Chicago Midway (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

Chicago Midway (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is 1,169 miles in a straight line, about 2h 50m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 9 air traffic control facilities along the way.

1,169miles
1,016nautical miles
1,881kilometers
~2h 50mestimated flight time
+1 htime change on arrival
Southeastinitial heading

Who handles your flight

Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.

  1. MDWTowerChicago Midway Tower (MDW)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. C90TRACONChicago TRACON (C90)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZJXCenterJacksonville ARTCC (ZJX)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  7. ZMACenterMiami ARTCC (ZMA)Starts your descentThank them →
  8. MIATRACONMiami TRACON (MIA)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  9. FLLTowerFort Lauderdale Tower (FLL)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Chicago Midway (MDW)

FLL → MIA → ZMA → ZJX → ZTL → ZID → ZAU → C90 → MDW

About the airports

Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, IL

Codes: MDW · KMDW

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW)

Thank the tower →

Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Codes: FLL · KFLL

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Fort Lauderdale Tower (FLL)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

How we figure this out

Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)?

About 2h 50m gate to gate for the 1,169-mile trip.

How far is Chicago Midway (MDW) from Fort Lauderdale (FLL)?

1,169 miles (1,016 nautical miles, 1,881 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)?

Usually 9 facilities: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW), Chicago TRACON (C90), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Jacksonville ARTCC (ZJX), Miami ARTCC (ZMA), Miami TRACON (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale Tower (FLL). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Chicago Midway (MDW) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL)?

Yes. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is 1 hour ahead of Chicago Midway (MDW).

Updated October 2026

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