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Cheap Flights from Chicago to Detroit
CHI → DTW • About 1h 15m nonstop • 4 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 Detroit (DTW)
The Chicago to Detroit route covers roughly 240 miles and takes about 1h 15m nonstop. 4 airlines compete on it — Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit 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 $74.
Detroit is in the middle of a genuine revival, and the downtown core now supports a restaurant and music scene worth flying in for. The Motown Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts anchor the cultural side.
The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn is one of the great American museums by any measure, and Canada is a tunnel or bridge away — Windsor sits directly across the river.
Airlines flying CHI to DTW
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
Airports on this route
- Departing: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Departing: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Arriving: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
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 Detroit
May through October. September and early October bring warm days and the lowest crowds of the season.
Top things to do in Detroit
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Motown Museum
- The Henry Ford Museum
- Detroit Riverwalk
- Eastern Market
- Belle Isle Park
- Guardian Building
How to save on Chicago to Detroit 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 DTW routinely run double the advance price.
- Compare all 4 carriers rather than checking one airline's own site.
- DTW is a Delta hub, so nonstop options are unusually good for a city this size.
- The McNamara Terminal tunnel between concourses is worth a look on a connection.
- Winter fares are the cheapest of the year, but snow disruption is real in January and February.
About flights from Chicago to Detroit
Fares on the CHI to DTW 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.
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines all operate on this route. Delta Air Lines typically offers the most frequencies, with United Airlines and American 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 15m. 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 240 miles apart by air.
Departures leave from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Arrivals land at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
May through October. September and early October bring warm days and the lowest crowds of the season.