Cheap Flights from Columbus to Chicago

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Flight deals from Columbus to Chicago

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Columbus to Chicago? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Chicago.$162 per passenger.Departing Wed, 29 Apr, returning Wed, 29 Apr.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Port Columbus on Wed, 29 Apr, arriving in Chicago Midway.Inbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Chicago Midway on Wed, 29 Apr, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $162, select.

Chicago.$162 per passenger.Departing Tue, 12 May, returning Tue, 19 May.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Port Columbus on Tue, 12 May, arriving in Chicago Midway.Inbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Chicago Midway on Tue, 19 May, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $162, select.

Chicago.$196 per passenger.Departing Thu, 16 Apr, returning Mon, 11 May.Return flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Port Columbus on Thu, 16 Apr, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Inbound direct flight with United departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Mon, 11 May, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $196, select.

Chicago.$303 per passenger.Departing Wed, 18 Mar, returning Tue, 24 Mar.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Wed, 18 Mar, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Tue, 24 Mar, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $303, select.

Chicago.$366 per passenger.Departing Thu, 19 Mar, returning Tue, 24 Mar.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Port Columbus on Thu, 19 Mar, arriving in Chicago Midway.Inbound direct flight with Southwest Airlines departs from Chicago Midway on Tue, 24 Mar, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $366, select.

Chicago.$394 per passenger.Departing Fri, 29 May, returning Mon, 1 Jun.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Fri, 29 May, arriving in Chicago Midway.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Chicago Midway on Mon, 1 Jun, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $394, select.

Chicago.$411 per passenger.Departing Sat, 28 Mar, returning Wed, 1 Apr.Return flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from Port Columbus on Sat, 28 Mar, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Inbound direct flight with United departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Wed, 1 Apr, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $411, select.

Chicago.$451 per passenger.Departing Thu, 4 Jun, returning Sun, 7 Jun.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Port Columbus on Thu, 4 Jun, arriving in Chicago O'Hare International.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Chicago O'Hare International on Sun, 7 Jun, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From $451, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Columbus to Chicago

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Columbus to Chicago flights are currently cheapest in April.

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Direct flights from Columbus to Chicago

Alternative Columbus to Chicago routes

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

Columbus to Chicago: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	$162
Cheapest month to fly	May
Average flight time	1 hr, 19 mins
Most popular airline	American Airlines
Average flights per week	695

Finding cheap flights from Columbus to Chicago: Frequently asked questions

How many airports are there in Chicago?

There are 4 airports in Chicago: Chicago Midway, Chicago O'Hare International, Chicago Dupage County, and Chicago Rockford.

How much are return flights from Columbus to Chicago?

The best price we found for a return flight from Columbus to Chicago is $162. 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.

How long does it take to fly from Columbus to Chicago?

1 hour and 19 minutes is the average flight time from Columbus to Chicago.

Which airlines fly direct from Columbus to Chicago?

American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Envoy Air fly direct from Columbus to Chicago.

How many flights are there a week from Columbus to Chicago?

As of February 2026, there are 1,394 flights per week flying from Columbus to Chicago.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Columbus to Chicago?

The cheapest month to fly from Columbus to Chicago is usually May.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in Chicago?

If you're flying from Columbus, the cheapest airport near Chicago is Chicago Midway – which is 14.5 km away from the centre of Chicago. We've found flights into this airport from $162.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Columbus to Chicago on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Columbus to Chicago on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.

Can I get a direct flight from Columbus to Chicago?

Yes – the average flight time is 1 hour and 21 minutes.

How can I get the best flight deal from Columbus to Chicago?

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.

When is the best time to book flights to Chicago?

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.

What’s the weather like in Chicago?

In February, the average temperature is usually around -2°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.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Columbus to Chicago with?

The cheapest airline that flies to Chicago is Southwest Airlines .

Flying from Columbus to Chicago: what you need to know

Begin your trip planning by checking out the most convenient departure point for your flight from Columbus to Chicago. Explore your options for setting off from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) or Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK), two of the city's main airports.
The major entry paths to Chicago are O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
The average duration of a direct Columbus to Chicago flight is 1 hour 25 minutes.
Chicago's timezone is UTC-5, which makes Chicago one hour behind Columbus.
With 91 weekly flights between the two airports, John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular route. Board the first flight from Columbus to Chicago with American Airlines at 05:24. If you prefer to make the most of your day before leaving, the latest departure from CMH to ORD is with American Airlines at 20:49.
To ensure you don't miss your Columbus to Chicago flight, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You'll likely experience longer queues during popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a smart move.

How to find the cheapest flights from Columbus to Chicago

$81 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from Columbus to Chicago. Return flights start at $162. These prices can change based on availability and demand.
Book four months before your departure date. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Columbus to Chicago flights.
July is the best month for picking up an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Columbus to Chicago. If you'd like to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
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 better deal is available on cheap flights from Columbus to Chicago.
Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Or sort your Columbus to Chicago flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'

Flying from Columbus

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

Set out from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and fly straight through to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). If you're looking for a direct flight from Columbus to Chicago out of CMH, those are your arrival choices.
Choose from a variety of airlines that offer direct Columbus to Chicago plane tickets out of CMH. Get on board with any of these:
Located around 10 kilometres from central Columbus, CMH can be reached in about 10 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport is roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
Want a convenient hotel close to John Glenn Columbus International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Columbus to Chicago, these accommodation options will put you nice and close to your departure gate:
When it comes to John Glenn Columbus International Airport's on-time performance, 79.5% of flights complete their journey on time.
The address for CMH is 4600 International Gateway.

Arriving in Chicago

O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

The distance from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 26 kilometres. It'll take you around 35 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It typically takes 55 minutes to get there on public transport.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Columbus to Chicago. Check in to one of these accommodation options near ORD instead:
Pick up an O'Hare International Airport rental car and explore Chicago and beyond with your own set of wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Dollar and Budget are well-known companies you can book with here.
Lock in the best deal by booking your ride from O'Hare International Airport about four weeks ahead of your departure.
ORD is situated at 10000 West O'Hare.

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is about 14 kilometres from the centre of Chicago. Once you've hopped off your flight from Columbus to Chicago, it'll take you approximately 20 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
Public transport will get you there in about 45 minutes.
You'll find some comfortable places to lay your head close to MDW. Unwind after your Columbus to Chicago flight at one of these perfectly located options:
Dollar, Hertz and Budget make collecting a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car quick and easy. These trusted companies are located in or around the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Avoid potential price surges. Booking your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at MDW will help you save.
You can find Chicago Midway International Airport at 5700 South Cicero.

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is about 129 kilometres from the centre of Chicago. It'll take you about 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the city centre by ride-share or cab after your flight from Columbus to Chicago.
Public transport can take you there in roughly 4 hours 15 minutes.
Whether you're after a mini for solo travel or an SUV to fit the family, you'll find the right Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car for your needs. Explore the types of wheels available here from names such as Budget, Alamo and National.
Booking a couple of weeks ahead of your flight from Columbus to Chicago is a smart way to go. Along with better prices, you'll get a better selection of vehicle makes and models at RFD.
Chicago Rockford International Airport's address is 2 Airport Cir.

Best time to go to Chicago

It's time to figure out your dates for your flight from Columbus to Chicago. August is the most popular month for a trip to Chicago. If you prefer a quieter atmosphere, go in January.
Book a Columbus to Chicago ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Chicago to range from 15ºC to 29ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Columbus to Chicago in January when temperatures average between -12ºC and 3ºC.

More about Chicago

Start your Chicago trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Columbus to Chicago, explore our selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to start. Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier are popular attractions which should feature on any well-planned Chicago itinerary.

Explore more of United States

You've visited Chicago, now it's time to explore more of United States. Travel around 451 kilometres south-east to Columbus to tick off its must-visit sights. From Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to Ohio Statehouse and German Village, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
If you're eager to discover another major stop in United States, head for Indianapolis, about 257 kilometres south-east of Chicago. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo are among the biggest draws.