Chicago Midway (MDW) to San Diego (SAN) is 1,725 miles in a straight line, about 3h 57m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 10 air traffic control facilities along the way.
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.
- MDWTowerChicago Midway Tower (MDW)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- C90TRACONChicago TRACON (C90)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZDVCenterDenver ARTCC (ZDV)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZABCenterAlbuquerque ARTCC (ZAB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Starts your descentThank them →
- SCTTRACONSouthern California TRACON (SCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- SANTowerSan Diego Tower (SAN)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
San Diego (SAN) to Chicago Midway (MDW)
SAN → SCT → ZLA → ZAB → ZDV → ZKC → ZMP → ZAU → C90 → MDW
About the airports
Chicago Midway International Airport
Chicago, IL
Codes: MDW · KMDW
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW)
San Diego International Airport
San Diego, CA
Codes: SAN · KSAN
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: San Diego Tower (SAN)
More routes
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Denver (DEN)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Orlando (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Miami (MIA)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Seattle (SEA)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Newark (EWR)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Houston (IAH)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Boston (BOS)
- Chicago Midway (MDW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
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.
Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.
Common questions
How long is the flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to San Diego (SAN)?
About 3h 57m gate to gate for the 1,725-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.
How far is Chicago Midway (MDW) from San Diego (SAN)?
1,725 miles (1,499 nautical miles, 2,776 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 San Diego (SAN)?
Usually 10 facilities: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW), Chicago TRACON (C90), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Denver ARTCC (ZDV), Albuquerque ARTCC (ZAB), Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), Southern California TRACON (SCT) and San Diego Tower (SAN). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between Chicago Midway (MDW) and San Diego (SAN)?
Yes. San Diego (SAN) is 2 hours behind Chicago Midway (MDW).