Chicago O'Hare to Orlando Flights (ORD to MCO): Nonstop Guide

Chicago to Orlando is a nonstop of under 3 hours, and Orlando is 1 hour ahead of Chicago. As of recent schedules, American, United, Southwest and Frontier fly from O'Hare (ORD) to Orlando International (MCO), and Southwest and Frontier also fly from Midway (MDW). Chicago is on Central Time and Orlando on Eastern Time, so a flight that leaves at 9 a.m. lands around 12:45 p.m. Orlando time. Southwest and Frontier adjust their Chicago schedules most by season, so check times for your dates.

Who flies O'Hare to Orlando nonstop

• United flies from O'Hare Terminal 1, its Chicago hub, and arrives at the B side of Orlando's main terminal.
• American flies from O'Hare Terminal 3, its Chicago hub, and also arrives at the B side in Orlando.
• Southwest flies the route from O'Hare as well as from Midway, and uses the A side of Orlando's main terminal.
• Frontier runs a low-cost option and also uses the A side in Orlando.

Southwest and Frontier use other O'Hare terminals; confirm yours on flychicago.com or your boarding pass. More on the airport in our O'Hare airport guide, and on the two hub airlines on our United and American pages.

O'Hare or Midway?

Chicago has two airports with Orlando nonstops, and the better one depends on where you live.

• O'Hare (ORD) has the most flights and all four airlines. It suits the North Side and the north and northwest suburbs, and the CTA Blue Line runs to it around the clock.
• Midway (MDW) has Southwest and Frontier nonstops to Orlando as of recent schedules. It is smaller, often quicker to get through, and suits the South Side, the southwest suburbs and northwest Indiana. The CTA Orange Line runs from the Loop to the airport.

Compare both in the fare grid for your dates; Midway is Southwest's main Chicago airport, so it usually has more Southwest times than O'Hare.

Winter at O'Hare

Orlando is a winter escape for Chicago, which means many flights leave during snow season. Snow and de-icing can slow departures at O'Hare, and a storm can cause ground delays across the schedule. An early-morning flight gives you the most chances to be rebooked the same day. Dress for Chicago at the airport and Florida on arrival, with a jacket you can stuff in a bag. If you are parking at O'Hare in January or February, leave a brush and scraper in the car, since a week of snow can bury it. Midway's smaller size and shorter walks can help on a stormy day, though it shares the same weather. When snow cancels a flight, our guide to refunds and rebooking explains what the airline owes you.

When to go

Illinois school districts set their own spring breaks, usually in late March or early April, and Orlando flights from Chicago fill around them. Christmas and New Year, the Presidents Day weekend and July are busy too. Dates outside Illinois school breaks are usually easier to book. Summer in Orlando means heat and afternoon storms, and hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. For booking timing, our guide on how to find cheap flights covers the basics, and you can cancel most tickets within 24 hours of booking (see our 24-hour rule explainer).

Other Florida airports for a park trip

If Orlando flights are full or the times do not work, two other airports are worth a look. Orlando Sanford (SFB), north of the city, is served mostly by low-cost airlines; it is farther from the parks than MCO, so add the drive. Tampa (TPA) is roughly an hour and a half by car from Walt Disney World in normal traffic and has its own Chicago nonstops, which can suit a trip that adds the Gulf Coast beaches. For a pure theme park trip, MCO is still the simplest choice, because it is closest to Disney, Universal and International Drive.

ID and what your fare includes

This is a domestic flight, so there is no passport control or customs. An Illinois license only works at O'Hare or Midway security if it is a REAL ID with the star, a rule enforced since May 7, 2025; otherwise bring a US passport or another TSA-accepted ID. Arrive without one and TSA ConfirmID, which carries a fee, is the fallback (tsa.gov). See our REAL ID guide for what counts.

Fare rules are not alike on this route. United's domestic Basic Economy allows only a personal item; American's basic fares include a full-size carry-on. Southwest now charges for checked bags on most fares (since May 2025) and has used assigned seats since January 27, 2026, so the old open-seating rush is gone. Frontier's basic fares cover only a personal item. Compare them with our guides to Basic Economy and airline baggage rules.

Arriving in Orlando

All four airlines use Orlando's main terminal (American and United on the B side, Southwest and Frontier on the A side), so you will not need the train to Terminal C unless you are picking up Brightline to South Florida.

• Rental cars are on site, and most visitors to Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld drive.
• Rideshare, taxis and shuttles collect at the ground transportation level, and Walt Disney World is roughly half an hour away outside rush hour.
• LYNX buses serve downtown and International Drive, but are slow for park trips.

Flying home to Chicago

Remember the clock moves back an hour on the way home, so an afternoon flight lands at O'Hare earlier than it seems. MCO is busiest on weekend mornings; allow at least two hours. Winter arrivals at O'Hare can wait for a gate during snow, so leave a margin before any onward plans.

Tips for Chicago travelers

• Price Midway if you live south of the Loop; it can save an hour on the road.
• Book spring break dates early, and check your own district's calendar.
• Pick morning flights in winter for rebooking room.
• See more routes on our flights from Chicago page and other cities on flights to Orlando.