Travelling from New York to Chicago: what you need to know
Begin your travels at one of New York's main airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Check out your options for booking a flight from New York to Chicago departing from either of these.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) are the major entry points to Chicago.
Hop on a direct New York to Chicago flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 2 hours 40 minutes.
Chicago is one hour behind New York and follows the UTC-5 timezone.
With 53 weekly flights between the two airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the busiest route. Board the first flight from New York to Chicago with JetBlue Airways at 06:33. If you'd like to make the most of your day before you fly, the latest flight from JFK to ORD is with Delta Air Lines at 19:42.
To ensure you don't miss your New York to Chicago flight, allow plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Going away during a peak time like July? Busy periods (like spring break, Christmas and Thanksgiving) can add an hour at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to Chicago
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from New York to Chicago is ج.م. 1,932. For a return flight on this route, the best price is ج.م. 3,997. Depending on how early you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Book two months before you travel. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap New York to Chicago flights.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring a great bargain on plane tickets from New York to Chicago. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
There's no need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from New York to Chicago.
Select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your New York to Chicago flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
You can get a direct flight from New York to Chicago taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Start your trip at JFK and land at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
You'll have your pick of airlines that offer direct New York to Chicago plane tickets out of JFK. Book your journey with one of these:
JFK is around 19 kilometres from central New York. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour 20 minutes.
After a relaxed start to your travels? Stay near John F. Kennedy International Airport. Whether you're taking an early flight from New York to Chicago or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
Of all flights departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport, 74.1% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
You'll find JFK at JFK Airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
You can catch a direct flight from New York to Chicago out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Start your travels at EWR and disembark at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
Book a direct New York to Chicago plane ticket with one of these popular carriers that operate this route from EWR:
With public transport, you can travel from central New York to EWR in around 1 hour 10 minutes. The terminal is roughly 14 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 30 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not enjoy an additional night away? Consider checking in to one of these accommodation options near Newark Liberty International Airport the day before your flight from New York to Chicago:
Newark Liberty International Airport has an on-time performance rate of 73.3%. This figure highlights how often flights that leave from this airport arrive on schedule.
The address for EWR is Building 1, Conrad Road.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
You can catch a direct flight from New York to Chicago leaving from LaGuardia Airport (LGA). LGA has nonstop connections to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
These airlines offer direct New York to Chicago plane tickets with departures from LGA. Simply choose your carrier and get set for takeoff:
The journey time to LGA from central New York is around 1 hour by public transport. If you prefer to travel by car, it'll take you roughly 25 minutes to cover the 13 kilometres or so.
Make departure day worry-free — stay near LaGuardia Airport and know you'll be at your boarding gate with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early New York to Chicago flight:
LGA has an on-time performance rate of 80.0%. This means the majority of its flights land on schedule and your plans stay right on track.
LaGuardia Airport is located at Hangar 7 Centre.
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometres away.
It typically takes 55 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're coming in on a late flight from New York to Chicago, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these accommodation options near ORD:
Travel at your own pace with an O'Hare International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Dollar or Budget and chase adventure across Chicago and beyond.
Booking your vehicle from O'Hare International Airport about four weeks in advance boosts your odds of scoring a great price.
ORD is located at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
The centre of Chicago is around 14 kilometres from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Once your flight from New York to Chicago has touched down and you've navigated your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 20 minutes.
If you travel by public transport, you'll reach the centre in 45 minutes or so.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel close to MDW. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your flight from New York to Chicago:
Dollar, Hertz and Budget make collecting a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car easy and quick. These reliable suppliers are located in or around the terminal and will have you on your way in a heartbeat.
Score the best price by securing your ride from MDW four weeks ahead of time. You can also expect to have a wider selection of vehicles.
The address for Chicago Midway International Airport is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is roughly 129 kilometres from central Chicago. It takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to reach the city centre by ride-share or cab after your flight from New York to Chicago.
The journey will take roughly 4 hours 15 minutes using public transport.
Whether you'd like a zippy compact for a solo escape or a roomy SUV to move the whole family, you'll find the ideal Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car for your needs. Browse the types of wheels available from providers such as Budget, Alamo and National.
Rental providers sometimes offer discounts for early bookings, so reserve your ride from RFD a few weeks ahead of your flight from New York to Chicago. Plan ahead and your wallet will thank you.
The address for Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
August is the most popular month for flights from New York to Chicago. To travel when it's less crowded, head to Chicago in January.
Lock in a New York to Chicago ticket departing in July if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Chicago to range from 15ºC to 29ºC.
Search for cheap flights from New York to Chicago in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -12ºC and 3ºC on average.
More about Chicago
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Chicago right here. Explore these options once you've locked in your flight from New York to Chicago:
Millennium Park and Art Institute of Chicago are just the start of the top attractions to put on your Chicago must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.
Explore more of United States
Columbus is just one of the many places in United States waiting to be explored after you've seen Chicago. Around 451 kilometres to the south-east, top sights here include Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio Statehouse and German Village.
Around 257 kilometres south-east of Chicago, Indianapolis is another essential stop in United States. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.
