Chicago to Buffalo flights
Buffalo lies 729 km (453 mi) 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 1 h 41 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 | Buffalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 2.7 million | 258,071 |
| Elevation | 180 m (591 ft) | 191 m (627 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Nearest large airport | MDW, 11 km out | BUF, 13 km out |
| Postal codes | 60601–60701 | 14201–14280 |
Clocks in Buffalo are 1 h ahead of Chicago right now, so a 1 h 41 min journey lands 2 h 41 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 Buffalo
Buffalo is served by 5 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), 13 km (8 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,829 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM, 91 km), Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG, 25 km), Niagara District Airport (YCM, 41 km), Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ, 92 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Niagara International Airport | BUF | 13 km (8 mi) | 8,829 ft | 728 ft |
| John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport | YHM | 91 km (57 mi) | 10,006 ft | 780 ft |
| Niagara Falls International Airport (regional) | IAG | 25 km (16 mi) | 9,826 ft | 589 ft |
| Niagara District Airport (regional) | YCM | 41 km (25 mi) | 5,000 ft | 321 ft |
| Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (regional) | YTZ | 92 km (57 mi) | 3,988 ft | 252 ft |
Book a flight to Buffalo
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Staying in Buffalo
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Common questions
How far is Buffalo from Chicago?
729 km (453 mi) in a straight line, east of Chicago.
How long does it take to get from Chicago to Buffalo by air?
About 1 h 41 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 Buffalo?
Buffalo is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/New_York against America/Chicago).
Which airports are used for Chicago to Buffalo flights?
Typically Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF); Buffalo also has YHM, IAG, YCM, YTZ.
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.