Travelling from Houston to Chicago: what you need to know
Set off on your next big adventure from one of Houston's main airports, Houston George Bush Intercntl. Airport (IAH) or Houston Hobby Airport (HOU). Explore your options for booking a flight from Houston to Chicago departing from either of these bases.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) are the chief entry points to Chicago.
Around 2 hours 35 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Houston to Chicago flight.
Chicago's timezone is UTC-6, which is the same as Houston.
Houston George Bush Intercntl. Airport (IAH) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 117 departures a week to choose from. If you have things to do before heading off, the last flight from Houston to Chicago is with Spirit Airlines at 22:58. Choose the first IAH to ORD departure with Spirit Airlines at 05:00 to maximise your time in Chicago.
For stress-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to catch your Houston to Chicago flight.
Travelling during a peak month like July? Major public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer lines and delays at security. Play things extra safe and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Houston to Chicago
To pick up cheap Houston to Chicago flights, book ahead. Airlines usually offer lower prices when flights are first released.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Houston to Chicago is easier if you can be flexible with your dates. Try using the 'Whole month' search function to see the best prices across each month and bag an awesome deal.
Getting a cheap flight from Houston to Chicago is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as a better deal is available.
Save on your Houston to Chicago flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Houston
Houston George Bush Intercntl. Airport (IAH)
You can find a direct flight from Houston to Chicago leaving from Houston George Bush Intercntl. Airport (IAH). Begin your trip at IAH and then fly into Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway Airport (MDW).
Top airlines that offer direct Houston to Chicago plane tickets from IAH include:
Travelling from central Houston to IAH takes about 1 hour 10 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want a stress-free start to your break? Stay near Houston George Bush Intercntl. Airport. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Houston to Chicago or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels have you covered:
79% of flights leaving from Houston George Bush Intercntl. Airport arrive at their destination on time.
The address for IAH is 16930 JFK Boulevard.
Houston Hobby Airport (HOU)
Consider booking your direct flight from Houston to Chicago departing Houston Hobby Airport (HOU). Nonstop connections from HOU will get you to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW).
Book a direct Houston to Chicago plane ticket with Southwest Airlines. This is one of the top carriers that operates this route out of HOU.
HOU is around 16 kilometres from central Houston. It takes 20 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 50 minutes.
Get a head start on your holiday with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Houston to Chicago, stay in one of these hotels near Houston Hobby Airport:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Houston Hobby Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 79%.
HOU is located at 7800 Airport Boulevard.
Arriving in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
The distance from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 26 kilometres. It takes around 30 minutes to get to the centre driving.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 45 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Houston to Chicago, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these hotels near ORD:
Explore without limits with a Chicago O'Hare International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Dollar or Budget and chase adventure across Chicago and beyond.
Lock in the best deal by reserving your vehicle from Chicago O'Hare International Airport around four weeks ahead of your departure.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
As soon as your flight from Houston to Chicago has touched down, you can make your way to the city centre in around 25 minutes by car. Central Chicago is roughly 14 kilometres from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW).
The journey will take roughly 30 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Houston to Chicago, rest your head at a hotel close to MDW. These are some comfortable options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Dollar, Hertz and Budget make collecting a Chicago Midway Airport rental car easy and quick. These trusted providers are located in or around the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Avoid paying more than you need to. Reserving your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at MDW will help you save.
Chicago Midway Airport is located at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford Airport (RFD)
Step off your flight from Houston to Chicago and travel to your hotel or jump right into sightseeing. The centre of Chicago is around 129 kilometres from Chicago Rockford Airport (RFD) and takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to reach driving.
Public transport can get you there in roughly 2 hours.
Start your trip without worrying about how to get to your next stop with a Chicago Rockford Airport rental car. You can book with trusted suppliers here like Budget, Alamo and National.
Rental providers sometimes offer promotions for early bookings, so secure your vehicle from RFD well ahead of your flight from Houston to Chicago. A little prep work can make a big difference in cost.
Chicago Rockford Airport's address is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
March is the quietest month for flights from Houston to Chicago, while July is the busiest. Work out the ideal time to visit Chicago based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
The warmest month in Chicago is July, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC (61ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). Lock in your Houston to Chicago ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
January sees average temperatures of between -12ºC (10ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF). Search for cheap flights from Houston to Chicago around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Chicago
Once you've booked your flight from Houston to Chicago, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Chicago:
All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago and Willis Tower are must-do's during your Chicago adventure.
Explore more of the United States
Chicago is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of the United States waiting to be discovered. Around 451 kilometres southeast of Chicago, a trip to Columbus will keep you on the go. Start with leading attractions like Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Columbus Park of Roses and Ohio Theatre.
Around 257 kilometres southeast of Chicago, Indianapolis is another essential stop in the United States. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Lucas Oil Stadium, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
