Chicago O'Hare to Seattle-Tacoma
1716 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 3h 51m with 5 airlines operating direct service from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma (SEA). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $142 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $142). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Chicago O'Hare
Chicago O'Hare is one of America's two busiest hubs and the home base for both United and American — Terminals 1 and 2 belong to United, Terminal 3 to American, and Terminal 5 handles all international arrivals. The CTA Blue Line runs from a station at the airport to downtown Loop in around 45 minutes for $5. Winter weather drives chronic delays from late November through February, so build in connection padding through ORD between Thanksgiving and President's Day.
Arriving in Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma is 14 miles south of downtown Seattle, with the Link Light Rail Red Line running directly from the airport station to Westlake in 38 minutes for $3.25 — possibly the simplest big-city airport transfer in the United States. Fares peak in mid-summer (June–August) and around Bumbershoot/Labor Day; January and February are the cheapest months despite winter rain.
Who flies ORD to SEA?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 3h 51m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 3h 51m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 3h 51m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 3h 51m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 3h 51m | Economy |
5 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly ORD→SEA
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.
Chicago to Seattle FAQs
Direct flights from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) take approximately 3h 51m for the 1716-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.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $109. Jun 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.
5 carriers operate direct service from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma (SEA): United Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United 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.
Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) is the primary international airport for Seattle. 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.