Baltimore-Washington to Chicago O'Hare
620 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 39m with 6 airlines operating direct service from Baltimore-Washington (BWI) 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 Baltimore-Washington
Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall is Southwest Airlines' largest East Coast hub and one of the cheapest US airports for domestic travel. The MARC Penn Line and Amtrak both serve BWI Rail Station — a 12-minute light rail shuttle ride from the terminal — with onward service to Washington Union Station in 30 minutes ($8 MARC, $20+ Amtrak). Limited international long-haul (BA to London, Condor to Frankfurt seasonally); the focus is heavy short-haul Southwest and 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 BWI to ORD?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 1h 39m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 1h 39m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 1h 39m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 39m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 39m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 39m | Economy |
6 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly BWI→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.
Baltimore to Chicago FAQs
Direct flights from Baltimore-Washington (BWI) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) take approximately 1h 39m for the 620-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.
6 carriers operate direct service from Baltimore-Washington (BWI) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD): Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and 1 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Southwest Airlines 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.