New York LaGuardia to Chicago O'Hare
731 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 52m with 7 airlines operating direct service from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $119 return), with peak prices in August (around $357). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from New York LaGuardia
New York LaGuardia is the smallest of New York's three airports and now the most modern after a complete 2017–2022 rebuild. The Q70 Limited bus runs free from each terminal to subway connections at Jackson Heights and Woodside; rail directly to LGA does not yet exist (the AirTrain proposal was cancelled in 2023). Operations are domestic-only with limited transborder service. Delta, American and JetBlue have the largest schedules; Southwest and Spirit add ULCC capacity.
Arriving in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare sits 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, with the CTA Blue Line running 24 hours from the airport's own station to the Loop in 45 minutes for $5. Winter weather causes chronic delays from late November through February; book mid-day rather than evening departures during that window. Fares peak around major Chicago conventions and concert weekends; January and August are typically the cheapest months.
Who flies LGA to ORD?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 52m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 52m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 1h 52m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 52m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 1h 52m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 1h 52m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 1h 52m | Economy |
7 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly LGA→ORD
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
New York to Chicago FAQs
Direct flights from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) take approximately 1h 52m for the 731-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $119. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
7 carriers operate direct service from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD): Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and 2 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Delta Air Lines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is the primary international airport for Chicago. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.