Flying from Chicago to Columbus: what you need to know
Countless great adventures start at one of Chicago's main airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Explore your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Columbus taking off from either of these.
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) are the major entry points to Columbus.
Jump on a direct Chicago to Columbus flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 20 minutes.
Columbus's timezone is UTC-4, which makes Columbus one hour ahead of Chicago.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is the most traveled route between these two cities. There are 91 flights a week to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from Chicago to Columbus is with United Airlines at 21:45. Opt for the first ORD to CMH departure with United Airlines at 07:10 to make the most of your arrival in Columbus.
Give yourself plenty of time to make your Chicago to Columbus flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Going away during a peak month like August? Popular periods (like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year) can add an hour at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Columbus
Book six months before you want to travel. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Chicago to Columbus flights.
September is the best month for scoring an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Chicago to Columbus. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for each month.
There's no need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Chicago to Columbus.
Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Or sort your Chicago to Columbus flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
If you're searching for a direct flight from Chicago to Columbus, you can depart from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Travel from ORD to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) without making any stops.
United Airlines is a leading airline that offers direct Chicago to Columbus plane tickets from ORD.
Located around 26 kilometres from central Chicago, ORD can be reached in about 35 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport will take roughly 55 minutes.
Have an early flight from Chicago to Columbus? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near O'Hare International Airport:
When it comes to O'Hare International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 74.85% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
You can catch a nonstop flight from Chicago to Columbus departing from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Start your travels at MDW and hop off the plane at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH).
You can book a direct Chicago to Columbus plane ticket with Southwest Airlines. This is one of the main airlines operating this route out of MDW.
You can get to MDW from the centre of Chicago in about 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 45 minutes to travel the 14 kilometres or so.
Kick off your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Chicago to Columbus, unwind in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport:
77.88% of flights departing Chicago Midway International Airport arrive according to schedule.
The street address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Columbus
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
The distance from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to central Columbus is approximately 10 kilometres. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It typically takes 1 hour 5 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you have a late flight from Chicago to Columbus, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these accommodation options near CMH:
Go where the road takes you with a John Glenn Columbus International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Alamo, Budget or Avis and see more of Columbus and beyond.
Improve your chances of scoring the best deal by booking early. Reserving your ride from John Glenn Columbus International Airport at least a few weeks in advance is a good idea.
CMH is located at 4600 International Gateway.
Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)
The centre of Columbus is located around 16 kilometres from Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK). Once your flight from Chicago to Columbus has landed and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 25 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take about 1 hour 20 minutes on public transport.
Best time to go to Columbus
It's time to figure out your trip dates for your flight from Chicago to Columbus. July is the busiest month for a trip to Columbus. If you prefer a quieter atmosphere, go in April.
Lock in a Chicago to Columbus ticket departing in July if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Columbus to range from 15ºC to 30ºC.
Search for cheap flights from Chicago to Columbus in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -11ºC and 6ºC on average.
More about Columbus
Start your Columbus trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Columbus, check out our selection of accommodation options including:
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Ohio Statehouse are a couple of major attractions to put on your Columbus to-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out German Village.
Explore more of United States
Chicago is just one of the many cities in United States waiting to be explored after you've experienced Columbus. Around 451 kilometres to the north-west, top sights here include Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.
Indianapolis is another essential stop in United States and is around 274 kilometres west of Columbus. No journey is complete without experiencing The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.
