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Cheap Flights from Chicago to Columbus
CHI → CMH • About 1h 20m nonstop • 3 airlines
Adults
+12 years old
Children
2-11 years old
Infants
Under 2 years
Fares shown are the lowest we have recorded recently on this route and are not a live quote. Run a search above for today's availability, or call (800) 399-8818 and an agent will price it with you.
Flights from Chicago (CHI) to Columbus (CMH)
The Chicago to Columbus route covers roughly 300 miles and takes about 1h 20m nonstop. 3 airlines compete on it — United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines — which keeps fares moving and makes it worth comparing carriers rather than defaulting to the one you usually fly. We have seen one-way fares on this route start around $82.
Columbus is Ohio’s capital and largest city, home to Ohio State University and a food and arts scene concentrated in the Short North and German Village.
It is also the corporate testing ground for much of American retail, which means the restaurant scene is unusually varied for a Midwestern city of its size.
Airlines flying CHI to CMH
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
Airports on this route
- Departing: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Departing: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Arriving: John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Chicago is served by 2 airports. Fares between them can differ by $50 to $150 on the same dates, so ask us to price all of them before you book.
Best time to fly to Columbus
May through October. Autumn is mild and the university calendar drives hotel demand.
Top things to do in Columbus
- Short North Arts District
- German Village
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- Franklin Park Conservatory
- Scioto Mile
- North Market
How to save on Chicago to Columbus flights
- Shift your departure by one or two days — midweek departures on this route are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Book four to eight weeks ahead. Last-minute fares on CHI to CMH routinely run double the advance price.
- Compare all 3 carriers rather than checking one airline's own site.
- The airport is unusually close to downtown, about 10 minutes by car.
- Ohio State home football weekends fill every hotel in the metro.
- The Columbus Zoo consistently ranks among the best in the United States.
About flights from Chicago to Columbus
Fares on the CHI to CMH route move with demand, so flexibility is worth more than timing tricks. Shifting your departure by a day or two, flying midweek instead of Friday or Sunday, and booking four to eight weeks ahead all reduce the fare on this route. Chicago is served by 2 airports, so ask us to price all of them — the difference is often significant. Our agents also hold consolidator and unpublished fares that do not appear in online results.
United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines all operate on this route. United Airlines typically offers the most frequencies, with American Airlines and Southwest Airlines providing competing schedules. Availability varies by season and by which Chicago airport you depart from, so it is worth comparing all carriers before booking.
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 20m. Itineraries with a connection typically add two to four hours depending on the layover city and the length of the stop.
The two cities are roughly 300 miles apart by air.
Departures leave from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Arrivals land at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH).
May through October. Autumn is mild and the university calendar drives hotel demand.