Chicago to Cleveland Flights: Airfare, Airlines & Travel Tips

Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Cleveland (CLE) connect the Chicago Metropolitan Area (Chicagoland) to the southwest side of Cleveland, downtown, Akron, and the rest of northern Ohio. Operating between premier aviation hubs such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), ORD to CLE flights cover over 316 miles, which, with nonstop service, allows passengers to connect in about one hour 20 minutes to one hour 45 minutes.

The ORD to CLE route is mainly served by major airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines, which operate direct nonstop service. Major legacy carriers offering connecting flights between ORD and CLE are Delta Air Lines, with an ultra-low-cost option like Frontier Airlines.

Chicago to Cleveland Flight Snapshot

Flights from Chicago (ORD/MDW) to Cleveland (CLE) are a highly accessible short-haul route served by major US carriers. Cleveland is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET), which is one hour ahead of Chicago, which is in the Central Time Zone (CT). Flights between Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) and CLE are primarily served by United Airlines and American, operating 80 to 84 direct weekly flights combined. The first departure from ORD to CLE is as early as 6:40 AM. Flights from Midway International (MDW) to CLE are primarily served by Southwest Airlines, with multiple daily departures, with the highest on-time punctuality rate of 78%.

Details related to flights from Chicago to Cleveland are given below:

How Much Is a Flight from Chicago to Cleveland?

The average price range for an economy nonstop flight between Chicago and Cleveland is $218 to $269, whereas round-trip flights range from $437 to $532 (flight fares mentioned from CheapFlightsFares internal data).

Frontier Airlines is considered the cheapest option for the ORD to CLE flight, with one-way fares starting as low as $178 (connecting flight), while American Airlines is on the premium side, with connecting fares starting around $296. Passengers who want to fly nonstop can choose United Airlines, American, or Southwest Airlines, with round-trip flights ranging from $437 to $527 (flight fares based on CheapFlightsFares internal data).

How Long Is the Flight from Chicago to Cleveland?

Chicago to Cleveland flights operate on an exclusive short-haul route. However, the exact duration depends entirely on whether you choose a direct flight or one with a layover. A nonstop flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport takes one hour 20 minutes to one hour 45 minutes (gate-to-gate). The actual airborne time of a flight between ORD and CLE is only 45 to 55 minutes.

If you book connecting flights from Chicago to Cleveland with at least one layover, the total flight duration will range from three to six hours or more. Passengers on this route face a time difference of about one hour. That means a nonstop flight leaving Chicago at 8:00 AM CT will land in Cleveland around 10:20 AM ET. The time difference is covered back on the return trip from Cleveland to Chicago.

Which Airlines Fly from Chicago (ORD) to Cleveland (CLE)

Four major airlines operate scheduled flights between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). The mix includes legacy carriers, regional players, budget airlines, and international carriers.

United Airlines serves as one of the premier carriers from Chicago (ORD) to Cleveland (CLE). The airline operates about five to six nonstop flights daily from ORD to CLE. The flight takes between one hour 20 minutes and one hour 30 minutes.

American Airlines offers consistent service throughout the day through a mix of mainline flights and American Eagle regional connections. AA operates from its hub at O'Hare International Airport, offering six nonstop flights daily and up to 42 flights per week, all departing from Chicago O'Hare (ORD). The AA nonstop flight from ORD to CLE takes between one hour and 30 minutes and one hour and 35 minutes. As for the connecting flights, it operates 70 daily flights, taking three or more hours depending entirely on layover length.

Delta Air Lines operates two to three connecting flights daily out of ORD and one to two from MDW. That sums to 21–35 weekly connecting flights across the Chicago to Cleveland route. The primary route Delta departs from is Chicago O'Hare (ORD) or Chicago Midway (MDW) through Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). The total duration for an ORD to CLE Delta flight is about three hours and 40 minutes to six hours.

Frontier Airlines, as an exclusive ultra-low-cost carrier, has a major crew base and operational hub at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). Frontier operates 47 to 50 connecting flights per week, connecting through hubs like Denver, Atlanta, and Dallas/Fort Worth. The total travel time for Frontier flights from Chicago to Cleveland is approximately five hours and nine minutes to seven hours and 40 minutes.

Are There Nonstop Flights from Chicago to Cleveland?

Major US airlines such as United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines operate multiple nonstop flights from Chicago to Cleveland. However, nonstop flight availability depends on which Cleveland airport passengers fly into.

From Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), United Airlines operates about six daily nonstop flights (up to 42 weekly flights), and American Airlines operates six daily nonstop flights (42 flights per week). Flight durations range from about one hour and 20 minutes to one hour and 45 minutes. Southwest is the only airline operating nonstop flights from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), with three daily nonstop flights lasting one hour and 15 minutes to one hour and 25 minutes.

Chicago Airports for Cleveland Flights

If you are searching for the best airport for flights from Chicago to Cleveland, then you have two options. You can either book flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport or Midway International Airport (MDW).

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the primary airport for flights from Chicago to Cleveland, offering passengers 12 nonstop flights operated by major airlines such as American and United Airlines. ORD is the mega-hub for both United and American Airlines, and ranks among the top 10 busiest airports in the world by passenger traffic. Chicago O'Hare operates numerous famous and high-frequency corridors to domestic destinations like New York (LGA/JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Denver (DEN), and Boston Logan (BOS). Major international connections from ORD are London Heathrow (LHR), Tokyo (HND/NRT), Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Frankfurt (FRA), and Cancun (CUN).

Midway International Airport (MDW) is Chicago's premier point-to-point domestic airport, functioning as the main airport for low-cost travel. Passengers will find three daily nonstop flights to Cleveland (CLE), exclusively operated by Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines dominates MDW flight service, serving 90% of the airport's total passenger traffic. MDW offers high-frequency, low-cost domestic holiday and business routes to destinations such as Orlando (MCO), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), and Atlanta (ATL). However, short-haul international flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are limited.
If you have booked flights to Cleveland, you will find MDW airport about 11.2 miles southwest of Downtown Chicago, easily reached via the CTA Orange Line train (about 25-30 minutes from downtown) or via Interstate 55.

Chicago to Cleveland Flight FAQs

What is the average Flight Time from Chicago to Cleveland?

The average nonstop flight time from Chicago to Cleveland is one hour 20 minutes to one hour 45 minutes.

What are the best airlines flying from Chicago to Cleveland?

Best airlines for flights from Chicago to Cleveland include United Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest.

How Far is Chicago to Cleveland by plane?

A flight from Chicago to Cleveland covers 316 miles.

Are there nonstop flights from Chicago to Cleveland?

Yes, numerous airlines operate nonstop flights from Chicago to Cleveland. You will find 12 direct flights out of ORD every day.

Which airlines fly from Chicago to Cleveland?

Both low-cost and premium airlines serve the Chicago to Cleveland route, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Frontier Airlines.

How much does it cost to fly from Chicago to Cleveland?

A standard Economy round-trip ticket to Cleveland costs around $437.59 to $532, while a one-way ticket costs around $218 to $280. If you want to fly first class from Chicago to Cleveland, it will cost around $325 to $354 one way and $651 to $681 round-trip (flight pricing is from CheapFlightsFares internal data).

Which airport is best for flights to Cleveland?

If you want the most flights from Chicago, O'Hare International Airport is ideal, with many flight options.