Flying from Melbourne to Chicago: what you need to know
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is Melbourne's main airport. Check out your options for booking a flight from Melbourne to Chicago departing from here.
When working out where to arrive in Chicago, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) are the major entry points.
Chicago's timezone is UTC-5, which makes Chicago 16 hours behind Melbourne.
To ensure you make it on your Melbourne to Chicago flight, allow plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You'll likely experience longer queues during popular months like January. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Chicago
Don't leave everything to the last moment. You're more likely to get cheap Melbourne to Chicago flights if you book ahead. Airlines often offer some great early bird deals.
If you're willing to be flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest price in every month when looking for your plane ticket from Melbourne to Chicago.
Save time looking for cheap flights from Melbourne to Chicago by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.
Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Or sort your Melbourne to Chicago flight results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
We make it simple to book a Melbourne to Chicago flight with a stopover. To see your options departing from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to explore your chosen city. Popular stopovers include:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
The journey from central Melbourne to MEL takes around 40 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 12 miles in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a stress-free start to your trip? Stay near Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Melbourne to Chicago or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Of all flights leaving Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, 67.71% arrive on time at their destination.
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
The distance from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago is roughly 16 miles. It takes around 35 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Getting to the centre by public transport will take you around 55 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Melbourne to Chicago, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these hotels near ORD:
Hit the road running by picking up an O'Hare International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Dollar or Budget and experience the lesser-explored corners of Chicago and beyond.
Secure the lowest price by booking your ride from O'Hare International Airport about four weeks before your departure date.
ORD is situated at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
As soon as your flight from Melbourne to Chicago has arrived, you can make your way to the city centre in about 20 minutes by car. Central Chicago is roughly 9 miles from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
The trip will take roughly 45 minutes on public transport.
There are some comfortable places to call home for the night near MDW. Tuck yourself in after your Melbourne to Chicago flight at one of these well-located options:
Dollar, Hertz and Budget make collecting a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car quick and easy. These companies are located around or in the terminal and will have you on your way in a heartbeat.
Lock in the lowest price by booking your ride from MDW four weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
The address for Chicago Midway International Airport is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is roughly 80 miles from central Chicago. It'll take you about 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the city centre by ride-share or cab once you've stepped off your flight from Melbourne to Chicago.
The journey will take you roughly 4 hours 15 minutes when travelling on public transport.
Take control of the next leg of your trip with a Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car. Budget, Alamo and National are reliable rental providers.
Rental agencies sometimes offer promotions for early bookings, so reserve your vehicle from RFD in advance of your flight from Melbourne to Chicago. A little prep today saves cash tomorrow.
The street address for Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
August is the busiest month for flights from Melbourne to Chicago. To avoid the crowds, head to Chicago in January.
Book a Melbourne to Chicago ticket departing in July if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Chicago to range from 15ºC (59ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Melbourne to Chicago in January when temperatures average between -12ºC (10ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF).
More about Chicago
Start your Chicago trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Melbourne to Chicago, explore our selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier are leading attractions which should be on any good Chicago itinerary.
Explore more of United States
Chicago is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of United States just waiting to be discovered. Around 280 miles south-east of Chicago, a trip to Columbus will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with popular sights like Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio Statehouse and German Village.
Indianapolis is another standout destination in United States and is around 160 miles south-east of Chicago. No trip is complete without dropping by The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.