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SMO to ORD: distance & flight time
Santa Monica (Santa Monica Municipal Airport) → Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport)
1,741 mi
2,802 km · 1,513 nm
3h 53m
estimated nonstop flight time
+2h
time difference · heading northeast
See live SMO→ORD fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,741 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 53m gate to gate, flying northeast. 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
- SMO — Santa Monica Municipal Airport · Santa Monica, 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 SMO
- LAX · Los Angeles International Airport6 mi away
- HHR · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport9 mi away
- BUR · Bob Hope Airport14 mi away
- VNY · Van Nuys Airport14 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 SMO from ORD?
The flight distance from Santa Monica (SMO) to Chicago (ORD) is 1,741 miles (2,802 km, 1,513 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SMO to ORD?
A nonstop flight takes about 3h 53m 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 Santa Monica and Chicago?
Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Santa Monica.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SMO to ORD?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SMO–ORD that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.