Travelling from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD): What you need to know
Your travel story starts at one of Washington DC's main airports, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) or Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Check out your options for booking a flight from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) setting off from either of these bases.
Around 2 hours 15 minutes is how long you'll be in the air on a direct Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport flight.
Chicago is one hour behind Washington DC. Chicago O'Hare International Airport is located in Chicago, which is in the UTC-6 timezone.
The most popular route is from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), with 138 direct services every week. If you want to be on your way right away, the earliest flight from DCA to ORD is the 5:59am American Airlines service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the last departure is at 10:09pm with American Airlines.
To ensure you catch your flight from Washington DC to ORD, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
If you're getting away during a popular month like July, get to the airport even earlier. It's wise to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. You can expect lines to be longer during peak periods like Christmas and New Year.
Airports in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) makes it easy to travel directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) take off from this terminal.
When taking off from DCA, you can take a direct flight from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport with United Airlines.
United is the most frequently booked airline offering flights from DCA to ORD.
With 74.96% of services landing as planned, United is the highest-rated carrier for punctuality on this route.
Located around 6 kilometres from the centre of Washington DC, DCA can be reached in about 10 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport is roughly 25 minutes.
Looking for a convenient hotel near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
71% of flights that depart Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport arrive at their destination on schedule.
DCA is located at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
You can book a direct Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) plane ticket out of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Work out whether departing from IAD makes the most sense for you.
From IAD, direct flights from Washington DC to ORD are available with United Airlines.
United is the top choice for passengers flying from IAD to ORD.
United is the most punctual carrier flying from Washington Dulles International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with 75.51% of its services arriving as planned.
On public transport, you can travel from central Washington DC to IAD in about 1 hour 10 minutes. The terminal is roughly 40 kilometres away, and making the trip by car will take approximately 45 minutes.
Flying out early in the morning? You might like to check in to one of these hotels near Washington Dulles International Airport the day before your Washington DC to ORD flight:
Washington Dulles International Airport has an on-time performance of 77%. This figure highlights how often flights that depart from this airport make it to their destination on schedule.
IAD is located at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
Start your trip at Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) and go straight to your destination without any layovers. You can book direct flights from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport out of here.
These airlines offer direct Washington DC to ORD plane tickets from BWI. Simply choose your carrier and take off:
The airline with the highest booking numbers between BWI and ORD is United.
Among carriers operating on this route, Southwest Airlines has the best track record for timely arrivals.
BWI is around 48 kilometres from central Washington DC. Driving from the city centre to the terminal takes about 40 minutes. If you're considering public transport, expect a journey time of around 50 minutes.
Make catching an early Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Book a room at one of these hotels close to Baltimore Washington International Airport and get to the check-in counter with plenty of time to spare:
Flights that leave from BWI touch down at their destination within the scheduled time frame 77% of the time.
About Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Consider staying in a hotel near ORD if you're catching a late flight from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Choose one of these accommodation options and be in bed sooner:
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your ride around four weeks ahead of your Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport flight.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Getting from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago
From Chicago O'Hare International Airport, central Chicago is around 27 kilometres away. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the city centre by car.
Travelling by public transport will take you around 45 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
At the moment, R 538 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 1,004. Remember fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
Booking in advance is often the key to scoring a cheap flight from Washington DC to ORD. Fares tend to rise as seats fill up, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
If you have some flexibility with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll show you the lowest price across every month when searching for your Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport ticket.
You don't need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you the moment a better deal is available on plane tickets from Washington DC to ORD.
Save on your flight from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport by using filters. Choose your ideal times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
January is the quietest month for flights from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), while July is the busiest. Work out the ideal time to go to Chicago based on whether you prefer a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Chicago is July, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC (61ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Lock in your Washington DC to ORD plane ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Search for cheap tickets from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -12ºC (10ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF).
More about Chicago
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Chicago right here. Browse these hotels as soon as you've booked your flight from Washington DC to Chicago O'Hare International Airport:
All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and Willis Tower are essential stops on your Chicago itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
You've seen Chicago, now it's time to explore more of the United States. Travel about 290 kilometres southeast to Indianapolis to check off its must-visit sights. From Lucas Oil Stadium to Eiteljorg Museum and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
Around 121 kilometres north of Chicago, Milwaukee is another essential stop in the United States. No visit is complete without checking out Richards Duplex Apartments by Frank Lloyd Wright, Miller Park and Milwaukee County Zoo.