Travelling from Chicago to Montreal: what you need to know
Chicago has two main airports where you can kick off your trip. Explore your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Montreal leaving from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is where you'll be arriving in Montreal.
Around 2 hours 15 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Chicago to Montreal flight.
Montreal's timezone is UTC-4, which makes Montreal one hour ahead of Chicago.
The busiest route for flights from Chicago to Montreal is from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). You can select from 46 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to set off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from ORD to YUL is the 07:00 United Airlines option. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the last available departure is at 18:05 with United Airlines.
Allow plenty of time to catch your Chicago to Montreal flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Be prepared for longer queues in popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Montreal
To snag cheap Chicago to Montreal flights, book your journey two months ahead of your departure date.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from Chicago to Montreal is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates offering the lowest fares.
Getting a cheap flight from Chicago to Montreal is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when there's a better deal.
Lock in a cheap Chicago to Montreal flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Set out from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on a nonstop flight from Chicago to Montreal. From ORD, you can fly directly into Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
Top airlines that offer direct Chicago to Montreal plane tickets departing from ORD include:
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Chicago to Montreal flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from O'Hare International Airport. Take a break from travelling at one of these popular options:
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Located around 26 kilometres from central Chicago, ORD can be reached in about 35 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport takes roughly 55 minutes.
Need a convenient hotel near O'Hare International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Chicago to Montreal, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from your departure gate:
When it comes to O'Hare International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 74.85% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
ORD is located at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Visit friends or family or just take a moment to stretch your legs with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your Chicago to Montreal flight, check out these options when departing from Chicago Midway International Airport:
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
MDW is about 14 kilometres from central Chicago. It takes 20 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Start your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from Chicago to Montreal, stay in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport:
78% of flights out of Chicago Midway International Airport meet their expected arrival time.
MDW is located at 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Montreal
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
The distance from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to central Montreal is roughly 16 kilometres. It'll take you about 25 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It usually takes 45 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you have a late flight from Chicago to Montreal, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these accommodation options near YUL:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Avis, Alamo or Routes Car Rentals to explore Montreal and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by booking your vehicle from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport about four weeks ahead of your departure.
YUL is situated at 975 Romeo Vachon Street North.
St. Hubert Airport (YHU)
St. Hubert Airport (YHU) is around 26 kilometres from the centre of Montreal. Once you've disembarked your flight from Chicago to Montreal, it'll take you approximately 35 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you choose to travel on public transport, the journey will take you 1 hour 45 minutes or so.
Why wait around for a cab? A St. Hubert Airport rental car lets you get going right away. Roll down your windows and hit the open road with a set of wheels from Enterprise or Budget.
Usually, the sooner you book, the bigger the savings and variety of vehicles. Lock in your ride from YHU as soon as you know your dates.
Best time to go to Montreal
August is the busiest month for flights from Chicago to Montreal. To steer clear of the crowds, head to Montreal in February.
Lock in a Chicago to Montreal ticket departing in July if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Montreal to range from 14ºC (57ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).
Search for cheap flights from Chicago to Montreal in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -19ºC (-2ºF) and -2ºC (28ºF) on average.
More about Montreal
Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Montreal, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Montreal:
Mount Royal Park and Montreal Botanical Garden are a couple of popular attractions to put on your Montreal itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal.
Explore more of Canada
Montreal is always a good idea, but there are so many other parts of Canada you'll want to see. About 499 kilometres south-west of Montreal, a visit to Toronto will fill your itinerary to the brim. Check out popular attractions like CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum and Go Tours Canada - Distillery District.
Around 153 kilometres west of Montreal, Ottawa is another essential stop in Canada. Experience major highlights starting with Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and National Gallery of Canada.
