$70 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Denver - Compare and Save

By far the fastest way to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is on the Chicago L Trains. The Orange Line train runs from downtown to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) in about 20–25 minutes. Riders may purchase either a single ride, 1-day or 3-day ticket for the trip, depending on their needs.

Once travelers have collected their luggage they should request their ride from Uber. Standard sized Ubers can be met on Level 5 Island 5, while Uber Black and SUVs should be met on Level 5, Island 2. Please take note if you are on the east or west side of the airport when requesting your Uber.

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) has two pet relief areas. One is indoors and located next to gate A5, with synthetic grass and a sitting area, while the outdoor facility, which is a fenced area that includes bags for dog waste and benches, is located at the south end of the lower level.

The free cell phone lot, quaintly named the Final Approach, is located about three miles from the airport on Pena Blvd. Those meeting passengers should wait here for travelers to arrive on their flights and collect their bags since there is no waiting or parking is allowed curbside at the terminal buildings.

The distance between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport (DEN) is about 23 miles. The easiest and most convenient way of getting there is via The A-Line commuter train in a travel time of 37min. The train station is located at the Transit Center, on the ground level side of Westin.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science lies about 16 miles from Denver International Airport (DEN). There are several transportation options connecting the two destinations. If you’re traveling on a budget, then line 40 bus is a perfect choice as it helps you save a few dollars, and you’ll be there in about 50min. However, if you value convenience and privacy, take a taxi and be there in about 27min.

You can find several car rental companies at Denver International Airport (DEN), most of them located about a 5min drive from the airport. From the baggage claim area, continue out the double-door exits on either side of the terminal, and look out for a shuttle that will connect you to this point.

Denver International Airport (DEN) offers services to passengers with disabilities and limited mobility. However, it’s critical to pre-book the services with your airline. Besides the wheelchair-accessible terminals and counters, there is an elevator to aid your passage from one floor to another.  

Among airlines operating Chicago to Denver flights:

• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Frontier: offers free seat selection
• American Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Southwest: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

4 airlines operate flights between Chicago and Denver. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Southwest
• Frontier

Flights from Chicago to Denver may depart from several airports in Chicago area, including Chicago Midway (MDW), Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) and Chicago Greater Rockford (RFD). Flights usually arrive at Denver Intl (DEN).

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Frontier: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• American Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so travelers should check the fare details before booking.

Four cabin classes are available on flights from Chicago to Denver:

• Economy Class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Prices vary by airline.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $159 round-trip via Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), compared to $251 for nonstop.

There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $40–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

One-stop flights from Chicago to Denver most commonly connect through:

• Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 57% of one-stop connections
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) - 26% of one-stop connections
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 4% of one-stop connections
• Nashville Intl (BNA) - 3% of one-stop connections

Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

On the Chicago to Denver route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 17%. Saturday is the cheapest day at $239 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $285: a $46 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Chicago to Denver route, 20% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 22 minutes.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Chicago to Denver flights, with 44% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 28%, evening flights for 16%, and night flights for 12%.

Some of the most popular sights in Denver are Colorado Convention Center, Union Station Denver and Coors Field. These are among the most viewed places in Denver on KAYAK.

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Chicago to Denver:

• Earliest: departs at 12:01 am and lands at 2:51 am
• Latest: departs at 11:10 pm and lands at 2:00 am.

The flight takes about 2h 50m.

Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 31% above the route average of $250. Book 8 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A nonstop flight from Chicago to Denver takes 2h 50m, covering 899 miles.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

One-way fares from Chicago to Denver are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $104, which is 43% below the typical average for this route.

United Airlines is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Southwest has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Chicago to Denver flights are:

• United Airlines: 84% on time
• Southwest: 79% on time
• Frontier: 78% on time

Overall, flights on this route are on time 80% of the time on average.

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

Flying via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 21m, compared with 5h 31m via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) and 5h 57m via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD).

Denver is 1 hour behind Chicago (Mountain Time vs Central Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Denver Intl Airport (DEN) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $16 for economy cars. Top options include:
• Routes Car & Truck Rentals
• Ace
• NU Car
• Europcar
• Hertz

Round-trip flights from Chicago to Denver range from $184 to $336, with an average of $250 over the past 12 months. Anything below $184 counts as a good deal.

Two airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on Chicago to Denver flights:

• • American Airlines
• • JetBlue