Flights to Chicago
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
Chicago is served by 4 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), 11 km (7 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,522 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, 25 km), Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY, 33 km), Michigan City Municipal Airport (MGC, 71 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Midway International Airport | MDW | 11 km (7 mi) | 6,522 ft | 620 ft |
| Chicago O'Hare International Airport | ORD | 25 km (16 mi) | 13,000 ft | 680 ft |
| Gary/Chicago International Airport (regional) | GYY | 33 km (21 mi) | 8,859 ft | 591 ft |
| Michigan City Municipal Airport (regional) | MGC | 71 km (44 mi) | 4,099 ft | 655 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 6,522 ft, MDW handles short and medium-haul aircraft, so a long-haul trip will connect somewhere else first. The airport sits at 620 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
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Routes to and from Chicago
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to New York City | United States | 1,146 km (712 mi) | about 2 h 13 min |
| Chicago to Toronto | Canada | 704 km (437 mi) | about 1 h 39 min |
| Chicago to Brooklyn | United States | 1,152 km (716 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Chicago to Queens | United States | 1,161 km (721 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Chicago to Montréal | Canada | 1,200 km (746 mi) | about 2 h 17 min |
| Chicago to Philadelphia | United States | 1,069 km (664 mi) | about 2 h 7 min |
| Chicago to Manhattan | United States | 1,148 km (713 mi) | about 2 h 13 min |
| Chicago to The Bronx | United States | 1,155 km (717 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Chicago to Dallas | United States | 1,291 km (802 mi) | about 2 h 24 min |
| Chicago to Ottawa | Canada | 1,039 km (646 mi) | about 2 h 5 min |
| Chicago to Jacksonville | United States | 1,388 km (863 mi) | about 2 h 32 min |
| Chicago to Fort Worth | United States | 1,325 km (824 mi) | about 2 h 27 min |
| Chicago to Columbus | United States | 444 km (276 mi) | about 1 h 19 min |
| Chicago to Charlotte | United States | 944 km (587 mi) | about 1 h 58 min |
| Chicago to Indianapolis | United States | 263 km (164 mi) | about 1 h 5 min |
| Chicago to Winnipeg | Canada | 1,155 km (718 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Chicago to Denver | United States | 1,475 km (917 mi) | about 2 h 38 min |
| Chicago to Mississauga | Canada | 680 km (423 mi) | about 1 h 37 min |
| Chicago to Washington | United States | 956 km (594 mi) | about 1 h 59 min |
| Chicago to Nashville | United States | 636 km (395 mi) | about 1 h 34 min |
| Chicago to Oklahoma City | United States | 1,111 km (690 mi) | about 2 h 10 min |
| Chicago to Brampton | Canada | 675 km (419 mi) | about 1 h 37 min |
| Chicago to Shanghai | China | 11,360 km (7,059 mi) | about 15 h 19 min |
| Chicago to Chongqing | China | 11,942 km (7,420 mi) | about 16 h 4 min |
| Chicago to Chengdu | China | 11,863 km (7,371 mi) | about 15 h 58 min |
| Chicago to Beijing | China | 10,606 km (6,590 mi) | about 14 h 21 min |
| Chicago to Istanbul | Turkey | 8,815 km (5,477 mi) | about 12 h 3 min |
| Chicago to Tianjin | China | 10,666 km (6,628 mi) | about 14 h 25 min |
| Chicago to Wuhan | China | 11,653 km (7,241 mi) | about 15 h 41 min |
| Chicago to Lahore | Pakistan | 11,647 km (7,237 mi) | about 15 h 41 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for Chicago?
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is the closest large airport at 11 km (7 mi). The others, ORD, GYY, MGC, are further out and worth it only when the fare or the airline makes them so.
How far is MDW from Chicago city centre?
11 km (7 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to Chicago on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.