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

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Portland to Chicago

Search partner fares from Portland, Oregon to Chicago O'Hare, with PDX security hours before you leave and the Blue Line route from O'Hare into Chicago.

PDX to ORD · 1,735 mi · 4h 17m est.

PDX to ORD
1,735 miles
4h 17m nonstop (estimated)
3 airlines in our fare results

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

Portland to Chicago flight insights

Average flight time

~4h 17m (estimated)

PDX → ORD

Cheapest cached price

$155

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 20, 2026.

Planning a trip from Portland to Chicago? The average flight time on this route is ~4h 17m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $155 (last checked Oct 20, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Portland to Chicago covers a straight-line distance of about 1,735 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~4h 17m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Portland to Chicago at a glance

PDX to ORD is about 1,735 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 Portland to Chicago on Eazair
Origin	Portland (PDX)
Destination	Chicago (ORD)
Average Flight Time	~4h 17m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$155
Fares Last Checked	Oct 20, 2026
Distance	1,735 miles (PDX to ORD)
Time in Chicago	2 hours ahead of Portland
Airlines in our fare results	3

Local time in Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Portland. Portland is on Pacific Time, Chicago on Central Time.

Flight deals from Portland to Chicago

Departing Portland International (PDX) in Oregon for Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), this page lines up partner results. Delta, United and American have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. O'Hare's own nonstop list for Portland, as of 1 Sep 2026, names Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines, and schedules change, so check the stops on each result. O'Hare's airline list did not load on 17 Oct 2026, but Delta says it uses Terminal 5. Midway (MDW) is a separate airport.

Portland's two screening points are named for their concourses. D/E is open 24 hours, B/C shuts from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., and PDX advises picking the checkpoint for your gate. PreCheck runs at both from 4 a.m. to about 4 p.m. for participating airlines. For a domestic flight in the busy early-morning period, PDX's guidance is 2 hours, plus extra if you have not used the new terminal before. By car from downtown Portland, budget 30 to 45 minutes, PDX says, and ground transportation providers drop off on the departures level.

To leave O'Hare by rail, follow the Trains to City signs from Terminals 1, 2 or 3 through the Basement Level tunnels to the CTA Blue Line station on the lower level of the parking garage. From Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 first. CTA says the Blue Line reaches downtown Chicago in 40 to 45 minutes, and rides that start at O'Hare cost more than at other CTA stations.

From 30 Sep to 14 Oct 2026, EazAir ran its first 3 fare checks for PDX to ORD, asking partners each time for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult on a departure 30 days later. The highest of those results was at least one and a half times the lowest. Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free, even on Delta Main Basic. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Portland to Chicago flights

Departure · Portland

Portland International (PDX)

Pacific 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.

Portland 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 Portland (PDX) served by Alaska Airlines, American 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.

This is Portland, Oregon. Portland, Maine uses a different airport, and Southwest lists the two cities separately.

Leaving from Portland International (PDX)

The TriMet MAX Red Line serves the airport station at the south end of the terminal. PDX says trains leave about every 15 minutes, and TriMet says the ride from downtown takes about 40 minutes. The regular TriMet fare applies.
PDX says ground transportation providers drop off on the departures level.
PDX says to allow 30 to 45 minutes to drive between downtown Portland and the airport.
PDX has two security checkpoints, B/C and D/E. The D/E checkpoint is open 24 hours and B/C closes from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The airport suggests using the checkpoint that matches your gate.
PDX says TSA PreCheck lanes at both checkpoints open at 4 a.m. and close at about 4 p.m. daily, for travellers on participating airlines. CLEAR enrollment staff are at D/E from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and at B/C from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
PDX suggests arriving 2 hours before domestic flights at busy early-morning times and 3 hours before international flights, with extra time if you have not used the new terminal before.
Wait times for each checkpoint are on the flypdx.com home page.

Arriving at Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

O'Hare's airline list did not load on 17 Oct 2026. Delta says it uses Terminal 5. 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.

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 3 fare checks from Portland to Chicago ran from 30 Sep to 14 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Chicago to Portland, EazAir's first 2 checks ran from 24 Sep to 17 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. With only 3 checks, this cannot show a pattern. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

PDX: TriMet MAX (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
TriMet: MAX Red Line (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
PDX: Travel tips (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
PDX: Construction updates (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
TriMet: Fares (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
PDX: Home page (checkpoint wait times) (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
PDX: Ground transportation (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
PDX: Directions (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)
EazAir fare checks for PDX to ORD, 30 Sep 2026 to 14 Oct 2026; ORD to PDX, 24 Sep 2026 to 17 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which PDX checkpoint should I use?

PDX suggests the checkpoint that matches your gate, B/C or D/E, even though the concourse connector has reopened. D/E is open 24 hours, and B/C closes from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Where can I see PDX security wait times?

PDX posts wait times for each checkpoint on the flypdx.com home page, so you can look before leaving for the airport.

Which O'Hare terminal does Delta use?

Delta says it moved its O'Hare flights to Terminal 5 in October 2022. O'Hare's airline list did not load on 17 Oct 2026, so check your boarding pass for other airlines.

Where do I find a taxi or rideshare at O'Hare?

Taxi stands are on the lower-level curb outside baggage claim at each terminal. 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.

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

Delta Main Basic and American Basic Economy include one, plus a personal item. United Basic Economy includes only a personal item on domestic flights.

How far is Portland from Chicago?

PDX and ORD are about 1735 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.

Ease jet lag on longer routes

On longer cross-country flights, adjusting your sleep schedule a day or two before departure and staying hydrated in flight can reduce jet lag on arrival.

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.