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ORD to SFO: distance & flight time
Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport) → San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport)
1,842 mi
2,964 km · 1,600 nm
4h 5m
estimated nonstop flight time
-2h
time difference · heading west
See live ORD→SFO fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,842 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 5m 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
- ORD — Chicago O'Hare International Airport · Chicago, United States
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, 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 ORD
- PWK · Chicago Executive Airport9 mi away
- MDW · Chicago Midway International Airport15 mi away
- CGX · Chicago Meigs Airport17 mi away
- DPA · Dupage Airport18 mi away
Near SFO
- SQL · San Carlos Airport10 mi away
- HAF · Half Moon Bay Airport10 mi away
- OAK · Metropolitan Oakland International Airport11 mi away
- NGZ · Alameda Naval Air Station12 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is ORD from SFO?
The flight distance from Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO) is 1,842 miles (2,964 km, 1,600 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from ORD to SFO?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 5m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from ORD to SFO?
Nonstop service on ORD–SFO depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 4h 5m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Chicago and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 2 hours behind Chicago.
What is the cheapest way to fly from ORD to SFO?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on ORD–SFO that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some ORD to SFO fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain ORD–SFO tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.