$80 Cheap Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Carlsbad (CLD)

View $80 flight on Sat, Nov 22, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from Chicago O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar)

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Cheap Flights from Chicago to Carlsbad (ORD-CLD)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $80 for one-way flights and $159 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

American Airlines
Wed, Dec 10 - Sat, Dec 13
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$159 Roundtrip, just found
$159
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Wed, Dec 10 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Sat, Dec 13, priced at $159 just found
American Airlines
Tue, Sep 23 - Tue, Oct 7
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$164 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$164
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 23 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Tue, Oct 7, priced at $164 found 1 day ago
American Airlines
Wed, Aug 20 - Tue, Aug 26
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$168 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$168
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Wed, Aug 20 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Tue, Aug 26, priced at $168 found 4 days ago
American Airlines
Wed, Aug 27 - Tue, Sep 2
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$169 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$169
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Wed, Aug 27 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Tue, Sep 2, priced at $169 found 6 hours ago
American Airlines
Sat, Sep 20 - Mon, Sep 29
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$178 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$178
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Sat, Sep 20 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Mon, Sep 29, priced at $178 found 4 days ago
American Airlines
Wed, Aug 20 - Tue, Aug 26
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$179 Roundtrip, just found
$179
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Wed, Aug 20 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Tue, Aug 26, priced at $179 just found
American Airlines
Thu, Aug 28 - Tue, Sep 2
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$184 Roundtrip, just found
$184
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Thu, Aug 28 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Tue, Sep 2, priced at $184 just found
American Airlines
Wed, Aug 20 - Mon, Aug 25
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$187 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$187
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Wed, Aug 20 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Mon, Aug 25, priced at $187 found 4 days ago
American Airlines
Sun, Sep 7 - Wed, Sep 10
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$188 Roundtrip, found 13 hours ago
$188
Roundtrip
found 13 hours ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Sun, Sep 7 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Wed, Sep 10, priced at $188 found 13 hours ago
American Airlines
Wed, Aug 27 - Sun, Aug 31
ORD
Chicago
CLD
Carlsbad
$189 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$189
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Wed, Aug 27 from Chicago to Carlsbad, returning Sun, Aug 31, priced at $189 found 6 hours ago

Alternative airports near Carlsbad

Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Select flight to San Diego Intl. SAN. Cheapest option available. Average driving time to city center is 38 minutes. Flights from $184
SAN
San Diego Intl.
Cheapest
Average driving time to city center38 min
Flights from $184
Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Carlsbad (CLD)
Origin airport
O'Hare Intl.
Destination airport
McClellan-Palomar
Airlines serving
American Airlines
Roundtrip price
$153
Distance
1710 mi

Chicago to Carlsbad Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Chicago to Carlsbad

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from Chicago to Carlsbad are during the month of December. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Chicago to Carlsbad with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from Chicago to Carlsbad

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Chicago to Carlsbad: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from Chicago to Carlsbad

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from Chicago to Carlsbad in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $80 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap Chicago to Carlsbad flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your Chicago to Carlsbad airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) cost?
Discover the latest flight deals from ORD to CLD by entering your preferred travel dates and searching on Expedia. Easily compare prices by departure date if you have flexibility with your schedule and use handy filters to explore prices for your preferred journey. As a member of One Key™, our free loyalty program, you can use Price Tracking to watch fares and receive notifications if prices go up or down.
What is the cheapest month to fly from ORD to CLD?
The cheapest flights from ORD to CLD are usually during off-peak season, when demand is lower. To save money, avoid flying during public holidays, school breaks and major local events.
What is the cheapest airline that flies from ORD to CLD?
Use the filter tool on Expedia to compare airlines and find the cheapest carrier that'll take you from ORD to CLD. Sort your results by "Price (lowest to highest)" to snap up a great deal.
How many flights per day from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)?
You'll have to catch a flight with a layover when traveling from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD). Direct flights don't operate daily on this route. However, just filter your search to include one or more stops to find an option that works for you.
What day of the week has the most flights from ORD to CLD?
Generally you'll find the widest variety of flight choices on a Friday. Tuesdays are often the quietest.* However, this can change depending on the time of year, carrier and other factors.*Busiest/quietest day to travel is based on Expedia flight demand through January to December 2024.
What is the best time to fly from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)?
To avoid potential delays on the O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) route, aim to fly before 3 PM. Departures after this time have a 22% higher chance of being canceled.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for Carlsbad from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD)?
You'll arrive at San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) or John Wayne Airport (SNA) when traveling to Carlsbad on a direct flight from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD).
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) last-minute?
Booking your plane ticket from ORD to CLD shortly before your journey is generally more expensive. But if there's some wiggle room with your travel times and dates, you could bag a cheap last-minute fare.
Is it cheaper to book an ORD to CLD flight and hotel package?
Compared with arranging flights and hotels separately, booking an ORD to CLD flight and hotel package with Expedia could lead to significant savings. Better yet, managing everything in one place will take the stress out of planning your trip. Simply secure your flights and choose from our extensive range of stays, then personalize your trip with extras like tours, activities and car rentals.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)?
If you booked your ORD to CLD flight within the last 24 hours, you may be able to cancel or modify it at no cost. Depending on the airline and the type of ticket you have, additional charges may apply for changes beyond that time. Airline policies and contact information can be found in your itinerary or confirmation email. Or, visit our Customer Service portal for more details.

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Carlsbad nearby Airports

San Diego

Chicago to San Diego Intl.
$85.98

Carlsbad

Chicago to McClellan-Palomar
$152.76
*Available to One Key members.