Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)

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

Quick answer

Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is 334 miles in a straight line, about 1h 10m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 6 air traffic control facilities along the way.

334miles
290nautical miles
537kilometers
~1h 10mestimated flight time
Nonetime 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. MSPTowerMinneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. M98TRACONMinneapolis TRACON (M98)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Starts your descentThank them →
  5. C90TRACONChicago TRACON (C90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  6. ORDTowerChicago O'Hare Tower (ORD)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Minneapolis (MSP)

ORD → C90 → ZAU → ZMP → M98 → MSP

About the airports

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field

Minneapolis, MN

Codes: MSP · KMSP

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Minneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP)

Thank the tower →

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Chicago, IL

Codes: ORD · KORD

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Chicago O'Hare Tower (ORD)

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.

Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?

About 1h 10m gate to gate for the 334-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Minneapolis (MSP) from Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?

334 miles (290 nautical miles, 537 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?

Usually 6 facilities: Minneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP), Minneapolis TRACON (M98), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Chicago TRACON (C90) and Chicago O'Hare Tower (ORD). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Minneapolis (MSP) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?

No. Minneapolis (MSP) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) are in the same time zone.

Updated October 2026

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