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Flight Time from Chicago to Los Angeles

Search Chicago to Los Angeles flightsLive fares on Trip.com for your dates
By Sophie1 min readPublished
Table of contents
Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles
Photo: Marker777 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Flight time

4h 6m

estimated nonstop

Distance

1,741 mi

Time difference

Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago.

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Estimated nonstop time from great-circle distance and typical airline block speeds. Actual times vary about ±30 min with winds, routing and aircraft - eastbound is usually faster than westbound. Times shown for direct flights; connections add layover time.

In Brief

How long is the flight from Chicago to Los Angeles?

The flight from Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) takes approximately 4h 6m nonstop, covering a great-circle distance of 1,741 mi (2,802 km). Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago. Actual times vary by about 30 minutes with winds, air-traffic routing and aircraft type, and connecting flights take longer once you add layover time.

Key takeaways

  • Flight time: about 4h 6m nonstop (ORD → LAX).
  • Distance: 1,741 mi / 2,802 km great-circle.
  • Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago.
  • Eastbound is usually 30-60 min faster than westbound on long routes.
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Chicago to Los Angeles flight: FAQ

Flight time, distance and time difference for this route.

The nonstop flight from Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) takes about 4h 6m, covering a great-circle distance of 1,741 mi (2,802 km). Actual times vary by roughly 30 minutes with winds, routing and aircraft; connecting flights take longer once you add the layover.

Chicago and Los Angeles are about 1,741 mi (2,802 km) apart as the crow flies - the great-circle distance airlines fly close to. Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago.

Roughly, but not exactly. The distance is identical, so the estimate is the same both ways, but in reality one direction is usually 30-60 minutes faster because of high-altitude winds - eastbound flights ride the jet stream while westbound flights fight a headwind.

Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago. That's based on standard time-zone offsets and doesn't account for daylight saving, so it can shift by an hour around DST changeovers. Use the calculator above with your departure time to see your local arrival time.

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