Flying from Chicago to Toronto: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can start your journey from in Chicago. Explore your options departing from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) when planning your flight from Chicago to Toronto.
When jetting into Toronto, get off the plane at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Toronto Island Airport (YTZ). John C. Munro Hamilton Airport (YHM) is another major gateway to this city.
Around 1 hour 45 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Chicago to Toronto flight.
Toronto's timezone is UTC-5, which makes Toronto one hour ahead of Chicago.
With 121 flights a week between the two airports, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the most popular route. Hop on the first flight from Chicago to Toronto with United Airlines at 07:04. If you prefer to make the most of your day before taking off, the latest flight from ORD to YYZ is with United Airlines at 21:15.
For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to catch your Chicago to Toronto flight.
You can expect bigger queues during popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Toronto
To find cheap Chicago to Toronto flights, book early. Airlines generally offer lower prices when flights are first released.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Chicago to Toronto is more likely if you can be flexible with your travel plans. Use the 'Whole month' function to see the lowest fares across the month and score a great deal.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Chicago to Toronto.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' Chicago to Toronto flights.
Flying from Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Start your trip at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which offers multiple direct flights from Chicago to Toronto. From ORD, you can fly nonstop to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Toronto Island Airport (YTZ).
Leading carriers that offer direct Chicago to Toronto plane tickets departing from ORD include:
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and maybe even explore a different city. When browsing Chicago to Toronto flights leaving from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Detroit Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL)
Located around 26 kilometres from central Chicago, ORD can be reached in about 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 45 minutes.
Need a handy hotel close to Chicago O'Hare International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Chicago to Toronto, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your departure lounge:
Of all flights departing from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 70% touch down on time at their destination.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
Rather fly from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)? This hub offers direct flights from Chicago to Toronto, seamlessly connecting to Toronto Island Airport (YTZ).
From MDW, you can lock in a direct Chicago to Toronto plane ticket with Porter Airlines.
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your Chicago to Toronto flight. Visit family or friends or cross another city off your list. Whatever you'd like to do, check out these options between Chicago Midway Airport and Toronto:
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Detroit Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Minneapolis St Paul Airport (MSP)
MDW is about 14 kilometres from central Chicago. It'll take 25 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not enjoy an additional night away? Think about kicking back in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway Airport the day before your flight from Chicago to Toronto:
Chicago Midway Airport has an on-time performance rate of 76%. This figure provides insight into how often flights that leave from this airport arrive on schedule.
MDW is located at 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Toronto
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
The distance from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to central Toronto is roughly 21 kilometres. It takes around 30 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 25 minutes.
Book a hotel close to YYZ if you have a late flight from Chicago to Toronto. Pick one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Explore without limits with a Toronto Pearson International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Green Motion or Thrifty and see more of Toronto and beyond.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your ride from Toronto Pearson International Airport around three weeks ahead of your departure.
Toronto Island Airport (YTZ)
Once your flight from Chicago to Toronto has arrived, you can make your way to the city centre in around 10 minutes by car. Central Toronto is approximately 3 kilometres from Toronto Island Airport (YTZ).
The trip will take approximately 20 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Chicago to Toronto, settle in at a hotel close to YTZ. These are some comfortable options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting forever for a taxi. Pick up a Toronto Island Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the availability and rates from Hertz, National and Avis.
Get exactly what you want. Reserving your ride from YTZ one week ahead of time often means lower prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
John C. Munro Hamilton Airport (YHM)
Step off your flight from Chicago to Toronto and head straight for your hotel or start exploring right away. The centre of Toronto is around 72 kilometres from John C. Munro Hamilton Airport (YHM) and takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes to reach by car.
Public transport can take you there in roughly 1 hour 50 minutes.
Recover from a day of travel by checking in to a hotel near YHM after your Chicago to Toronto flight. Rest up for the night at Super 8 by Wyndham Mt Hope Hamilton Intl Arpt on or Homestead House Bed & Breakfast before venturing into the city.
Be in the driver's seat of the next chapter of your journey with a John C. Munro Hamilton Airport rental car. Avis, National and Budget are some companies you can book with.
Home agencies sometimes offer discounts for early bookings, so book your ride from YHM well ahead of your flight from Chicago to Toronto. A bit of planning goes a long way for your wallet.
Best time to go to Toronto
It's time to pick your trip dates for your flight from Chicago to Toronto. August is the most popular month to visit Toronto. If you prefer a quieter vibe, go in November.
Lock in a Chicago to Toronto ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Toronto to range from 15ºC (59ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).
If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Chicago to Toronto in February when temperatures average between -15ºC (5ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF).
More about Toronto
Start your Toronto trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Chicago to Toronto, explore our selection of hotels including:
Every great journey has to include some sightseeing. CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum and Toronto Islands are must-visits when exploring Toronto.
Explore more of Canada
Toronto has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of Canada you'll want to see. Around 354 kilometres northeast of Toronto, a trip to Ottawa will keep you on the go. Start with attractions like Rideau Canal National Historic Site, Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal, Locks 1 - 8 - Ottawa.
Mississauga is another favourite destination in Canada and is around 23 kilometres west of Toronto. No trip is complete without dropping by Lake Ontario, Living Arts Centre and Rattray Marsh Conservation Area.