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Colorado Springs to Chicago Flight Distance

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Short HaulEast-Northeast (71°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

911
Miles
1,466
Kilometers
792
Nautical miles
2h 13m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale1,466 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

COS
Origin
City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport
Colorado Springs, United States
38.8058°, -104.7010°
ORD
Destination
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago, United States
41.9786°, -87.9048°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 911 miles, this short-haul flight will take approximately 2h 13m. This is a relatively quick flight where you may not even need entertainment.

Time Adjustment: Chicago is 1 hour ahead of Colorado Springs. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 374 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 1 airline serves this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)911 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)1,466 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)792 nmAviation standard
Flight Time2h 13mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationSHORT HAULShort-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Flight Direction71° ENEEast-Northeast
Cruising Altitude33,000 ftFL330 (10,058 m)
Time Difference+1hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)374 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)1084 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1495 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset34Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger44 L~7,920 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines1Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this east-northeast flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Short flight—light carry-on with essentials is sufficient.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 374 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 34 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
COS
DEPARTURE

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

Colorado Springs, United States

IATA / ICAO
COS / KCOS
Elevation
6,187 ft (1886 m)
Local Time
03:22 PM
GMT-6
Coordinates
38.8058°, -104.7010°
View full airport details
ORD
ARRIVAL+1h from departure

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Chicago, United States

IATA / ICAO
ORD / KORD
Elevation
672 ft (205 m)
Local Time
04:22 PM
GMT-5
Coordinates
41.9786°, -87.9048°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

1 airline operate flights between Colorado Springs and Chicago.

UA
United Airlines
United States

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
33,000 ft (10,058 m)
FL330
Flight Direction
East-Northeast
Initial bearing: 71°
Route Type
Short-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737Embraer E190
Fuel Consumption
44 L per passenger
~7,920 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
40° 41' 49.7" N
40.6971°
Longitude
96° 30' 8.0" W
-96.5022°
Halfway Point
456 mi
67 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
374 kg
CO2e: 710 kg
Premium Economy
598 kg
CO2e: 1136 kg
Business
1084 kg
CO2e: 2060 kg
First Class
1495 kg
CO2e: 2841 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 34 trees.Equivalent to 0.7 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
1 hour forward
Flying eastward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
left Side
Sun will be on the right (south) side during daytime
Recommendation
Left window for views away from sun glare, right for warmth

Distance in Perspective

1
3.7% of Earth's circumference
2
262 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Comparable to New York to Miami (1,756 km)
4
1.2 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles911 mi
Kilometers1,466 km
Nautical Miles792 nm
Meters1,466,000 m
Feet4,810,080 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)2h 13m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)18 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 1,466 km between Colorado Springs and Chicago at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h2h 13m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h2h 56m
Bullet Train320 km/h4h 35m
Car (highway)100 km/h14h 40m
Walking5 km/h293h (12 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h1h 11m

Round Trip Summary

1,822
total miles
2,932
total km
4h 26m
total flight time
748
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: ORD to COS

Quick Facts

Distance911 mi
Flight Time2h 13m
Route Typeshort haul
DirectionENE
AltitudeFL330
Time Diff+1h
CO2 (Economy)374 kg
Airlines1

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Colorado Springs from Chicago?

The flight distance from City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is 911 miles (1,466 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 2h 13m. This is a short-haul flight typically cruising at 33,000 feet (FL330).

What is the time difference?

Chicago is 1 hour ahead of Colorado Springs.

What airlines fly this route?

1 airline operate this route: United Airlines.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 374 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 1084 kg. First class: 1495 kg. Offset with ~34 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this East-Northeast flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Colorado Springs to Chicago instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 1,466 km, it would take approximately 18 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 2h 13m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This short-haul route is typically served by Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Embraer E190 aircraft. These are narrow-body aircraft designed for efficient short-distance travel.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 374 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 34 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route