Flying from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): what you need to know
The average duration of a direct flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport is 4 hours 43 minutes. San Francisco's timezone is UTC-7, which makes San Francisco 2 hours behind Chicago.
Take your pick of 138 weekly flights from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. The 00:12 departure with United Airlines is the earliest flight you can take between ORD and SFO. United Airlines operates the last service of the day at 23:59 if you'd rather not get up at the crack of dawn.
If you're traveling during a popular month like August, make your way to the airport even earlier. It's wise to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures. Security lines will be longer during vacation periods like summer and spring break.
United Airlines runs direct flights from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. Book with this popular airline, then get ready to check out the sights in San Francisco — plus maybe even more of United States if your schedule allows.
We make it a cinch to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for flights from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to explore your chosen city. Some popular stopovers between ORD and SFO include:
Eppley Airfield
Denver International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
C$81 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. A return flight starts at C$189. These prices may change depending on availability and demand.
To secure cheap flight tickets from ORD to SFO, reserve your trip 9 months before your planned departure.
Organize your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flight tickets from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. If you're flexible with your dates, try out the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Getting a cheap ticket from ORD to SFO couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as the price has dropped.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport.
Handy information about O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport is about 40 kilometres from central Chicago. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the center, it'll take you 35 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be approximately 54 minutes.
Have an early flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by picking one of these hotels close to ORD:
Arriving at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. Book one of these accommodation options near SFO instead:
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport to the center of San Francisco is around 20 minutes by car. It's approximately 21 kilometres away. Find out what options are available, such as cabs, car rentals or ride-sharing.
Getting there on public transport takes roughly 47 minutes.
When to fly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
August is the most popular month for flights from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. To escape the crowds, travel to San Francisco in February.
The warmest month in San Francisco is September, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC and 22ºC. Book your flights from O'Hare International Airport to San Francisco International Airport in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from ORD to SFO in January. Average temperatures are between 6ºC and 16ºC then.
More about San Francisco
If you're looking for somewhere to lay your head, you can find the best places to stay in San Francisco right here. Browse these hotels once you've booked your flight from ORD to SFO:
Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island are just the start of the major attractions to add to your San Francisco to-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Lombard Street.
Complete your San Francisco trip with hotels and a car rental
You've got your cheap ticket to San Francisco International Airport — next on the list is finding a place to stay, and perhaps even your own set of wheels. We've compared prices across hundreds of companies to bring you the top hotels and car rental deals in San Francisco.
