Chicago from Phoenix, 16 – 18 Oct: £1,324 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Fare at $420 per person, $7 under the $427 typical
- Clear skies forecast Saturday and Sunday, highs of 53°F and 62°F
- Club Quarters in The Loop, rated 8.2 from 5,337 reviews
The catch: The $420 fare has one stop, takes 6h 13m and lands at 12:31 AM Saturday, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you want a walkable city weekend of architecture, art and deep-dish; skip it if landing after midnight wrecks your Friday.
Worth it if a one-stop flight and a late Friday arrival suit you: $1,757 for two, with Frontier flights at $840 plus 2 nights at Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago at $917, taxes and fees included. You fly out Friday, Oct 16 and come home Sunday, Oct 18, on a Frontier fare with one stop. A checked bag and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
£1,324 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £633 |
| Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £691 |
| The total, before you go | £1,324 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £181 |
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £45 each way per bag on Frontier, £181 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£317 per person, return
£633 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 6h 13m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 4:18 PM – Sat, Oct 17, 12:31 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | £317 | 1 stop | 6h 13m |
| Frontier | £320 | nonstop | 3h 27m |
| Frontier | £338 | 1 stop | 14h 6m |
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026, 12:01 GMT-7. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
At $420 per person, the Frontier fare is $7 below the $427 typical fare on this route, about 2% under, so you're paying a fair price, not a premium. If you'd rather skip the stop, a Frontier nonstop was $425 per person, $850 for two, when we checked: 3h 27m instead of 6h 13m, landing at 12:59 AM. The forecast works in your favor. Friday brings drizzle, a 51% chance of rain and a high of 57°F, but you'll be in the air for most of it. Saturday and Sunday look clear with a 2% chance of rain, highs of 53°F and 62°F and lows of 45°F to 46°F. That's jacket weather for the river cruise and Millennium Park, and the Art Institute is there if you want a few hours indoors. Two clear days is what a long weekend in Chicago needs.
The kind of trip this is
This is a city weekend for two: architecture from the river, art at the Art Institute, deep-dish for dinner and live blues late at night. It suits couples or friends who like to walk and eat well. The pace is brisk, since you land late Friday and have Saturday and Sunday to fill. Pack layers, because it's jacket weather by the lake.
Weather in Chicago, 16 – 18 Oct
Highs 53–62°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | 57 °F | 46 °F | 51% |
| Sat 17 Oct | 53 °F | 45 °F | 2% |
| Sun 18 Oct | 62 °F | 46 °F | 2% |
Where to stay in Chicago
We picked Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago as the best value: $917 for the 2 nights ($459 a night) in a Standard Queen Room, rated 8.2 from 5,337 reviews. The Loop puts architecture, theatres and Millennium Park at your doorstep. The top-rated option is River Hotel, also in the Loop, at $994 for the stay ($497 a night) for a Small Queen Room, rated 8.3 from 7,925 reviews. On a tighter budget, Hotel Chicago West Loop, SureStay Collection by Best Western is $685 for the stay ($343 a night), rated 7.4 from 877 reviews. It's the only one of the three with free cancellation. The West Loop is converted warehouses and the restaurant row on Randolph Street. All three rates are room only, with no breakfast.
Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago
£691 for 2 nights, two guests · £346 a night
See roomsRiver Hotel
£749 for 2 nights, two guests · £375 a night
See roomsHotel Chicago West Loop, SureStay Collection by Best Western
£516 for 2 nights, two guests · £259 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Chicago for these dates
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Where in Chicago
- The Loop: Architecture, theatres and Millennium Park at your doorstep.
- Magnificent Mile / Streeterville: Shopping on Michigan Avenue and lakefront hotels.
- River North: Galleries, steakhouses and the city's nightlife core.
- West Loop: Converted warehouses with the top restaurant row on Randolph Street.
- Lincoln Park: Leafy neighbourhood with a free zoo and lakefront beaches.
What to do in Chicago
- Take the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise on clear Saturday
- See the Bean and the fountains in Millennium Park, steps from The Loop
- Give a few unhurried hours to the Art Institute of Chicago
- Eat deep-dish at Lou Malnati's or Pequod's
- Hear live blues at Kingston Mines on Saturday night
- Walk Randolph Street in the West Loop for dinner
Also worth it
- Visit the Art Institute of Chicago
- Catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Getting there and around
| Airports in Phoenix | Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Chicago | Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), Chicago Midway International (MDW) |
| Flight time | 6h 13m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,452 miles each way |
| Time difference | +2 hours |
What 2 nights in Chicago costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £633 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago) | £691 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £392 |
| Total for two | £1,716 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Phoenix to Chicago
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £317 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £312 (12 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £322 |
| Price checks | 6 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Chicago.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed, and the currency is the US dollar
- Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Phoenix
- The $420 fare is Frontier from Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) to O'Hare (ORD), leaving 4:18 PM Friday with one stop
- A checked bag is about $240 for two and isn't in the $1,757; neither is any fee charged at the hotel
- Club Quarters and River Hotel don't offer free cancellation at these rates; the SureStay does
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if you don't mind landing after midnight. The fare is $420 per person, 2% under the $427 typical, and Saturday and Sunday look clear. The catch is the stop, which makes the $420 fare a 6h 13m trip.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,757 all in: $840 for the Frontier flights plus $917 for 2 nights at Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago, taxes and fees included. A checked bag, about $240 for two, and spending money aren't in it. Prices are what we found when we checked and can change.
Is there a nonstop?
Yes. When we checked, a Frontier nonstop was $425 per person, or $850 for two. It leaves at 7:32 PM, takes 3h 27m and lands at 12:59 AM. The $420 fare leaves at 4:18 PM, makes one stop and takes 6h 13m.
What's the weather like?
Friday has drizzle, a 51% chance of rain and a high of 57°F. Saturday and Sunday look clear with a 2% chance of rain and highs of 53°F and 62°F. Lows run 45°F to 46°F, so bring a jacket.
Is 2 nights enough?
For a first look, yes. You land late Friday, so Saturday and Sunday are your two full days. That's enough time for the river cruise, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, a deep-dish dinner and a night of blues at Kingston Mines.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Phoenix to Chicago, 1,452 miles, paid in US dollars. Just remember that Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Phoenix.
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All trips from Phoenix · Chicago from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Chicago in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: K / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Mik Dominguez / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Joshua Santos / Pexels, Pexels License