicago is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll get in touch as soon as a deal gets even better.

  • Select your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with our filters. Then, sort the results for your flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'

Airports in Chicago

O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

  • The distance from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 40 kilometres. It'll take you about 35 minutes to reach the centre driving.

  • It typically takes 55 minutes to get there using public transport.

  • The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago. Stay at one of these accommodation options near ORD instead:

  • Say yes to new adventures by picking up an O'Hare International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Dollar or Budget to explore Chicago and beyond.

  • Lock in the best rate by booking your ride from O'Hare International Airport about four weeks in advance of your flight from SMF to Chicago.

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

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

  • Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is roughly 19 kilometres from the centre of Chicago. Once you've hopped off your flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago, it'll take you around 20 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.

  • You can expect the trip to take roughly 45 minutes on public transport.

  • Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel near MDW. Here are a few options where you can take a load off after your SMF to Chicago flight:

  • Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting forever for a cab. Pick up a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the availability and rates from Dollar, Hertz and Budget.

  • Avoid paying more than you need to. Booking your ride four weeks before your arrival at MDW can get you a lower rate.

  • You can find Chicago Midway International Airport at 5700 South Cicero.

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)

  • Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is around 137 kilometres from the centre of Chicago. It takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the city centre in a cab or ride-share after your flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago.

  • The journey takes roughly 4 hours 15 minutes if you use public transport.

  • Enjoy a restful, unhurried start to your break by choosing a hotel near RFD after your SMF to Chicago flight. Recover from your travel day or just take a moment to find your footing in a new city at:

  • Begin your trip without stressing over how to arrive at your destination with a Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car. You can book with trusted names here like Budget, Alamo and National.

  • If you'd like a certain make or model, booking early increases your chances of getting your first choice. Book your ride from RFD a few weeks ahead of your flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago.

  • Chicago Rockford International Airport can be found at 2 Airport Cir.

Best time to go to Chicago

  • Carefully consider your travel dates before securing your flight from Sacramento International Airport to Chicago. The city comes alive in peak season, but hotel prices are often higher and major attractions can be busy. Visit Chicago in the off-season if you prefer a more relaxed vibe.

  • Book a Sacramento International Airport to Chicago flight ticket with a departure in July if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures to range from 15ºC (59ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).

  • If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SMF to Chicago in January when temperatures average between -12ºC (10ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF).

More about Chicago

Explore more of United States

  • You've visited Chicago, now it's time to discover other parts of United States. Travel about 451 kilometres south-east to Columbus to check off its popular sights. From Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to Ohio Statehouse and German Village, there's plenty to keep you on the go.

  • Indianapolis is another essential stop in United States and is around 257 kilometres south-east of Chicago. No journey is complete without dropping by The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.

Plan the rest of your trip from Sacramento to Chicago

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