Traveling from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Chicago: what you need to know
Around 8 hours 25 minutes is how long you can expect to be traveling on a direct flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago.
Frankfurt Airport is located in Frankfurt. Following the UTC-5 timezone, Chicago is six hours behind Frankfurt.
The busiest route is from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). You can select from 27 services every week between these two airports. If you want to get on your way as soon as possible, the earliest flight from FRA to ORD is the 08:40 United Airlines service. If you prefer to travel later, the last departure is at 17:25 with Lufthansa.
Give yourself enough time to get on your FRA to Chicago flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
If you're heading away during a major holiday or another peak period, allow for even more time. A good rule is two hours before domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Check-in and security lines will be longer.
Start your journey at FRA and travel nonstop to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). That will be your arrival point when searching for Frankfurt Airport to Chicago tickets.
Get on board with Lufthansa. This airline operates direct flights from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your trip and possibly even explore a different city. When browsing for plane tickets from FRA to Chicago, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some options to consider:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Traveling from central Frankfurt to FRA takes about 35 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 7 miles in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Have an early flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these hotels near FRA:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Frankfurt Airport, data shows 67.47% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Chicago
$352 is currently the best price for a one-way Frankfurt Airport to Chicago flight. Return plane tickets start from $512. These fares may change depending on availability and demand.
Book one month before traveling. Research on pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from FRA to Chicago.
May is the best month for picking up an awesome deal on Frankfurt Airport to Chicago tickets. If you're looking to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know when there's an even better deal on cheap flights from FRA to Chicago.
Find a cheap flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Airports in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to the center of Chicago takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The center is roughly 25 miles away.
Getting there by public transport takes around 55 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago. Check in to one of these accommodation options near ORD instead:
Pick up an O'Hare International Airport rental car and explore Chicago and beyond with your own set of wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Dollar and Budget are popular providers you can book with here.
Reserving your vehicle from O'Hare International Airport around four weeks before your flight from FRA to Chicago can help you lock in the best possible rate.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
The center of Chicago is located around 12 miles from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). After your flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago has hit the runway and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 20 minutes.
The trip will take about 45 minutes on public transport.
Following your FRA to Chicago flight, kick back at a hotel near MDW. These are some comfortable options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Forget about inconvenient public transport timetables or waiting forever for a cab. Pick up a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car and let the journey unfold your way. Compare availability and rates from Dollar, Hertz and Budget.
Score the best price by booking your ride from MDW four weeks in advance. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
The address for Chicago Midway International Airport is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is about 85 miles from the center of Chicago. It'll take you about 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the city center by cab or ride-share once you've hopped off your flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago.
If you're using public transport, the journey takes around 4 hours 15 minutes.
If you don't want to make the journey into the center, choose a hotel near RFD. Check in to one of these options after your FRA to Chicago flight:
Put yourself in the driver's seat of the next leg of your journey with a Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car. Budget, Alamo and National make getting on the road effortless.
Booking a couple of weeks ahead of your flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago is a smart move. Along with better deals, you'll likely have a better variety of makes and models to choose from at RFD.
Chicago Rockford International Airport can be found at 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
Travel to Chicago during peak season if you prefer a bustling atmosphere, but remember that hotel prices are usually higher. Alternatively, book your flights from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago in the off-season when prices are cheaper and it's quieter.
Before locking in your Frankfurt Airport to Chicago plane ticket, think about the type of weather you enjoy. July is the warmest month in Chicago, with temperatures ranging from 59ºF to 84ºF.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from FRA to Chicago in January when temperatures average between 10ºF and 37ºF.
More about Chicago
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in Chicago right here. Explore these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Frankfurt Airport to Chicago:
Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park are just the start of the leading attractions to put on your Chicago travel itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures at LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.
Explore more of United States
Chicago has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States waiting to be explored. About 280 miles south-east of Chicago, a trip to Columbus will keep your itinerary busy. Start with popular sights like Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio Statehouse and German Village.
Indianapolis is another standout destination in United States and is around 160 miles south-east of Chicago. No journey is complete without seeing The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.
