Travelling from Ottawa to Chicago: what you need to know
Ottawa's main base, Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW), is where many great holidays begin. Explore the options for leaving from here when booking your flight from Ottawa to Chicago.
When it comes to landing in Chicago, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) are the major entry points.
The average duration of a direct flight from Ottawa to Chicago is 2 hours 28 minutes. Chicago's timezone is UTC-5, which makes Chicago 1 hour behind Ottawa.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 26 departures a week to pick from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from Ottawa to Chicago is with United Airlines at 18:40. Choose the first YOW to ORD departure operated by United Airlines at 06:20 if you want to get going early.
To ensure you catch your flight from Ottawa to Chicago, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Delays at check-in and security are more likely if you're jetting off during high season, so give yourself some extra wiggle room. A good general rule for peak times? Get there up to four hours early for international flights and at least two hours for domestic departures.
You can travel to United States for tourism purposes without a visa if you hold a passport from Canada. But before organising your cheap flight from Ottawa to Chicago, make sure you're up to date with the latest guidelines. Visa rules can change, and you may require some travel documentation if your trip is for business or other reasons.
Flying from Ottawa
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
You can reserve a direct flight from Ottawa to Chicago leaving from Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). Start your journey at YOW and end it at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
United Airlines is a leading airline that operates direct flights from Ottawa to Chicago departing from YOW.
YOW is around 13 kilometres from central Ottawa. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take you 19 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be approximately 43 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Ottawa to Chicago? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels near Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport:
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 40 kilometres. It'll take you around 35 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey of about 54 minutes.
Book a hotel close to ORD if you have a late flight from Ottawa to Chicago. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
After your flight from Ottawa to Chicago has touched down, you can reach the city centre in about 21 minutes by car. Central Chicago is roughly 19 kilometres from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take around 46 minutes.
You'll find some comfortable stays to park your luggage (and yourself) near MDW. Tuck yourself in after your flight from Ottawa to Chicago at one of these well-located options:
How to find the cheapest flights from Ottawa to Chicago
Right now, $235 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Ottawa to Chicago. The cheapest price for a return flight is $410. Keep in mind fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
To score cheap tickets from Ottawa to Chicago, book your journey 9 months before your planned departure.
May is the cheapest month for flight tickets from Ottawa to Chicago. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
Sign into your online account or use the app to set up a Price Alert. You'll be notified right away if there's a better deal on this route. It doesn't take long, and it'll save you the hassle of checking for cheap tickets from Ottawa to Chicago every day.
Use filters to tailor your flights from Ottawa to Chicago. Simply select your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Best time to go to Chicago
August is the busiest month for flights from Ottawa to Chicago. To escape the crowds, go to Chicago in February.
Before you book a flight from Ottawa to Chicago, think about the type of weather you like. July is the warmest month in Chicago, with the temperature ranging from 15ºC to 29ºC.
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Ottawa to Chicago in January when temperatures average between -12ºC and 3ºC.
More about Chicago
After booking your flight from Ottawa to Chicago, think about where you want to stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Chicago:
Millennium Park and Art Institute of Chicago are just two of the major attractions to add to your Chicago to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.
Complete your Chicago trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from Ottawa to Chicago isn't our only cool trick. Check out our car rentals in Chicago and explore at your own pace. We search for deals from trusted car rental providers and put them all in one place. Instantly compare offers and then book with no fees.
