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MDW to LAX: distance & flight time
Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport) → Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport)
1,747 mi
2,812 km · 1,518 nm
3h 54m
estimated nonstop flight time
-2h
time difference · heading west
See live MDW→LAX fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,747 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 54m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport · Chicago, United States
- LAX — Los Angeles International Airport · Los Angeles, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near MDW
- ORD · Chicago O'Hare International Airport15 mi away
- CGX · Chicago Meigs Airport9 mi away
- GYY · Gary Chicago International Airport21 mi away
- LOT · Lewis University Airport22 mi away
Near LAX
- HHR · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport4 mi away
- SMO · Santa Monica Municipal Airport6 mi away
- TOA · Zamperini Field10 mi away
- LGB · Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ Airport17 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is MDW from LAX?
The flight distance from Chicago (MDW) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 1,747 miles (2,812 km, 1,518 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MDW to LAX?
A nonstop flight takes about 3h 54m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Chicago and Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago.
What is the cheapest way to fly from MDW to LAX?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MDW–LAX that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.