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PAO to MDW: distance & flight time
Palo Alto (Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County) → Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport)
1,840 mi
2,962 km · 1,599 nm
4h 5m
estimated nonstop flight time
+2h
time difference · heading east
See live PAO→MDW fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,840 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 5m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- PAO — Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County · Palo Alto, United States
- MDW — Chicago Midway International Airport · Chicago, 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 PAO
- SFO · San Francisco International Airport18 mi away
- NUQ · Moffett Federal Airfield5 mi away
- SQL · San Carlos Airport8 mi away
- SJC · Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport12 mi away
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
Frequently asked questions
How far is PAO from MDW?
The flight distance from Palo Alto (PAO) to Chicago (MDW) is 1,840 miles (2,962 km, 1,599 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from PAO to MDW?
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 PAO to MDW?
Nonstop service on PAO–MDW 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 Palo Alto and Chicago?
Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Palo Alto.
What is the cheapest way to fly from PAO to MDW?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on PAO–MDW that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some PAO to MDW fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain PAO–MDW 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.