San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco, United StatesSFO / KSFO
International hub · 130 direct destinations · 4 runways · longest runway 11,870 ft
72 °F · ClearSource: METAR observation via the NOAA Aviation Weather Center
Route
San Francisco → Chicago
SFO
San FranciscoSan Francisco International Airport
San FranciscoSan Francisco International AirportRFDChicagoChicago Rockford International Airport
ChicagoChicago Rockford International Airport- Distance
- 1,780 mi
- Estimated flight time
- ~4h 5m
Chicago is currently 2 hours ahead of San Francisco.
No nonstop connection observed
Our route data contains no observed nonstop flight from San Francisco to Chicago. That does not rule out a one-stop journey; see the direct destinations of San Francisco for the options.
About this route
- Domestic route: both airports are in the same country.
- Direct destinations observed from San Francisco: 130.
- Direct destinations observed from Chicago: 61.
The airports on this route
Chicago Rockford International Airport
Chicago, United StatesRFD / KRFD
Regional airport · 61 direct destinations · 2 runways · longest runway 10,003 ft
53 °F · CloudySource: METAR observation via the NOAA Aviation Weather Center
Alternative airports for this journey
Same journey, a different airport nearby - with an observed direct connection.
OAK RFDOakland San Francisco Bay AirportOakland is about 11 mi from San Francisco.View route →SFO ORDChicago O'Hare International AirportChicago is about 63 mi from Chicago.View route →SCK RFDStockton Metropolitan AirportStockton is about 65 mi from San Francisco.View route →SFO MDWChicago Midway International AirportChicago is about 75 mi from Chicago.View route →
About the route from San Francisco to Chicago
The distance between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is approximately 1,780 mi; no direct connection has been observed in our route data.
Frequently asked questions about this route
- How far is San Francisco from Chicago by air?
- The great-circle distance between San Francisco International Airport and Chicago Rockford International Airport is approximately 1,780 mi.
- Is there a direct connection from San Francisco to Chicago?
- No direct connection between SFO and RFD has been observed in our route data. That does not rule out a one-stop journey.
- What is the current time difference between San Francisco and Chicago?
- Chicago is currently 2 hours ahead of San Francisco.
Where this data comes from
The route data comes from the flight archive (ADS-B, adsb.lol): which connections actually flew over the last twelve full months and who flew them, combined with our own airport, runway, and airline datasets. It is reference data about observed routes - not a current timetable and no claim about bookability.
The flight archive of the last twelve months has nothing for this route, so we say nothing about frequency.
Route data updated on October 11, 2026.