Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to Chicago (CHI)

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Flight deals from Washington, D.C. to Chicago

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago? Find the lowest prices on one-way and round-trip tickets right here.

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Find the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to Chicago

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Washington, D.C. to Chicago flights are currently cheapest in June.

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to Chicago

Alternative Washington, D.C. to Chicago routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Washington, D.C. to Chicago? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Washington, D.C. to Chicago: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$56
Cheapest month to flyAugust
Average flight time2 hrs, 10 mins
Most popular airlineSouthwest Airlines
Average flights per week1,034

Finding cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to Chicago: Frequently asked questions

There are 4 airports in Chicago: Chicago Midway, Chicago O'Hare International, Chicago Dupage County, and Chicago Rockford.
The best price we found for a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago is $56. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
2 hours and 9 minutes is the average flight time from Washington, D.C. to Chicago.
Southwest Airlines, United and American Airlines fly direct from Washington, D.C. to Chicago.
There are 1,081 flights per week flying from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, as of April 2024.
The cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to Chicago is usually August.
If you're flying from Washington, D.C., the cheapest airport near Chicago is Chicago Midway – which is 9.0 miles away from the center of Chicago. We've found flights to this airport from $56.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Washington, D.C. to Chicago on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 9 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Chicago but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar, and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Chicago is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In April, the average temperature is usually around 46°F. July is typically the warmest month in Chicago, when it usually averages around 80°F. You can expect the least rain in January. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 18°F. The rainiest month is August.
The cheapest airline that flies to Chicago is Frontier Airlines.

Cheap Flight Information from Washington DC to Chicago

Average Flight Time 1 hour and 49 minutes
Departure Airport Washington Dulles Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, Washington Ronald Reagan Airport
Destination Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago Pal-Waukee Airport
Direct Airline American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines
Minimum Round-Trip Ticket Price* $97

Cheap Flights from Washington DC to Chicago

Airline

Flight Frequency

Average Flight Price*

Ticket Search

American Airlines

7 days a week

$88

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Spirit Airlines

7 days a week

$110

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United Airlines

7 days a week

$183

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Southwest Airlines

7 days a week

$144

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*Round Trip flight prices were found at time of posting and are subject to change. Be sure to do a flight search to check most recent prices.

Flights from DC to Chicago: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Time of Year to Travel to Chicago?

December is actually the cheapest month of the year to fly from DC to Chicago, so if you have family you have been meaning to spend the holidays with, take advantage of the cheap airfare! To make sure you maximize your savings, book your airline ticket using Skyscanner's flight booking tool. You can save over 50% on your tickets.

What Airports can I Depart from in DC?

Washington D.C. has three major airports you can depart from on your flight to Chicago. Depending on what airline you fly with, you can depart from Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), or Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI).

What Airports can I Arrive at in Chicago?

O'Hare International Airport, (ORD) is the busiest airport in Chicago, so there is a good chance that this will be the airport you land at. Depending on what airline you fly with, you could also arrive to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) which is located just outside of the city.

What Ground Transportation Options are Available in Chicago?

Once you arrive in Chicago, you can hop aboard the CTA Blue Line fast track trains that run throughout the city, reserve an Uber or Lyft rideshare, book a ride with a limo service, hail a taxi, arrange for a hotel or airport shuttle, or pick up a rental car from the designated area at the airport you land out. If you decide to rent a car to travel around Chicago in, be sure to reserve it using Skyscanner's car rental tool so you can take advantage of the cheapest price available.

Is There a Time Zone Difference Between DC and Chicago?

Yes, you will gain an hour when you travel from DC to Chicago as DC is on Eastern Standard Time and Chicago is on Central Standard Time.

When you are on a budget, planning your trip from Washington to Chicago can be a difficult proposition. Skyscanner has tools and tips to help you save money. If you have some flexibility check out the cheapest month search.. Using this tool, we were able to find tickets for as low as $50 during the month of January. This tool also indicates that travel to the Chicago area from Washington is cheaper if you depart mid-week and plan to stay over the weekend.

Here are the cheapest flights available currently from Washington to Chicago:

Departing from Washington, D.C.

There are three main airports serving the Washington D.C. area. Here is a bit about each of them.

  • Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport
  • Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is close to Washington D.C.'s hotel district. It is accessible by the convenient Metro Transit system. However, long-term parking is available at Ronald Reagan Airport for around $27 per day should you want to park and fly.

  • Dulles International Airport
  • Just outside of D.C., is Dulles International Airport (IAD). Passengers departing at Dulles experience shorter lines due to a more streamlined experience than many other nearby airports. There are over 100 restaurants and many shopping areas. Long-term parking rates at Washington Dulles are $29 per day.

  • Baltimore-Washington International Airport
  • Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI) is located 9 miles south of downtown Baltimore and 32 miles east of Washington, D.C. For those who prefer to book economy carriers, this will be your departure airport. Long-term parking rates at BWI this airport are $26 per day.

Arriving in Chicago

There are three main airports serving the greater Chicago area. These are:
  •  Chicago O'Hare
  • Also known as O'Hare International Airport, ORD is a large airport located on the northwest side of Chicago around 11 miles from the city center. There are many options for transport from the airport including bus, train, and taxi. If you prefer to rent a car, check out these great deals from Skyscanner.

     
  • Chicago Midway Airport
  • Chicago Midway Airport, or simply Midway International, is a large international airport serving the greater Chicago area. It is located 8 miles from the loop in Southwest Chicago. From the airport you can use the train, buses or taxis to get around. However, if you prefer to rent a car, we can help with that as well.  Click here to compare rates on Chicago rental cars.  

  • Chicago Rockford Airport
  • This international airport is located 85 miles from Chicago in Winnebago County, IL. It is a hub for many economy carriers. Rental cars are your best option, when traveling from the airport into the city. Click here to find the cheapest rental car rates.  

About  Chicago

With a population of 3 million, Chicago is the third largest city in the US. It is home to many professional sports teams and is considered a hub of industry. Here are a few fun facts about the Windy City you might not know:

  • Chicago is home to over 5,000 restaurants
  • The arts are an important part of the culture in Chicago as there are around 250 theaters, 225 music venues and over 200 dance companies
  • You will find 56 museums located in the Chicago Metro area.
  • If you are touring Chicago on a budget, you will be happy to find just over 700 public works of art.
  • There are also more than 125 art galleries with 20 neighborhood art centers, all offering discounts for certain patrons.

Chicago Hotel Deals

Now that you have decided on your dates, booked the cheapest airfare to Chicago, and compared rental cars rates, you'll be ready to find best prices on Chicago hotels and resorts. Check out the the best priced hotel accommodations in Chicago.


Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.