Chicago to Columbia flights
Columbia lies 1,047 km (651 mi) south-east of Chicago, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 6 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Chicago | Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 2.7 million | 142,416 |
| Elevation | 180 m (591 ft) | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Nearest large airport | MDW, 11 km out | CAE, 11 km out |
| Postal codes | 60601–60701 | 29201–29292 |
Clocks in Columbia are 1 h ahead of Chicago right now, so a 2 h 6 min journey lands 3 h 6 min later by the destination clock.
Airports at each end
Leaving Chicago
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).
Arriving in Columbia
Columbia is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), 11 km (7 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,601 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Metropolitan Airport (regional) | CAE | 11 km (7 mi) | 8,601 ft | 236 ft |
Book a flight to Columbia
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Staying in Columbia
Live rooms and prices for Columbia are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Columbia
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Common questions
How far is Columbia from Chicago?
1,047 km (651 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Chicago.
How long does it take to get from Chicago to Columbia by air?
About 2 h 6 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Chicago and Columbia?
Columbia is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/New_York against America/Chicago).
Which airports are used for Chicago to Columbia flights?
Typically Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE).
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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.