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

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Denver to Chicago

Search Denver International to Chicago O'Hare, with DEN security hours and concourses, plus the O'Hare terminal train, CTA Blue Line and pickup poles.

DEN to ORD · 886 mi · 2h 31m est.

DEN to ORD
886 miles
2h 31m nonstop (estimated)
5 airlines in our fare results

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

Denver to Chicago flight insights

Average flight time

~2h 31m (estimated)

DEN → ORD

Cheapest cached price

$109

Checking live fares…

Last checked Nov 6, 2026

Planning a trip from Denver to Chicago? The average flight time on this route is ~2h 31m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $109 (last checked Nov 6, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Denver to Chicago at a glance

DEN to ORD is about 886 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 Denver to Chicago on Eazair
Origin	Denver (DEN)
Destination	Chicago (ORD)
Average Flight Time	~2h 31m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$109
Fares Last Checked	Nov 6, 2026
Distance	886 miles (DEN to ORD)
Time in Chicago	1 hour ahead of Denver
Airlines in our fare results	5

Local time in Chicago is 1 hour ahead of Denver. Denver is on Mountain Time, Chicago on Central Time.

Flight deals from Denver to Chicago

This page starts at Denver International (DEN) and searches arrivals at Chicago O'Hare International (ORD). Chicago Midway (MDW), on the CTA Orange Line, is a different airport. O'Hare's nonstop list, as of 1 Sep 2026, shows American, Frontier and United on the Denver route, and schedules change. Delta, United, American and Frontier have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. Leaving DEN, Delta and Frontier use Concourse A, United uses Concourses A and B, and American uses Concourse C.

DEN's East and West checkpoints, both on Level 6, open from 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. and take TSA PreCheck and CLEAR, DEN said in August 2025. DEN recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight. With an A gate boarding pass you can walk the A-Bridge, north of security, instead of riding the train. Coming by rail, take the RTD A Line from Union Station to Denver Airport Station, where RTD says an Airport Fare applies.

O'Hare's Airport Transit System runs 24 hours, every 3 to 5 minutes at busy times, linking Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 with the Multi-Modal Facility. The CTA Blue Line station sits on the lower level of the parking garage, reached through the Basement Level tunnels, and CTA puts downtown at 40 to 45 minutes. Rideshare pickup is on the upper level at Terminal 2, orange poles 2A to 2G, and Terminal 3, green poles 3G to 3K. O'Hare lists none at Terminal 5, which Delta says it uses.

From 10 Sep to 17 Oct 2026, EazAir took its first 16 fare checks for DEN to ORD, each for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult departing 30 days later. The 16 checks returned 13 different results, the highest was at least double the lowest, and the lowest came on 19 Sep. Frontier without a bundle includes a personal item only, while American and Delta basic fares include a carry-on. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Denver to Chicago flights

Departure · Denver

Denver International (DEN)

Mountain Time

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.

Denver 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 Denver (DEN) served by American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

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

Leaving from Denver International (DEN)

Airline	DEN concourse
Delta	Concourse A
Frontier	Concourse A
United	Concourses A and B
American	Concourse C
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

Ride the RTD A Line from Union Station to Denver Airport Station. RTD says an Airport Fare applies.
RTD also lists airport bus routes, including AB1 and AB2 from Boulder, AT and ATA from Arapahoe County and 145X from Brighton. RTD says SkyRide bus trips to or from DEN need an Airport Fare.
DEN's East and West security checkpoints are both on Level 6 and give access to all airline gates.
DEN said on 7 Oct 2026 that West Security is open from 3:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and East Security from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Both take TSA PreCheck and CLEAR.
DEN recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight to allow time for security, and its security page points travelers to real-time wait times.
The final phase of the Great Hall Program includes renovating airline check-in on the south end of Level 6, and DEN says the whole program will be done by the end of 2027.

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 16 fare checks from Denver to Chicago ran from 10 Sep to 17 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Chicago to Denver, EazAir's first 19 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 double the lowest. The 16 checks returned 13 different results. The lowest result came on 19 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

DEN: Airlines (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: Security (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: Great Hall Program (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: East security checkpoint opens (4 Aug 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: Passenger surge during Fall Break travel rush (7 Oct 2026, accessed 26 Oct 2026)
RTD: Airport (no date shown, 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 DEN to ORD, 10 Sep 2026 to 17 Oct 2026; ORD to DEN, 2 Sep 2026 to 13 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which DEN concourse does my airline use?

DEN lists Delta and Frontier at Concourse A, United at Concourses A and B, and American at Concourse C. DEN's airline page shows no update date, so confirm on your boarding pass.

When are Denver's security checkpoints open?

DEN said in August 2025 that its East and West checkpoints on Level 6 open from 3 a.m. to 1 a.m., closing from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. Both take TSA PreCheck and CLEAR.

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

The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours from its station on the lower level of the parking garage, and CTA puts the trip downtown at 40 to 45 minutes. Rides starting at O'Hare cost more than a standard CTA fare.

Where is rideshare pickup 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 basic fares from Denver to Chicago include a carry-on?

Delta Main Basic and American Basic Economy include a carry-on plus a personal item. Frontier without a bundle includes a personal item only, as does United Basic Economy on domestic flights for most travellers.

How far is Denver from Chicago O'Hare?

DEN and ORD are about 886 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.