Traveling from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale: what you need to know
Set off on your next big adventure from one of Chicago's main airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Explore the options for booking a flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale departing from either of these.
When it comes to where you'll disembark, Fort Lauderdale's primary entry point is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Around 3 hours 5 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Chicago to Fort Lauderdale flight.
The timezone in Fort Lauderdale is UTC-4, which is one hour ahead of Chicago.
The busiest route for flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Choose from 44 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from ORD to FLL is the 05:05 Spirit Airlines service. If you prefer traveling later, the final scheduled service is at 19:47 with Spirit Airlines.
Leave plenty of time to get on your Chicago to Fort Lauderdale flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a peak month such as August? Major public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale
At the moment, AED 103 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale. The cheapest price for a return flight is AED 205. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book two months before your departure date. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Chicago to Fort Lauderdale flights.
Plan your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale. If your travel dates are not set in stone, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest price across every month.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale by creating a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Save on your Chicago to Fort Lauderdale flight with the help of our filters. Select your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Jet off from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on a nonstop flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale. From ORD, you can fly directly to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
You'll have your pick of airlines that offer direct Chicago to Fort Lauderdale plane tickets out of ORD. Get on board with any of these:
ORD is about 26 kilometers from central Chicago. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the center, it'll take 35 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 55 minutes.
After a hassle-free start to your journey? Stay near O'Hare International Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
When it comes to the on-time performance of O'Hare International Airport, data shows 74.85% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
ORD is located at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
You can catch a direct flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale out of Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Kick off your travels at MDW and disembark at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Book a direct Chicago to Fort Lauderdale plane ticket with Southwest Airlines. This is one of the leading carriers operating this route out of MDW.
MDW is around 14 kilometers from central Chicago. It'll take you 20 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city center. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Kick off your vacation early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, stay in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport:
78% of flights taking off from Chicago Midway International Airport meet their expected arrival time.
You'll find MDW at 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to central Fort Lauderdale takes about 15 minutes to reach by car. The center is roughly 5 kilometers away.
Getting to the center by public transport takes about 25 minutes.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale. Stay at one of these accommodation options near FLL instead:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Renta Florida, OtoQ or Thrifty and explore beyond Fort Lauderdale's main sights.
Lock in the best deal by reserving your vehicle from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport about three weeks ahead of your departure.
You'll find FLL at 320 Terminal Drive.
Best time to go to Fort Lauderdale
May is the quietest month for flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, while July is the busiest. Choose the best time to go to Fort Lauderdale based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Book a Chicago to Fort Lauderdale ticket departing in August if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Fort Lauderdale to range from 26ºC (79ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
January sees average temperatures of between 14ºC (57ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Look for cheap flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Fort Lauderdale
After booking your flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Fort Lauderdale:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to know where to begin. Coconut Grove Residences on Fort Lauderdale Beach, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens and Jungle Queen Riverboat are top attractions which should feature on any well-planned Fort Lauderdale itinerary.
Explore more of United States
You've done Fort Lauderdale, now it's time to discover other corners of United States. Travel about 499 kilometers north to Jacksonville to check off its must-visit sights. From Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and Friendship Fountain, there's plenty to keep you busy.
If you're eager to discover another corner of United States, consider Miami, roughly 40 kilometers south of Fort Lauderdale. Wynwood Walls, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and American Airlines Arena are the start of reasons to visit.