Can I fly direct from Cincinnati to Chicago?

Yes, direct flights from Cincinnati to Chicago are available. Historically, approximately 36.6% of all flights on this route have been direct. For travelers with connecting flights, the median number of stopovers observed has been 2. This indicates that while direct options exist, a significant portion of routes involve at least one stop.

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

A direct flight from Cincinnati to Chicago typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes, covering a distance of 401 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median duration is considerably longer, averaging around 9 hours and 21 minutes. This difference highlights the efficiency of direct routes compared to those involving a layover.

How often do cheap flights from Cincinnati to Chicago come up?

Historically, cheap flights from Cincinnati to Chicago come up frequently. This route is classified as having frequent availability of deals. Travelers can typically find competitive pricing options with regularity across the trailing 30 days.

Flights From Cincinnati

To Chicago

Cheap Flights from Cincinnati to Chicago

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

Deals from

Cincinnati

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

Prices updated 5 days ago

402 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 12, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Cincinnati to Chicago

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Cincinnati to Chicago

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

August 27 - August 31

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$158

$157

Round trip

August 15 - August 18

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$167

$157

Round trip

August 20 - August 22

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$160

$157

Round trip

August 6 - August 10

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$166

$157

Round trip

August 8 - August 11

Cheapest

Best

CVG - Chicago

$171

$157

Round trip

August 4 - August 8

Cheapest

Best

Earliest

CVG - Chicago

$174

$157

Round trip

August 26 - August 29

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$167

$157

Round trip

August 12 - August 18

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$161

$157

Round trip

August 10 - August 17

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$160

$157

Round trip

September 15 - September 21

Cheapest

CVG - Chicago

$143

$157

Round trip

Unlock all 500+ flight deals to Chicago and get alerts when great deals appear

Cincinnati to Chicago: Overview

Insights for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago

For cheap flights from Cincinnati to Chicago, fares typically range from $240–$502, with a median of $317. Right now, current fares are above the typical level for this route. Only 1% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that finding deals may require some flexibility.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Cincinnati to Chicago, April stands out with a median fare of $207. Other cost-effective months include March, with a median fare of $221, and September, where the median fare is $227. These months offer more favorable pricing compared to the overall median for the route.

A typical journey from Cincinnati to Chicago takes 1h 37m, which includes connecting itineraries. Given that most itineraries connect at least once, this median duration reflects the common travel experience on this route. For connecting flights, the median travel time extends to 12h 38m, while direct flights from Cincinnati to Chicago typically take 1h 37m.

The route from Cincinnati to Chicago covers a distance of 401 kilometers. This classifies it as a short-haul journey, meaning you can expect a relatively quick flight suitable for short trips or weekend getaways.

How much is a round trip from Cincinnati to Chicago

Regular price: $116 - $284

Prices for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago is between $116 and $284. Currently, the lowest deal is $157 with Southwest Airlines for travel from Aug 27-Aug 31.

now $157

Low $116

High $284

The cheapest time to fly from Cincinnati to Chicago

The cheapest month to fly from CVG to CHI is December, with a median price of $226. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $432. Prices are generally lower from June to December.

December

Cheapest

Flights from $226

July

Most Expensive

Flights from $432

Jan

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Cincinnati to Chicago

Southwest Airlines

United Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Cincinnati to Chicago

Tue, Aug 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CVG - Chicago

Cincinnati (CVG) - Chicago (ORD)

American Airlines

$173

$157

One-way

Tue, Aug 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CVG - Chicago

Cincinnati (CVG) - Chicago (MDW)

Frontier Airlines

$303

$163

One-way

Tue, Aug 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CVG - Chicago

Cincinnati (CVG) - Chicago (MDW)

Southwest Airlines

$168

$175

One-way

Wed, Aug 5

⌛ Last-Minute

CVG - Chicago

Cincinnati (CVG) - Chicago (MDW)

Southwest Airlines

$156

$175

One-way

Wed, Aug 5

⌛ Last-Minute

CVG - Chicago

Cincinnati (CVG) - Chicago (ORD)

$286

$177

One-way

Wed, Aug 5

⌛ Last-Minute

CVG - Chicago

Cincinnati (CVG) - Chicago (ORD)

$276

$177

One-way

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

3 nights

Dec 9 - Dec 12

$323 → $157

51%

4 nights

Oct 24 - Oct 28

$326 → $195

40%

3 nights

Aug 1 - Aug 4

$292 → $177

39%

2 nights

Aug 8 - Aug 10

$287 → $176

39%

Popular Airports to fly from Cincinnati to Chicago

Cincinnati - Chicago route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares for CVG to CHI are above the typical level, with a median price of $317.

📅 Best time to fly

September is historically cheapest at $227

Historically, September is the cheapest month to fly from CVG to CHI, with a median price of $227.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 1h 37m

Direct flights from Cincinnati to Chicago typically take 1 hour and 37 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Connecting flights are dominant on this route, making up 63.4% of recent deals.

🏆 Airline highlight

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights from Cincinnati to Chicago.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago appear frequently, with many deals in the last 30 days.

Cincinnati main airports to depart from

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

Cheapest

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is a convenient option for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago.

📍 ~15 km from Cincinnati (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$157

Chicago main airports to arrive at

Chicago Midway International (MDW)

Cheapest

Chicago Midway International is a convenient arrival airport for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago.

📍 ~14 km from Chicago city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$157

Chicago Rockford International (RFD)

Chicago Rockford International offers an alternative arrival option for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago.

📍 ~126 km from Chicago city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$225

O Hare International (ORD)

O Hare International is a major arrival airport for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago.

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

💸 Flights from ~$157

Airports nearby Chicago used as alternative

General Mitchell International (MKE)

General Mitchell International offers significant carrier presence and is easily accessible from Chicago.

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

💸 Flights from ~$203

Gerald R. Ford International (GRR)

Cheapest

Gerald R. Ford International provides a robust domestic network with a strong presence of airlines.

📍 ~200 km from Chicago (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$197

Dane County Regional (MSN)

Dane County Regional is a reliable regional hub with efficient operations and good amenities.

📍 ~200 km from Chicago (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$261

South Bend International (SBN)

South Bend International is the closest alternative airport to the Chicago metro area.

📍 ~120 km from Chicago (reachable by train)

💸 Flights from ~$221

Fort Wayne International (FWA)

Fort Wayne International offers multiple cabin classes and solid connectivity for eastern domestic destinations.

📍 ~220 km from Chicago (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$261

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Chicago

Chicago, United States

28% AI deal score

$2,327

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Chicago

Historically, the optimal time to purchase flights from Cincinnati to Chicago is typically 14-27 days before departure. During this period, the average price for a ticket has been observed at approximately $209. Prices tend to be higher closer to departure, with tickets bought 0-6 days out averaging around $581. Even planning further ahead, such as 28-59 days or 60+ days in advance, generally shows higher average prices of $379 and $389 respectively, compared to the sweet spot.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Cincinnati to Chicago is considered to be $240 or less. This threshold represents the point at which 25% of all observed prices were at or below this value. The median price for this route over the same period was $317, while prices in the higher range could reach up to $502 or more.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Cincinnati to Chicago include April, with a median price of $207, and March, with a median price of $221. September also typically offers competitive pricing, with a median of $227. While September appears on the list of cheapest months, it was also observed as the most expensive month with a median price of $227, indicating price variability within that month. The annual median price for this route is $317.

Related routes

Consider alternative routes from Cincinnati

Flights from Cincinnati to Amsterdam Flights from Cincinnati to Athens Flights from Cincinnati to Atlanta Flights from Cincinnati to Bangkok Flights from Cincinnati to Barcelona Flights from Cincinnati to Berlin Flights from Cincinnati to Brussels Flights from Cincinnati to Cancún Flights from Cincinnati to Cardiff Flights from Cincinnati to Chennai Flights from Cincinnati to Copenhagen Flights from Cincinnati to Dallas

Cheap Flights from Cincinnati to Chicago

Today’s best flight deals from Cincinnati to Chicago

Unlock all 500+ flight deals to Chicago and get alerts when great deals appear

Cincinnati to Chicago: Overview

Insights for flights from Cincinnati to Chicago

How much is a round trip from Cincinnati to Chicago

The cheapest time to fly from Cincinnati to Chicago

Direct flights from Cincinnati to Chicago

Last-minute flights going from Cincinnati to Chicago

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

Popular Airports to fly from Cincinnati to Chicago

Cincinnati - Chicago route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

September is historically cheapest at $227

Direct flights take 1h 37m

Connecting flights are dominant

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Deals appear frequently

Cincinnati 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

Jul 07

Oct 22

Aug 04

Aug 13

Jul 17

Jul 07

Aug 04

Jul 30

Aug 31

Jul 11

Aug 09

Aug 29

Jul 30

Aug 01

Jul 10

Oct 10

Sep 03

Sep 04

Jul 17

Jul 18

Sep 26

Jul 31

Aug 01

Aug 28

Jul 10

Jul 30

Sep 11

Jul 25

Aug 03

Jul 31

Jul 12

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Chicago

When should I buy Cincinnati to Chicago tickets?

When should I buy Cincinnati to Chicago tickets?

What is a good price for a flight from Cincinnati to Chicago?

What is a good price for a flight from Cincinnati to Chicago?

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

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

Can I fly direct from Cincinnati to Chicago?

Can I fly direct from Cincinnati to Chicago?

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

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

How often do cheap flights from Cincinnati to Chicago come up?

How often do cheap flights from Cincinnati to Chicago come up?

Related routes

Consider alternative routes from Cincinnati