Chicago skyline at sunrise reflected in Lake Michigan. Flights from Dallas to Chicago

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Dallas to Chicago

Compare partner prices from Dallas Fort Worth to Chicago O'Hare, then see which DFW terminal your airline uses and how the Blue Line works when you land.

DFW to ORD · 802 mi · 2h 20m est.

DFW to ORD
802 miles
2h 20m nonstop (estimated)
4 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dallas to Chicago flight insights

Average flight time

~2h 20m (estimated)

DFW → ORD

Cheapest cached price

$150

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 12, 2026.

Planning a trip from Dallas to Chicago? The average flight time on this route is ~2h 20m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $150 (last checked Oct 12, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Dallas to Chicago at a glance

DFW to ORD is about 802 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Dallas to Chicago on Eazair
Origin	Dallas (DFW)
Destination	Chicago (ORD)
Average Flight Time	~2h 20m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$150
Fares Last Checked	Oct 12, 2026
Distance	802 miles (DFW to ORD)
Time in Chicago	Same time as Dallas
Airlines in our fare results	4

Local time in Chicago is the same as in Dallas. Dallas is on Central Time, Chicago on Central Time.

Flight deals from Dallas to Chicago

Searches on this page start at Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) and end at Chicago O'Hare (ORD). For this pairing, O'Hare's own nonstop list dated 1 Sep 2026 shows American, Frontier and United; check the stops on each result, as schedules change. Frontier, Delta, United and American have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. Love Field (DAL) in Dallas and Midway (MDW) in Chicago are not included.

DFW lists American at gates in all five terminals and puts Delta, United and Frontier in Terminal E, where CLEAR is at checkpoint E18. Every terminal has its own checkpoint and TSA PreCheck, and DFW posts a wait-time map on its security page. By train, the DART Orange Line runs from downtown Dallas to DFW Airport Terminal A Station near Gate A10, while TEXRail from downtown Fort Worth arrives at Terminal B. Upper-level curbs are for active loading and unloading only.

On landing at O'Hare, look for the CTA Blue Line station on the lower level of the parking garage. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, the Trains to City signs lead through the Basement Level tunnels; from Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 first. CTA puts the trip downtown at 40 to 45 minutes, and a ride that starts at O'Hare costs more than a standard CTA fare. O'Hare's airline list did not load on 17 Oct 2026, so confirm your terminal in your airline app.

Between 10 Sep and 14 Oct 2026, EazAir ran its first 18 fare checks for DFW to ORD, each for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days later. Those checks produced 9 different results, with the highest at least one and a half times the lowest and the lowest on 20 Sep. Of these four airlines, only American and Delta include a carry-on with their lowest fares. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Dallas to Chicago flights

Departure · Dallas

Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)

Central Time

Other airports near Dallas: Dallas Love Field (DAL)

Arrival · Chicago

O'Hare International (ORD)

Central Time

Other airports near Chicago: Chicago Midway International (MDW)

About Chicago

Areas to know in Chicago

Wicker Park
The Loop
Lincoln Park

Weather in Chicago

Summers are warm and humid, winters are cold with lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan. Spring and fall bring the mildest sightseeing weather.

Dallas to Chicago: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Chicago O'Hare International's nonstop list (as of 1 Sep 2026) shows Dallas (DFW) served by American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

EazAir searches Dallas with the DFW code, and Dallas has more than one airport, so check the airport code on every result.

Chicago Midway (MDW) is a separate airport, served by the CTA Orange Line. Check which Chicago airport each fare uses.

Dallas Love Field (DAL) is a separate airport, and Southwest is not on DFW's airline list.

Leaving from Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW)

Airline	DFW gates
American	Terminals A, B, C, D and E
Delta, United, Frontier	Terminal E
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

The DART Orange Line runs from downtown Dallas to DFW Airport Terminal A Station, near Gate A10. TEXRail from downtown Fort Worth and the DART Silver Line arrive at Terminal B.
DFW says passengers can be dropped off at the upper-level curbside of all terminals, and curbs are for active loading and unloading only.
DFW has security checkpoints in every terminal, TSA PreCheck in all five terminals and a wait-time map on its security page. DFW says Skylink is the shortest route between terminals while inside security.
DFW lists CLEAR at Terminal E, checkpoint E18.
In Terminal C, DFW says the C30 check-in area and checkpoint are closed for construction. C10 is TSA PreCheck only, C11 handles General and Priority, and C20 handles General and PreCheck.

Arriving at Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Delta says it uses Terminal 5 at O'Hare. For other airlines, check your boarding pass or airline app.

Delta says it moved its O'Hare flights to Terminal 5 in October 2022.
The Airport Transit System train runs 24 hours, every 3 to 5 minutes at busy times, and links Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 with the Multi-Modal Facility for rental cars, Economy Parking Lot F, Pace buses and Metra.
From 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., a Terminal Transfer Bus runs about every 15 minutes inside security between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1 and 3, for connecting passengers with a same-day boarding pass.
At other times, passengers connecting between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1, 2 and 3 leave security, ride the Airport Transit System and are screened again.

Getting from O'Hare	Where to board	Where it goes
CTA Blue Line	Station on the lower level of the parking garage. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, follow the Trains to City signs through the Basement Level tunnels. From Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 first. Runs 24 hours. Rides starting at O'Hare cost more than a standard CTA fare.	Downtown Chicago in 40 to 45 minutes, according to CTA.
Rideshare	Upper level at Terminal 2 (orange poles 2A to 2G, with an indoor waiting area between vestibules 2A and 2D) and Terminal 3 (green poles 3G to 3K). O'Hare lists no Terminal 5 pickup, so check your app.	Wherever you booked.
Taxis	Stands on the lower-level curb outside baggage claim at each terminal.	Your destination.
Pace Routes 250 and 330	Multi-Modal Facility, bus bays 8 and 9. Ride the Airport Transit System from the terminals.	Route 250 to the Des Plaines Metra station and downtown Evanston. Route 330, on weekdays and Saturdays, to Archer Ave and Harlem Ave in Summit.
Metra North Central Service	O'Hare Transfer station, behind the Multi-Modal Facility at its northeast corner. Ride the Airport Transit System to the Multi-Modal Facility. Weekday trains. Buy tickets from the conductor.	Union Station in downtown Chicago, or north to Antioch.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
Delta Main Basic	Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free.	Delta charges for checked bags on domestic flights unless you qualify for a waiver, such as Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card.	Assigned after check-in. You may be able to buy a seat ahead of time for a fee.	Refunds are not allowed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. Delta says a change or cancellation may be possible for a fee, with any value left as an eCredit.
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.
Frontier, without a bundle	Not included. One personal item only.	Not included. Prices vary by travel date and when you buy.	Costs extra, or a seat is assigned after check-in.	Not covered here. Check Frontier's rules before you book.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

EazAir's first 18 fare checks from Dallas to Chicago ran from 10 Sep to 14 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Chicago to Dallas, EazAir's first 22 checks ran from 2 Sep to 13 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. The highest result was at least one and a half times the lowest. The 18 checks returned 9 different results. The lowest result came on 20 Sep. That is a small sample, so it shows that prices move, not when they are lowest. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

DFW: Airlines (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DFW: Connect between terminals (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DFW: Public transit (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DFW: Security (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DFW: Directions (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DFW: Construction at DFW (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DART: DFW Airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DART: Silver Line launch (8 Oct 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta's new O'Hare home (11 Oct 2022, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Airport Transit System and terminal transfers (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: ATS service update (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Public transit (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Taxis and rideshare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
CTA: Airports (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
CTA: Fares (fare chart effective 20 Feb 2023, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Midway: Public transit (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
O'Hare: Domestic nonstop destinations (as of 1 Sep 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta Main Basic (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Fares and discounts (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Carry-on baggage (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Bags (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: What is included in my fare (last modified 25 Mar 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: Bag options (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: Bundles (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for DFW to ORD, 10 Sep 2026 to 14 Oct 2026; ORD to DFW, 2 Sep 2026 to 13 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which DFW terminal do I leave from for Chicago?

DFW puts Delta, United and Frontier at Terminal E. American has gates in all five terminals, A to E, so check your boarding pass, and use Skylink inside security if you need to change.

Is there CLEAR or TSA PreCheck at DFW?

DFW says TSA PreCheck is available in all five terminals and lists CLEAR at Terminal E, checkpoint E18. Its security page has a wait-time map.

How do I get from O'Hare to downtown Chicago?

Ride the CTA Blue Line, which runs 24 hours from the lower level of the parking garage. CTA puts the trip at 40 to 45 minutes, and rides starting at O'Hare cost more than a standard fare.

Where do rideshare cars pick up at O'Hare?

O'Hare lists rideshare pickup on the upper level at Terminal 2, orange poles 2A to 2G, and Terminal 3, green poles 3G to 3K. It lists no Terminal 5 pickup, so check your app.

Do the lowest fares from Dallas to Chicago include a carry-on?

American Basic Economy includes one plus a personal item, and Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on free. United Basic Economy on domestic flights and Frontier without a bundle include a personal item only.

How far is Dallas from Chicago?

DFW and ORD are about 802 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
Southwest Airlines	Included	$45	$55	southwest.com, Oct 27, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.