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Cheap Flights from Chicago to California

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Los Angeles
Los Angelesnonstop$201
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$299
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$259
San Jose
San Jose2 stops$347
Palm Springs
Palm Springsnonstop$331
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$267
Reno
Reno1 stop$217
Los Angeles
Los Angelesnonstop$201
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$299
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$259
San Jose
San Jose2 stops$347
Palm Springs
Palm Springsnonstop$331
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$267
Reno
Reno1 stop$217
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Chicago to California flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

What are the cheapest fares from Chicago to California recently?

The cheapest fares from Chicago to California on KAYAK in the last week were to Ontario (ONT) from $167 round-trip and to Los Angeles (LAX) from $218 round-trip.

How do fares into airports in California compare?

According to KAYAK data from the last 12 months, the cheapest airports to fly into California from Chicago are:

• Los Angeles (LAX) (avg. price $331)
• San Diego (SAN) (avg. price $339)
• San Francisco (SFO) (avg. price $386)

Are flights from Chicago to California cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from Chicago to California are about 12% higher than they were in November last year, averaging $397 round-trip.

What's the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to California?

April is typically the cheapest month to fly from Chicago to California, with round-trip fares averaging $327. June and November are usually the most expensive, averaging $414 and $403, respectively.

How do fares from Chicago to California vary by day of the week?

On average, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly from Chicago to California and Monday is the most expensive. Looking at the past 12 months of KAYAK data, it's 22% more expensive to fly on a Monday compared to Wednesday.

What's the best time of day to fly from Chicago to California?

It's cheapest to fly to California at night with average prices of $333. The morning is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $401.

What's the best time to book a flight from Chicago to California?

Book your flights 7 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 40% compared to booking at the last minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Key details for Chicago to California flights

Low season

October

Cheapest flight

$112
Beat the crowds with an average 25% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 24% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Los Angeles

Flights from Chicago to California: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Chicago to California 
TammiFlew with American Airlines-Sep 2026
In LA - only way to get an uber is to take a bus to an offsite area - can’t get directly at airport.
MarkFlew with American Airlines-Jun 2026
Get there early, only one TSA line open and thew queue was very long.
MikeFlew with American Airlines-Sep 2024
Arrive early, grab a bottle of soda before getting on the plane and open it in the terminal. If you wait until flying the pressure will decarbonize the drink.

Your Chicago to California flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • Is now a good time to book a flight from Chicago to California?

    Yes. Fares from Chicago to California are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $282 (cheaper than most fares this year) is a good deal, so if you spot one at or below that, it's a good time to book.

  • How much should I budget for a flight from Chicago to California?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from Chicago to California have typically cost between $282 and $511.

  • What are the main airports serving California?

    There are 43 airports in California. 34% of KAYAK users choose Los Angeles (LAX) as their arrival airport, while 20% choose San Francisco (SFO).

  • Which airlines fly nonstop from Chicago to California?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, 7 airlines operate nonstop flights from Chicago to California, including:

    • United Airlines
    • American Airlines
    • Southwest
    • Delta
    • Alaska Airlines

  • Which destinations in California can I fly nonstop from Chicago?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, you can fly nonstop from Chicago to 13 destinations in California. The most popular among KAYAK travelers are Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

  • Is it cheaper to fly with a layover from Chicago to California?

    Yes, nonstop flights from Chicago to California average $374 over the past 12 months, but flights with a layover can cost less. The most affordable connecting airports are:

    • El Paso (ELP) (avg. price $236)
    • Kansas City (MCI) (avg. price $283)
    • Orlando (MCO) (avg. price $297)

  • How long is a flight from Chicago to California?

    Nonstop flights from Chicago to California take 4h 46m on average. The fastest scheduled flight takes 4h 25m, flying into Los Angeles (LAX).

  • Which cabin classes are available from Chicago to California?

    On flights from Chicago to California you can book Economy Class, Premium Economy Class, Business Class or First Class.

  • What are some popular landmarks around California?

    California is home to many popular sights. KAYAK travelers' favorites include:

    • Universal Studios Hollywood
    • Gaslamp Quarter
    • Fisherman's Wharf
    • Venice Beach

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Chicago to California?

    The earliest nonstop flight from Chicago to California departs at 12:01 am and the latest leaves at 11:55 pm. Nonstop flights take about 4h 46m.

  • Is ORD accessible to all?

    You can count on having a smooth experience at ORD if you’re disabled, as this airport is accessible to all. To cater to passengers with mobility impairment, it features drop-off areas equipped with curb ranks and mandates each airline that serves flights to California to offer wheelchair assistance. It has also invested in restrooms throughout the airport with wheelchair-accessible facilities. The said restrooms are three in Terminal 1, two in Terminal two, over ten in Terminal 3, and two in Terminal 5.

  • How can I travel to ORD from Downtown Chicago?

    In case you’re set to fly from Chicago’s ORD to California, you can travel to the airport from Downtown Chicago via a Blue Line train, a Metra North Central Service train line, a CTA bus, or a taxi. Boarding a Blue Line train, a Metra North Central service train, or a CTA bus is advisable if you’re on a budget. On the other hand, boarding a taxi is advisable if you value convenience. This is because, unlike its comparisons, a taxi will pick you up at your preferred destination and transport you directly to the airport.

  • Can I breastfeed my baby before my flight to California?

    Regardless of the Chicago airport you’re set to fly out of, you can comfortably breastfeed your baby while waiting for your flight since both transit stations offer nursing rooms equipped with comfortable seats, deep sinks, changing tables, and power outlets. At MDW, the available nursing room is in Concourse C, next to the yoga room. In contrast, at ORD, the rooms are available near gates B4, B10, and C 20 in Terminal 1, between gates E5 and F9 in Terminal 2, the Rotunda and gate L6 in Terminal 3, gate M20 in Terminal 5, and on Level 1 of the Multi-Modal Facility.

  • Is it possible to rent a car at LAX?

    If you want to rent a car once you land at LAX, you’ll be able to do so with ease since the airport features counters for Alamo, Avis, Fox, Enterprise, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, Payless, Six, Zipcar, and Thrifty. The counters for these agencies are housed in the airport’s car rental center, accessible through purple Rental Car Shuttles. These shuttles are boarded on the Lower/Arrivals Level islands outside the Baggage Claim.

Your guide to booking Chicago to California flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If you can plan ahead, the sweet spot for booking your flight is 7 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 40% lower than last-minute bookings (made within 2 weeks of departure). Not ready to commit? Set a Price Alert and we'll let you know when prices change.
  • Flexible with your dates? Fly in April to save some money. It's typically the cheapest month on this route, while flights in June will cost you the most.
  • Fly out on a Wednesday to get the cheapest fares. Avoid Monday flights, which are about 22% more expensive.
  • If you're watching your budget, fly into Los Angeles (LAX) which has the lowest average airfare in the region. Just remember to budget for any onward travel by bus, car or domestic flight.
  • Start your trip in San Diego, the most popular destination in California. From there, it's easy to continue on to other popular spots such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Anaheim.
  • Time or money? If speed matters most, fly from Chicago to Ontario (ONT). If you're after the lowest fares, Los Angeles (LAX) is usually your best bet.
  • You can board your flight to California at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) or O’Hare International Airport (ORD). When selecting your flight, choose one that departs at MDW. Doing so is in your best interest because MDW experiences lower passenger traffic than ORD, meaning it has shorter queues.
  • When booking a flight to California, book one that lands at an airport close to your preferred destination. You can land at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Oakland International Airport (OAK) if you’re flying into Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland, respectively.
  • Suppose you intend to fly to California with your pet. If that’s the case, you can let your pet relieve itself at ORD in one of the airport’s Service Animal Relief Areas. They are outside security on the lower levels of Terminals 1, 2, and 5 and inside security in Terminal 3 Rotunda and Main Hall.
  • If a small airport serves your California destination, use LAX as your travel base. This is because it serves commercial flights to nearly all small airports in the state. If you need assistance at MDW, visit the airport’s information desk at the Main Entrance of the Terminal. Here, you’ll find knowledgeable airport staff, always ready to help.
  • If you need assistance at MDW, visit the airport’s information desk at the Main Entrance of the Terminal. Here, you’ll find knowledgeable airport staff, always ready to help.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Chicago to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Chicago to California? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4220 reviews
7.5Entertainment
8.1Boarding
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
7.0Food
Airline reviews

Multiple delays due to weather in Chicago, but the crew did their best to get flights rescheduled and on to their destination. I felt like the crews handled a frustrating situation very well, kudos to them! I was very glad to not have a cancelled flight.

8.0 ExcellentEmmalee, Oct 2026
Read more Southwest reviews

Multiple delays due to weather in Chicago, but the crew did their best to get flights rescheduled and on to their destination. I felt like the crews handled a frustrating situation very well, kudos to them! I was very glad to not have a cancelled flight.

Southwest’s point to point system caused a 2 hour delay due to the crew being late from their inbound flight. Also, the WiFi and entertainment didn’t work on the plane.

A) Checked my luggage at the gate but never got to pre board B) if we are helping with checking our carryon and waiting 40 minutes for it we should have some privileges c) luggage took 40-45 minutes to come.. d) I asked for another snack and was told the plane is full.. seriously a small snack

I like the staff members they were super nice and helpful very sweet people :)

Boarding process of asking for volunteers to check bags goes against the system you had before with 2 bags checked free. This process is more of a guilt trip than a caring attitude toward the customer. In addition bag-size scrutiny has increased which also slows down the process of boarding. My wife said she will not fly on your airline again unless there is no other option.

Overall good, just screaming kids in the area the whole flight.

OKay. I sat in the back of the plane and it was really loud between babies and little kids, and adults who.like to talk a lot and loudly most of the flight.

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

Flight was delayed more than 2 hour do the scheduling issues and then some confusing weight and balance matters, followed by a miscommunication with the tower on which runway was going to be used based on the airplane weight. All these things should have been figured out in advance. Instead of arriving at 12:30 a.m. we arrived at 2:30 a.m. very difficult to find a taxi or other transport at SFO. Luggage was delayed. An extension of an unpleasant flight day

no entertainment options available on a 4+ hour flight. packed in like sardines. one bathroom. late flight.

Great flight with great crew. I like that they came around to serve our strings twice during our four-hour flight.

No WiFi. Terrible food. Very long walk to the gate and from the gate after landing. Gate changed without notice.

I really hate the seat assignment at the gate. I understand it is so families can sit together but it caused me and others a lot of unnecessary stress and confusion, enough for me to not fly Alaska again. The app is so awful that it did not even update my seat assignment on the boarding pass but sent me a notification of my seat... it showed in Apple Wallet but not in the Alaska app itself. That only made the stress worse. I think most people like myself prefer to know where they are seated at check in 24 hours before so they don't have to anxiously hang out at the gate the entire time. This is not a good use of your agents time either to be dealing with all of us asking where we are sitting. You should automatically assign the multiple seat purchases to be together before they check in and fill us solo travelers in those gaps as we check in.

The flight was delayed so we didn’t get into San Diego until almost 1 AM. Otherwise, it was lovely.

My flight got canceled never left san diego and miss out my fam event

would have been nice for flight to not be delayed by 2 hours so that we had to pay $80 to get home since BART had shut down. i thought a 10pm arrival would leave enough time to account for delays but i was wrong.

I like that volunteers were asked to check in their carryons for free. And then they come out of the carousels within 20 minutes as promised.

The landing was a little rough - but a good flight overall! :)

The issue was not alaska airlines. The ticket you printed was innacurate.

Pretty terrible. The aisles on this flight were too narrow so we had to carry our baby, care seat, luggage, travel stroller step by step down the aisle slowing down a lot of passengers in the process. Not only was this a safety hazard but remember that scene from game of thrones where Cersei walks naked through the streets? It felt about as excruciating as that except both me and my husband were carrying 50lbs of weight while everyone from the flight attendants and passengers dolled out comments like “that stroller doesn’t fit in the overhead compartment and you should check it at the gate” when it is a travel stroller that absolutely fits and did fit in the overhead compartment. The flight said it was 30 min delayed but in actuality we did not take off until 1.5 hours past the original time. It was absolutely terrible. Alaska also charged us 200 dollars just in baggage fees even tho we took the time to buy two check on baggages via their app and bought an extra seat for our child and they still refused to overlook our first time flying with them. Everyone in general looked super miserable and traveling with them with a child is pretty much untenable. Lastly I originally thought I had booked an AM flight for my family but it was a PM flight which I knew was not going to end well since we had a 1.5 year old with us on a flight that gets in 9p. I ended up calling Alaska to try to change the first leg for a change fee, and would even have accepted half of a refund to book a completely different flight but of course they refused and absolutely allowed no flexibility to plans so I guess my revenge was our baby cried for 3 out of the four hour flight and hopefully convinced every miserable person on that flight to never fly Alaska again 🤷🏻‍♀️

Connection times always good online, but not in reality when first leg is delayed (2 out of 2 times this trip).

The seats are very small, that is all the staff did a good job.

Old 757 with poor entertainment system. United no longer partners with United for free text and email. O'Hara an absolute disaster! Limited gates clauses two hour delay. Unfortunately this appears to be the norm.

The SFO lounge closes at 12 midnight. My flight took off at 2AM

Know that the movies that you are going to be offered are the oldest be rated movies they could possibly get. They may have one or two new movies that they keep advertising but when you’re flying 15 hours, there is nothing to see past the first new movie.

The crew was great. Very friendly and responsive. The plane was old, small and tight. We ran out of overhead space and I had to check. Middle seat was particularly tight.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Terrible, if possible won't be flying again anytime soon!

Subject: Formal Complaint: Discriminatory and Unprofessional Conduct – Request for Immediate Action & Compensation Dear [Airline Customer Relations Team], I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding my recent travel experience with [Airline], which was by far the worst I have ever encountered. What occurred was not only unprofessional, but in several instances discriminatory, unsafe, and unacceptable. On the first leg of my trip, I arrived only four minutes past check-in. Instead of making any attempt to resolve the matter, your representative flatly denied me boarding and made me wait while she attended to passengers who arrived after me. By the time a manager intervened, it was too late to board, costing me time, money, and unnecessary frustration. The second leg of my trip (Chicago–San Francisco) raised even more serious concerns. From the outset, it was apparent that the staff—particularly two attendants—prioritized Caucasian passengers while dismissing African American and minority passengers. • When a Caucasian passenger in the exit row refused to comply with federal safety requirements, I, as a first responder, immediately offered to switch seats and assume the responsibility. My offer was blatantly ignored, and instead, a Caucasian passenger seated further up was chosen. This was discriminatory and deeply insulting, especially as I was actively de-escalating the situation that could have delayed the flight further. • During a lengthy tarmac delay of over 90 minutes, passengers were given conflicting and unreasonable instructions that created unnecessary distress and tension. • Throughout the flight, a visibly intoxicated passenger directly in front of me was disruptive, rude to others, failed to comply with seatbelt and electronic device rules, and yet faced no enforcement from the crew. In stark contrast, I was singled out for repeated compliance checks even though I was following every rule. This unequal treatment was so obvious that multiple passengers around me spoke up in my defense. This pattern of behavior demonstrated a clear lack of professionalism, disregard for passenger safety, and discriminatory treatment. I expect far better from an airline of your stature. As a paying customer subjected to this unacceptable treatment, I am formally requesting: 1. A full investigation into the conduct of the staff on both flights. 2. A written apology acknowledging the discriminatory and unprofessional behavior I endured. 3. Appropriate compensation for the distress, inconvenience, and mishandling of my travel. If this matter is not addressed promptly and thoroughly, I will have no choice but to escalate my complaint further, including filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation and sharing my experience through other channels. I trust [Airline] will take this complaint seriously and provide a timely resolution.

Check in was quick and easy during early hours. Flight was on time, and customer services was a plus.

The food in first class has taken a big downturn

The WiFi was out gr entire flight. Had to Diane for almost 1 hour to wait for a gate to open up for plane to dock. Very bad experience.

The seats cushion on my seat (exit row) needs to be replaced. It felt like I was sitting on a bar rather than a seat cushion. Also, I was in the middle seat and I sat next to an oversized guy (window seat) and he took up about 25% of my space. Otherwise, the experience was good. :)

It was so much better than expected, Ohare is not such a pleasant experience but American Airlines with the new, clean aeroplane and free Wi-Fi was outstanding and the crew so pleasant and helpful.

Amazing food, great staff, with one noticable detail missing ...but no seat entertainment in any of aircraft ...I am not a fan

My boarding pass wouldn't pull up in the app very easily and had to really dig through my email. That caused a delay in TSA..

Baby cried a lot. Nothing anyone could do about it. Just part of flying.

The flight crew was fantastic! Which the seats had a small TV.

My husband and I pre-ordered our food, but they did not have my husband’s order, and my cheese plate was very average. I asked for a blanket and was told they don’t carry blankets on domestic routs. The flight was on time and smooth!

5 hour flight - full flight - not enough room to use my computer - slightly delayed - Admirals club was excellent quality food, drink made up for flight seating. No food offerred on flight, you ahd to prebook.

Flight was canceled. Most upsetting was message from Kayak, stating that the flight was canceled and click with Kayak for details regarding rebook, refund details. THERE'S NO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY KAYAK EXCEPT THAT FLIGHT IS CANCELED. AND NOW THIS SURVEY TO FIND OUT HOW WAS THE FLIGHT !!!!!!!

Better than expected. Staff were friendly and nice on both flights.

Just know that everything, and I mean everything is “ala cart”. 60$ just to put something in the overhead bin. I will never fly Frontier again nor do I recommend them to anyone else.

Great for the price. No wifi or entertainment, but gate agents and crew were fantastic and we boarded quickly and left on time.

Our flight was canceled for no known reason. We weren’t told until we were checking in at 5:00 am. This was after our last flight with Frontier where we sat on the plane for three hours (not an exaggeration) before we took off because of a mechanical issue. We won’t be flying Frontier again.

I didn’t have enough time to catch my connecting flight and had to use a different Airline. I will be requesting a refund.

I brought a ticket and car rental through Travelocity. There was no where to add a KTN. So I thought i’d add it by looking up ticket on frontier website. I tried 3 times with the frontier chat bot to add my KTN it never updated my boarding pass. So then I tried showing up early to do it in person at the airport. The first employee update my ktn in the system and gave me a new boarding pass. I was sent back by tsa to join regular line. Then I was told to add my Ktn. It would cost me $25 extra. Given the length of the cue I did pay. Congratulations! BUT I will NEVER fly frontier again. Plus the plane was very old. It had actual ashtrays and old looking tray backs. Worst travel experience ever. Im warning my friends and family not to use frontier ever.

It was delayed 9 hours for operational reasons, despite the plane arriving to the airport on time.

Was just ok with over selling I guess. A lot of people in a short space and when we finally arrive i20 minutes, waiting to get out from the plain because we were waiting authorization for out boarding? Something like that.

They changed my flight and did not want to accommodate me or try to help me in any way. They do not care about their customers.

More options for your flight from Chicago to California

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