Flying from Vancouver to Chicago: what you need to know
When searching for a flight from Vancouver to Chicago, there's a nice selection of airports you can take off from. Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base (CXH) and Abbotsford Airport (YXX) are among Vancouver's main options.
When working out where to land in Chicago, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) are the primary gateways.
A direct flight from Vancouver to Chicago takes on average 4 hours 9 minutes. The timezone in Chicago is UTC-5, making it 2 hours ahead of Vancouver.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 33 weekly flights to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from Vancouver to Chicago is with United Airlines at 23:35. Choose the first YVR to ORD departure with United Airlines at 06:15 to maximize your time in Chicago.
Leave enough time to catch your flight from Vancouver to Chicago. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Heading away during a peak time like public or school holidays? Expect longer lines at security and check-in. To be on the safe side, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
You don't need a visa for United States if you have a passport from Canada and are travelling for tourism purposes. Travel documentation and visa requirements are subject to changes. So before organizing your cheap flights from Vancouver to Chicago, check with your airline and your destination country's local embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Set out from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on a nonstop flight from Vancouver to Chicago. From YVR, you can land directly at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
At YVR, you'll find a good selection of carriers offering direct flights from Vancouver to Chicago, such as:
Located around 14 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver, YVR can be reached in about 26 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 33 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Vancouver to Chicago? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels near Vancouver International Airport:
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
You can arrive at CXH from the centre of Vancouver in approximately 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride on public transport takes roughly 16 minutes to travel the 2 kilometres or so.
It's your vacation, so why not book an additional night away? Consider checking in to one of these accommodation options near Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport the day before your flight from Vancouver to Chicago:
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 40 kilometres. It'll take you about 35 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It'll take around 54 minutes when travelling by public transport.
Reserve a hotel close to ORD if you have a late flight from Vancouver to Chicago. Pick one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is around 19 kilometres from the centre of Chicago. After your flight from Vancouver to Chicago, allow for a drive time of approximately 21 minutes to get to the heart of the city.
You can also opt for public transport, which will take about 46 minutes.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel close to MDW. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from Vancouver to Chicago:
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Chicago
The cheapest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Vancouver to Chicago is C$187. For a return flight on this route, the best price is C$346. Depending on when you want to go and the availability, these fares may change.
To score cheap flights from Vancouver to Chicago, book your journey 10 months before the departure date.
June is the cheapest month for tickets from Vancouver to Chicago. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
Snapping up a cheap ticket from Vancouver to Chicago is easy with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when the price has dropped.
Use filters to tailor your flights from Vancouver to Chicago. Simply enter your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Best time to go to Chicago
August is the most popular month for flights from Vancouver to Chicago. To avoid the crowds, go to Chicago in February.
Lock in your flight from Vancouver to Chicago for July if you'd like to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Chicago to range from 15ºC to 29ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between -12ºC and 3ºC. Search for cheap flights from Vancouver to Chicago sometime around then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Chicago
Once you've booked your flight from Vancouver to Chicago, think about where you'd like to stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Chicago:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to know where to begin. Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier are leading attractions which should be on any good Chicago itinerary.
Complete your Chicago trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from Vancouver to Chicago isn't the only thing we're good at. Check out our car rentals in Chicago and have more freedom to explore. We search for deals from trusted car rental companies and put them all in one place. Instantly compare rates and then book with no fees.
