Travelling from Chicago to Melbourne: what you need to know
Chicago has a couple of airports where you can kick off your trip. Check out your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Melbourne leaving from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway Airport (MDW).
Disembark at Melbourne's primary gateway, Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL).
Melbourne is 17 hours ahead of Chicago and observes the UTC+11 timezone.
To ensure you don't miss your Chicago to Melbourne flight, leave enough time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
Flying during a peak month like July? School holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Melbourne
Booking early is often the key to finding a cheap Chicago to Melbourne flight. Airlines adjust prices based on demand, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely pay.
The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest plane tickets from Chicago to Melbourne across every month. It's a good way to find a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
Getting a cheap flight from Chicago to Melbourne is easy with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as there's a better deal.
Tailor your trip using filters. Select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' Chicago to Melbourne flights.
Flying from Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Think about adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper Chicago to Melbourne flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular airports:
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
ORD is about 26 kilometres from central Chicago. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 45 minutes.
Want a handy hotel close to Chicago O'Hare International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Chicago to Melbourne, these stays will put you moments from check-in:
70% of flights that leave from Chicago O'Hare International Airport land at their destination on time.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
Get more out of your holiday with a stopover on your Chicago to Melbourne flight. Visit friends or family or tick a new city off your list. Whatever your plans, here's where you can stop between Chicago Midway Airport and Melbourne:
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
MDW is about 14 kilometres from central Chicago. It'll take you 25 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from Chicago to Melbourne, stay in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway Airport:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, Chicago Midway Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 76%.
MDW is located at 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
The distance from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to central Melbourne is roughly 19 kilometres. It'll take you about 25 minutes to get to the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of about 35 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Chicago to Melbourne, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these accommodation options near MEL:
Begin your adventure by picking up a Melbourne Tullamarine Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, East Coast or Sixt to explore Melbourne and beyond.
Reserving your ride from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport around four weeks in advance gives you the best chance of locking in a great deal.
Melbourne Avalon Airport (AVV)
The centre of Melbourne is about 48 kilometres from Melbourne Avalon Airport (AVV). As soon as your flight from Chicago to Melbourne has hit the runway and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 1 hour 5 minutes.
If you hop on public transport, the ride to the centre takes 1 hour 20 minutes or so.
No need to worry about public transport schedules or waiting forever for a taxi. Grab a Melbourne Avalon Airport rental car and go in any direction that inspires you. Check out the rates and availability from Sixt, Kangaroo Rental and yesaway car rental.
Snap up a deal by reserving your ride from AVV three weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a bigger selection of vehicles.
Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB)
Step off your flight from Chicago to Melbourne and go directly to your hotel or start sightseeing right away. Central Melbourne is around 11 kilometres from Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB) and usually takes 20 minutes to reach by car.
The journey will take you about 55 minutes using public transport.
Stay in control of the next chapter of your journey with a Melbourne Essendon Airport rental car. East Coast, Ace Rental Cars and Goldcar are reliable rental providers.
Booking at least a few weeks in advance of your flight from Chicago to Melbourne is a good move. Along with better prices, you'll get a better selection of vehicle makes and models at MEB.
Best time to go to Melbourne
It's time to plan your dates for your flight from Chicago to Melbourne. December is the most popular month to visit Melbourne. If you prefer a more relaxed vibe, go in March.
The warmest month in Melbourne is January, with temperatures ranging between 11ºC and 28ºC. Book your Chicago to Melbourne ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
Look for cheap flights from Chicago to Melbourne in July if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 3ºC and 12ºC on average.
More about Melbourne
Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Melbourne, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these options your base for exploring Melbourne:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Melbourne's Gardens, Melbourne Park and Arts Centre Melbourne are major attractions which should be on any well-planned Melbourne itinerary.
Explore more of Australia
Canberra is just one of the many cities in Australia waiting to be explored after you've experienced Melbourne. Around 467 kilometres to the northeast, its top attractions include National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery and Museum of Australian Democracy.
Geelong is another well-known destination in Australia and is around 64 kilometres southwest of Melbourne. No journey is complete without a visit to Wathaurong Booln Booln Cultural Centre, Eastern Beach Promenade and Eastern Beach.