What percentage of Chicago to Houston flights are direct?

Across the trailing quarter, approximately 47.5% of flights from Chicago to Houston were direct. For travelers with connecting flights, the median number of stopovers was 2. This indicates that while direct options are available, a significant portion of routes involve at least one stop.

How long does it take to fly from Chicago to Houston?

The typical direct flight from Chicago to Houston has a duration of 3 hours and 1 minute, covering a distance of 1491 kilometers. Flights with one stop, however, typically take considerably longer. The median duration for flights with one stop is around 11 hours and 3 minutes.

How often do Chicago to Houston flight prices drop?

Historically, flight prices for the Chicago to Houston route have shown frequent drops. This suggests that travelers may have regular opportunities to find more affordable fares. The pricing trends observed in the trailing 30 days indicate that this is a route where price fluctuations are common.

Flights From Chicago

To Houston

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Houston

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Deals from

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Prices updated 2 days ago

405 airlines compared

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Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Chicago to Houston

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Chicago to Houston

2026-08-20 – 2026-08-24
CHI - Houston
79% AI deal score
$165
$78
Round trip
2026-08-19 – 2026-08-26
CHI - Houston
77% AI deal score
$154
$83
Round trip
2026-08-12 – 2026-08-25
CHI - Houston
74% AI deal score
$130
$83
Round trip
2026-08-20 – 2026-08-27
CHI - Houston
77% AI deal score
$154
$83
Round trip
2026-09-01 – 2026-09-15
CHI - Houston
72% AI deal score
$113
$83
Round trip
2026-09-02 – 2026-09-16
CHI - Houston
72% AI deal score
$113
$83
Round trip
2026-09-01 – 2026-09-22
CHI - Houston
67% AI deal score
$108
$83
Round trip
2026-09-02 – 2026-09-23
CHI - Houston
67% AI deal score
$108
$83
Round trip
2026-09-01 – 2026-09-10
CHI - Houston
73% AI deal score
$122
$83
Round trip
2026-09-02 – 2026-09-12
CHI - Houston
72% AI deal score
$117
$83
Round trip

Chicago to Houston: Overview

Insights for flights from Chicago to Houston

Flights from Chicago to Houston typically range from $118–$652, with a median price of $338. Right now, fares are above the typical level, and about 11% of recent fares were considered a good price. New deals appear almost daily, offering frequent opportunities for travelers seeking cheap flights from Chicago to Houston.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Chicago to Houston, November stands out with a median fare of $105. May is another economical option, with median fares around $108. You can also find competitive pricing in July, where the median fare is $124.

For direct flights from Chicago to Houston, a meaningful share are non-stop, while the remaining itineraries typically include two connections. This mix allows for flexibility in travel planning, whether you prioritize speed or are open to connecting flights for potentially different pricing.

A typical journey from Chicago to Houston takes about 3h 1m, including connections. Non-stop flights also have a median duration of 3h 1m, while connecting flights can extend to a median of 25h 53m. This route is considered a short-haul flight, covering a distance of 1491 kilometers.

How much is a round trip from Chicago to Houston

Regular price: $117 - $226

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Chicago to Houston is $117 to $226. The current lowest deal is $78 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Aug 20-Aug 24.

now $78

Low $117

High $226

The cheapest time to fly from Chicago to Houston

The cheapest month to fly from Chicago to Houston is November, with a median price of $266. The most expensive month to fly is April, with a median price of $977. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

November

Cheapest

Flights from $266

April

Most Expensive

Flights from $977

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Chicago to Houston

Frontier Airlines

Southwest Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Chicago to Houston

Wed, Aug 5

⌛ Last-Minute

MDW - Houston

Chicago (MDW) - Houston (IAH)

Frontier Airlines

$308

$171

One-way

Mon, Aug 10

⌛ Last-Minute

RFD - Houston

Chicago (RFD) - Houston (IAH)

Allegiant Air

$324

$199

One-way

Tue, Aug 11

⌛ Last-Minute

ORD - Houston

Chicago (ORD) - Houston (IAH)

Frontier Airlines

$153

$94

One-way

Tue, Aug 11

⌛ Last-Minute

MDW - Houston

Chicago (MDW) - Houston (HOU)

$394

$193

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

ORD - Houston

Chicago (ORD) - Houston (IAH)

Frontier Airlines

$159

$83

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

ORD - Houston

Chicago (ORD) - Houston (IAH)

Frontier Airlines

$131

$83

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Chicago to Houston

7 nights

Dec 1 - Dec 8

$612 → $218

64%

7 nights

Dec 17 - Dec 24

$644 → $268

58%

3 nights

Dec 3 - Dec 6

$633 → $288

55%

5 nights

Dec 30 - Jan 4

$637 → $328

49%

Popular Airports to fly from Chicago to Houston

Chicago - Houston route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares for Chicago to Houston are above the typical level at $338.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in November for the best prices

Historically, November is the cheapest month to fly, with a median price of $266.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 3h 1m

Direct flights from Chicago to Houston typically take 3h 1m, while connecting flights average 25h 53m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

47.5% of recent flights are direct

Historically, 47.5% of flights on this route are direct, with 2 stopovers typical for connecting flights.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers direct flights

Frontier Airlines is one of the carriers offering direct flights from Chicago to Houston.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent on this route

Deals for flights from Chicago to Houston are frequent, appearing often in a 30-day window.

Chicago main airports to depart from

O Hare International (ORD)

Cheapest

Consider O'Hare International for flights from Chicago to Houston, offering the cheapest flights from $82.

📍 ~25 km from Chicago city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$82

Houston main airports to arrive at

George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)

Cheapest

George Bush Intercontinental Airport is a convenient arrival option for flights from Chicago to Houston.

📍 ~25 km from Houston (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$82

Airports nearby Houston used as alternative

Austin–Bergstrom International (AUS)

Austin–Bergstrom International offers extensive domestic and international routes, a reliable alternative for Houston.

📍 ~230 km from Houston (reachable by car, but traffic may impact travel time).

💸 Flights from ~$154

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Houston

77% AI deal score

$1,058

$673

Save $385

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Houston

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Chicago to Houston is typically between 28 and 59 days prior to departure. During this period, the average price for a ticket is around $273. Prices tend to be significantly higher for last-minute bookings, with flights purchased 0-6 days out averaging $760. Even bookings made 60 or more days in advance are typically more expensive, with an average price of $370.

Based on historical data from the trailing 90 days, a good price for a flight from Chicago to Houston is considered to be around $118 or less. The median price for this route across the trailing quarter was $338. Travelers might see prices as high as $652, which represents the 75th percentile of prices observed.

Historically, November and May have offered the cheapest flights from Chicago to Houston. In November, the median price was $105, while in May, it was $108. July also presented a relatively low median price of $124. The annual median price for this route, based on data from the trailing 270 days, was $338.

Related routes

More routes from Chicago

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Flights to Houston from other cities

Flights from Charlotte to Houston Flights from Cleveland to Houston Flights from Colorado Springs to Houston Flights from Dallas to Houston Flights from Denver to Houston Flights from Detroit to Houston Flights from Edinburgh to Houston Flights from El Paso to Houston Flights from Fort Lauderdale to Houston Flights from Frankfurt to Houston Flights from Guadalajara to Houston Flights from New Delhi to Houston

Chicago to Houston: Overview

Insights for flights from Chicago to Houston

How much is a round trip from Chicago to Houston

Regular price: $117 - $226

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Chicago to Houston is $117 to $226. The current lowest deal is $78 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Aug 20-Aug 24.

now $78

Low $117

High $226

The cheapest time to fly from Chicago to Houston

November

Cheapest

Flights from $266

April

Most Expensive

Flights from $977

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec