Call Now: 
Cheap Flights from Chicago to Denver
CHI → DEN • About 2h 40m 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 Denver (DEN)
The Chicago to Denver route covers roughly 900 miles and takes about 2h 40m nonstop. 3 airlines compete on it — United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Frontier 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 $81.
Denver is the staging point for the Rockies. The city itself offers a compact downtown, an outsized brewery scene and 300 days of sun a year, and the mountains start about an hour west.
Winter fares track ski season closely — December through March is peak, while late spring and autumn are notably cheaper for the same mountain access.
Airlines flying CHI to DEN
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
Airports on this route
- Departing: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Departing: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Arriving: Denver International Airport (DEN)
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 Denver
June through September for hiking and the mountain passes; December through March for skiing.
Top things to do in Denver
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- Denver Art Museum
- Union Station
- Larimer Square
- Denver Botanic Gardens
- Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
How to save on Chicago to Denver 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 DEN routinely run double the advance price.
- Compare all 3 carriers rather than checking one airline's own site.
- Denver sits at 5,280 feet — take the first day easy and drink more water than feels necessary.
- The A Line train connects the airport to Union Station in 37 minutes for a few dollars.
- Ski-season Saturdays on I-70 are gridlocked; fly in midweek if your schedule allows.
About flights from Chicago to Denver
Fares on the CHI to DEN 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, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines all operate on this route. United Airlines typically offers the most frequencies, with Southwest Airlines and Frontier 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 2h 40m. 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 900 miles apart by air.
Departures leave from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Arrivals land at Denver International Airport (DEN).
June through September for hiking and the mountain passes; December through March for skiing.