Can I fly direct from Columbus to Chicago?

Yes, direct flights from Columbus to Chicago are commonly available. Historically, approximately 76.3% of flights on this route have been direct. For travelers who opt for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers has been 3. This indicates a strong preference and availability for non-stop travel between these two cities.

What's the flight time from Columbus to Chicago?

The typical direct flight from Columbus to Chicago has a median duration of 1 hour and 36 minutes, covering a distance of 454 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median travel time increases significantly to 9 hours and 14 minutes. This substantial difference highlights the efficiency of choosing a direct option for this route.

Should I set a price alert for Columbus to Chicago flights?

Given that flight deals for the Columbus to Chicago route are historically frequent, setting a price alert is a good strategy. This route typically sees a consistent flow of deals across the trailing quarter. Utilizing a price alert can help you monitor fluctuations and secure a favorable price when one becomes available.

Flights From Columbus

To Chicago

Cheap Flights from Columbus to Chicago

Browse current best options from Columbus. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Columbus

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Chicago

Prices updated today

456 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Aug 31, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Columbus to Chicago

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Columbus to Chicago

2026-09-17 – 2026-09-21
CMH - Chicago
72% AI deal score
$312
$148
Round trip
2026-09-15 – 2026-09-30
CMH - Chicago
75% AI deal score
$284
$148
Round trip
2026-09-19 – 2026-09-22
CMH - Chicago
72% AI deal score
$353
$149
Round trip
2026-09-16 – 2026-09-17
CMH - Chicago
72% AI deal score
$353
$149
Round trip
2026-10-01 – 2026-10-08
CMH - Chicago
74% AI deal score
$264
$149
Round trip
2026-09-10 – 2026-09-14
CMH - Chicago
72% AI deal score
$324
$152
Round trip
2026-09-24 – 2026-09-26
CMH - Chicago
50% AI deal score
$209
$157
Round trip
2026-09-26 – 2026-09-30
CMH - Chicago
43% AI deal score
$161
$157
Round trip
2026-09-17 – 2026-09-24
CMH - Chicago
49% AI deal score
$198
$157
Round trip
2026-09-14 – 2026-09-15
CMH - Chicago
65% AI deal score
$213
$157
Round trip

Columbus to Chicago: Overview

Insights for flights from Columbus to Chicago

Flights from Columbus to Chicago cover a distance of 454 kilometers, making this a short-haul route. Right now, fares for cheap flights from Columbus to Chicago typically range from $195–$367, with a median price of $227. Current fares are near the typical level for this route, and about 6% of recent fares were classified as a good price.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Columbus to Chicago? The data indicates that February and January are often the most affordable months, both with a median fare of $169. Following closely, June also presents competitive pricing, with a median fare of $196. New deals appear almost daily for this route, suggesting frequent opportunities to find lower prices.

For direct flights from Columbus to Chicago, a significant majority of itineraries are non-stop, with 76.3% of recent fares being direct. For the remaining itineraries that include connections, travelers typically encounter 3 stopovers.

A typical journey from Columbus to Chicago takes approximately 1h 36m. This median duration primarily reflects non-stop travel, as almost all itineraries on this route are direct.

How much is a round trip from Columbus to Chicago

Regular price: $249 - $327

Prices are currently below the regular range for flights from Columbus to Chicago.

The regular price range for flights from Columbus to Chicago is typically between $249 and $327. The current lowest deal is $148 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Sep 17-Sep 21.

now $148

Low $249

High $327

The cheapest time to fly from Columbus to Chicago

The cheapest month to fly from Columbus to Chicago is January, with a median price of $169. The most expensive month to fly is April, with a median price of $455. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

January

Cheapest

Flights from $169

April

Most Expensive

Flights from $455

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Columbus to Chicago

Southwest Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Columbus to Chicago

Wed, Sep 2

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$611

$319

One-way

Thu, Sep 3

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$603

$327

One-way

Thu, Sep 3

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$599

$365

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$599

$297

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$491

$310

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$613

$320

One-way

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

4 nights

Sep 4 - Sep 8

$599 → $297

50%

2 nights

Sep 4 - Sep 6

$611 → $310

49%

1 night

Sep 4 - Sep 5

$613 → $320

48%

2 nights

Sep 2 - Sep 4

$611 → $319

48%

Popular Airports to fly from Columbus to Chicago

Columbus - Chicago route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares near the typical level

Recent fares from Columbus to Chicago are near the typical level of $227.

📅 Best time to fly

February and January are typically cheapest

Historically, February and January offer the lowest median prices at $169 for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 1h 36m

Direct flights from Columbus to Chicago typically take 1 hour and 36 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are dominant

76.3% of recent flights on this route are direct, with frequent deals available.

🏆 Airline highlight

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Southwest Airlines provides direct flight options for the Columbus to Chicago route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent on this route

Deals for flights from Columbus to Chicago are frequently available, within a 30-day window.

Columbus main airports to depart from

John Glenn Columbus International (CMH)

Cheapest

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is a convenient and often cheapest option for flights to Chicago.

📍 ~10 km from Columbus city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$157

Rickenbacker International (LCK)

Rickenbacker International Airport is an alternative departure point for flights from Columbus to Chicago.

📍 ~17 km from Columbus city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$284

Chicago main airports to arrive at

O Hare International (ORD)

Cheapest

O'Hare International Airport offers a convenient arrival option for flights to Chicago.

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

💸 Flights from ~$148

Airports nearby Chicago used as alternative

General Mitchell International (MKE)

General Mitchell International offers significant carrier presence and direct flight options for Chicago travelers.

📍 ~135 km from Chicago (reachable by rail or car)

💸 Flights from ~$227

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Chicago

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from Columbus to Chicago.

Elite

Best Elite deals to Chicago

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From CMH

Elite

Nov 10

Chicago, United States

73% AI deal score

$483

$357

Save $126

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Dec 02

Chicago, United States

72% AI deal score

$460

$357

Save $103

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Dec 03

Chicago, United States

72% AI deal score

$460

$357

Save $103

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Dec 14

Chicago, United States

72% AI deal score

$463

$357

Save $106

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Dec 16

Chicago, United States

72% AI deal score

$464

$357

Save $107

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Nov 10

Chicago, United States

72% AI deal score

$455

$357

Save $98

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Oct 08

Chicago, United States

72% AI deal score

$452

$357

Save $95

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Dec 22

Chicago, United States

72% AI deal score

$462

$357

Save $105

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Oct 26

Chicago, United States

71% AI deal score

$445

$357

Save $88

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Oct 28

Chicago, United States

71% AI deal score

$439

$357

Save $82

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Oct 20

Chicago, United States

71% AI deal score

$448

$357

Save $91

United Airlines

Business Class

From CMH

Elite

Oct 24

Chicago, United States

71% AI deal score

$449

$357

Save $92

United Airlines

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Chicago

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Columbus to Chicago is typically 14-27 days before departure. During this period, the average price for a ticket is around $218. Booking within 0-6 days of departure sees a significant price increase, with average fares rising to $529. Even booking 7-13 days out results in a higher average price of $351, indicating that last-minute bookings are generally more expensive for this route.

Across the trailing quarter, a flight from Columbus to Chicago is considered a good deal if you find it for $195 or less. The median price for this route has been $227 during the same period. Prices tend to increase significantly beyond this threshold, with 75% of fares historically being $367 or higher. Aiming for prices below $195 will help ensure you are getting a competitive rate.

Historically, January and February have been the cheapest months to fly from Columbus to Chicago, both with a median price of $169. June also offers relatively lower prices, with a median of $196. The annual median price for this route is $227, suggesting that these months provide opportunities to find fares below the yearly average.

Related routes

More routes from Columbus

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Flights to Chicago from other cities

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Columbus to Chicago: Overview

Insights for flights from Columbus to Chicago

A typical journey from Columbus to Chicago takes approximately 1h 36m. This median duration primarily reflects non-stop travel, as almost all itineraries on this route are direct.

How much is a round trip from Columbus to Chicago

Regular price: $249 - $327

Prices are currently below the regular range for flights from Columbus to Chicago.

The regular price range for flights from Columbus to Chicago is typically between $249 and $327. The current lowest deal is $148 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Sep 17-Sep 21.

now $148

Low $249

High $327

The cheapest time to fly from Columbus to Chicago

January

Cheapest

Flights from $169

April

Most Expensive

Flights from $455

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Columbus to Chicago

Southwest Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Columbus to Chicago

Wed, Sep 2

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$611

$319

One-way

Thu, Sep 3

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$603

$327

One-way

Thu, Sep 3

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$599

$365

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$599

$297

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$491

$310

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CMH - Chicago

Columbus (CMH) - Chicago (ORD)

Frontier Airlines

$613

$320

One-way

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

4 nights

Sep 4 - Sep 8

$599 → $297

50%

2 nights

Sep 4 - Sep 6

$611 → $310

49%

1 night

Sep 4 - Sep 5

$613 → $320

48%

2 nights

Sep 2 - Sep 4

$611 → $319

48%

Popular Airports to fly from Columbus to Chicago

Columbus - Chicago route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares near the typical level

Recent fares from Columbus to Chicago are near the typical level of $227.

📅 Best time to fly

February and January are typically cheapest

Historically, February and January offer the lowest median prices at $169 for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 1h 36m

Direct flights from Columbus to Chicago typically take 1 hour and 36 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are dominant

76.3% of recent flights on this route are direct, with frequent deals available.

🏆 Airline highlight

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Southwest Airlines provides direct flight options for the Columbus to Chicago route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent on this route

Deals for flights from Columbus to Chicago are frequently available, within a 30-day window.

Columbus main airports to depart from

John Glenn Columbus International (CMH)

Cheapest

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is a convenient and often cheapest option for flights to Chicago.

📍 ~10 km from Columbus city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$157

Rickenbacker International (LCK)

Rickenbacker International Airport is an alternative departure point for flights from Columbus to Chicago.

📍 ~17 km from Columbus city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$284

Chicago main airports to arrive at

O Hare International (ORD)

Cheapest

O'Hare International Airport offers a convenient arrival option for flights to Chicago.

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

💸 Flights from ~$148

Airports nearby Chicago used as alternative

General Mitchell International (MKE)

General Mitchell International offers significant carrier presence and direct flight options for Chicago travelers.

Chicago, United States

71% AI deal score

$449

$357

Save $92

United Airlines

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Chicago

Cheap Flights from Columbus to Chicago

Today’s best flight deals from Columbus to Chicago

Columbus to Chicago: Overview

Insights for flights from Columbus to Chicago

How much is a round trip from Columbus to Chicago

The cheapest time to fly from Columbus to Chicago

Direct flights from Columbus to Chicago

Last-minute flights going from Columbus to Chicago

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

Popular Airports to fly from Columbus to Chicago

Columbus - Chicago route insights

Recent fares near the typical level

February and January are typically cheapest

Direct flights average 1h 36m

Direct flights are dominant

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Deals are frequent on this route

Columbus main airports to depart from

Chicago main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Chicago used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Chicago

Best Elite deals to Chicago

Nov 10

Dec 02

Dec 03

Dec 14

Dec 16

Nov 10

Oct 08

Dec 22

Oct 26

Oct 28

Oct 20

Oct 24

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Chicago

When is the best time to book flights from Columbus to Chicago?

How do I know if a Columbus to Chicago flight is a good deal?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from Columbus to Chicago?

Can I fly direct from Columbus to Chicago?

What's the flight time from Columbus to Chicago?

Should I set a price alert for Columbus to Chicago flights?

Related routes

More routes from Columbus

Flights to Chicago from other cities

Columbus to Chicago: Overview

Insights for flights from Columbus to Chicago

How much is a round trip from Columbus to Chicago

The cheapest time to fly from Columbus to Chicago

Direct flights from Columbus to Chicago

Last-minute flights going from Columbus to Chicago

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

Popular Airports to fly from Columbus to Chicago

Columbus - Chicago route insights

Recent fares near the typical level

February and January are typically cheapest

Direct flights average 1h 36m

Direct flights are dominant

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Deals are frequent on this route

Columbus main airports to depart from

Chicago main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Chicago used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Chicago

Best Elite deals to Chicago

Nov 10

Dec 02

Dec 03

Dec 14

Dec 16

Nov 10

Oct 08

Dec 22

Oct 26

Oct 28

Oct 20

Oct 24

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Chicago

When is the best time to book flights from Columbus to Chicago?

How do I know if a Columbus to Chicago flight is a good deal?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from Columbus to Chicago?