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SFO to ORD: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport)
1,842 mi
2,964 km · 1,600 nm
4h 5m
estimated nonstop flight time
+2h
time difference · heading east
See live SFO→ORD fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,842 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
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- ORD — Chicago O'Hare 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 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
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
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from ORD?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD) 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 SFO to ORD?
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.
What is the time difference between San Francisco and Chicago?
Chicago is 2 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to ORD?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–ORD that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.