Travelling from Chicago to Philadelphia: what you need to know
Many great adventures start at one of Chicago's main airports, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). Check out your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Philadelphia setting off from either of these bases.
When it comes to arriving in Philadelphia, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is a major hub. Philadelphia Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) is another.
Around 2 hours 5 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct Chicago to Philadelphia flight.
Philadelphia is one hour ahead of Chicago and follows the UTC-5 timezone.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 105 departures a week to choose from. If you have things to do before heading off, the last flight from Chicago to Philadelphia is with United Airlines at 21:40. Go for the first ORD to PHL departure operated by American Airlines at 05:00 to make the most of your arrival in Philadelphia.
Leave enough time to catch your Chicago to Philadelphia flight. As a general rule, turn up two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a peak month such as July? School holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues and delays at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Philadelphia
To find cheap Chicago to Philadelphia flights, book as early as possible. Airlines tend to offer their most competitively priced fares when tickets are first released.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Chicago to Philadelphia is easier if you're flexible with your travel plans. Try using the 'Whole month' function to see the best prices throughout the month and score an awesome deal.
Getting a cheap flight from Chicago to Philadelphia is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as there's a better deal.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' Chicago to Philadelphia flights.
Flying from Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Set off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on a nonstop flight from Chicago to Philadelphia. From ORD, you can travel directly to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Choose from a variety of airlines offering direct Chicago to Philadelphia plane tickets with departures from ORD, including:
Travelling from central Chicago to ORD takes about 45 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a handy hotel close to Chicago O'Hare International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Chicago to Philadelphia, these stays will have you nice and close to your departure gate:
Of the flights that depart from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 70% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
ORD's address is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
You can take a direct flight from Chicago to Philadelphia leaving from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). Kick off your travels at MDW and touch down at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Southwest Airlines offers direct Chicago to Philadelphia plane tickets from MDW. Book your favourite window seat and arrive at your destination in one go.
You can reach MDW from the centre of Chicago in about 25 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The journey by public transport takes roughly 30 minutes to cover the 14 kilometres or so.
Get a head start on your holiday with an additional night away from home. Before your flight from Chicago to Philadelphia, stay in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway Airport:
76% of flights leaving Chicago Midway Airport stick to their scheduled arrival time.
The street address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to central Philadelphia takes about 20 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 11 kilometres away.
It typically takes 30 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Chicago to Philadelphia. Check in to one of these accommodation options near PHL instead:
Grab a Philadelphia International Airport rental car and explore Philadelphia and beyond with your own set of wheels. Dollar, Thrifty and Budget are top providers you can book with here.
Booking your vehicle from Philadelphia International Airport about three weeks in advance boosts your odds of scoring a great price.
PHL is located at 8500 Essington Ave.
Philadelphia Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN)
Central Philadelphia is about 48 kilometres from Philadelphia Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN). As soon as your flight from Chicago to Philadelphia has landed and you've made your way out of the airport, the drive should take about 40 minutes.
If you're catching public transport, it'll take approximately 1 hour 35 minutes.
There are some great places ready to welcome you near TTN. Settle in and get cosy after your Chicago to Philadelphia flight at any of these perfectly located options:
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Philadelphia Trenton-Mercer Airport rental car. Collect a set of wheels from Budget, National or Enterprise and get going in the blink of an eye.
Lock in the lowest price by securing your ride from TTN four weeks ahead of time. You can also expect to have a greater range of vehicles.
Philadelphia Trenton-Mercer Airport can be found at Scotch Road, Terminal Building.
Best time to go to Philadelphia
It's time to figure out your trip dates for your flight from Chicago to Philadelphia. August is the busiest month to travel to Philadelphia. If you want a more peaceful vibe, go in March.
The warmest month in Philadelphia is July, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Book your Chicago to Philadelphia ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
January sees average temperatures of between -7ºC (19ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF). Look for cheap flights from Chicago to Philadelphia around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Philadelphia
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Philadelphia right here. Check out these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Chicago to Philadelphia:
Independence Hall and Liberty Bell are just a couple of the top-rated attractions to add to your Philadelphia itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Explore more of the United States
New York is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be explored after you've experienced Philadelphia. Around 129 kilometres to the northeast, check out popular attractions including Central Park, Statue of Liberty and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Boston is another well-known destination in the United States and is around 434 kilometres northeast of Philadelphia. No journey is complete without visiting Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Freedom Trail and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.


















