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West Palm Beach to Chicago Flight Distance

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Medium HaulNorth-Northwest (339°)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...

1,144
Miles
1,841
Kilometers
994
Nautical miles
2h 50m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale1,841 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

PBI
Origin
Palm Beach International Airport
West Palm Beach, United States
26.6832°, -80.0956°
ORD
Destination
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago, United States
41.9786°, -87.9048°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 1,144 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 2h 50m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

Time Adjustment: Chicago is 1 hour behind West Palm Beach. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 287 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 2 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)1,144 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)1,841 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)994 nmAviation standard
Flight Time2h 50mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction339° NNWNorth-Northwest
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference-1hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)287 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)833 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1149 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset26Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger55 L~9,900 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines2Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the right side for views with less sun glare on this north-northwest 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 287 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 26 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
PBI
DEPARTURE

Palm Beach International Airport

West Palm Beach, United States

IATA / ICAO
PBI / KPBI
Elevation
19 ft (6 m)
Local Time
03:58 PM
GMT-4
Coordinates
26.6832°, -80.0956°
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
02:58 PM
GMT-5
Coordinates
41.9786°, -87.9048°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

2 airlines operate flights between West Palm Beach and Chicago.

AA
American Airlines
United States
US
US Airways
United States

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
37,000 ft (11,278 m)
FL370
Flight Direction
North-Northwest
Initial bearing: 339°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
55 L per passenger
~9,900 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
34° 23' 32.7" N
34.3924°
Longitude
83° 38' 29.7" W
-83.6416°
Halfway Point
572 mi
85 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
287 kg
CO2e: 546 kg
Premium Economy
460 kg
CO2e: 873 kg
Business
833 kg
CO2e: 1582 kg
First Class
1149 kg
CO2e: 2183 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 26 trees.Equivalent to 0.5 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

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

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
right Side
Sun will be on the right (east/south) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on northbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
4.6% of Earth's circumference
2
209 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Comparable to New York to Miami (1,756 km)
4
1.5 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles1,144 mi
Kilometers1,841 km
Nautical Miles994 nm
Meters1,841,000 m
Feet6,040,320 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)2h 50m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)23 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 1,841 km between West Palm Beach and Chicago at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h2h 50m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h3h 41m
Bullet Train320 km/h5h 45m
Car (highway)100 km/h18h 25m
Walking5 km/h368h (15 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h1h 29m

Round Trip Summary

2,288
total miles
3,682
total km
5h 40m
total flight time
574
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: ORD to PBI

Quick Facts

Distance1,144 mi
Flight Time2h 50m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionNNW
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff-1h
CO2 (Economy)287 kg
Airlines2

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is West Palm Beach from Chicago?

The flight distance from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is 1,144 miles (1,841 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 2h 50m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

Chicago is 1 hour behind West Palm Beach.

What airlines fly this route?

2 airlines operate this route: American Airlines, US Airways.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 287 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 833 kg. First class: 1149 kg. Offset with ~26 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this North-Northwest flight, the right side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from West Palm Beach to Chicago instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 1,841 km, it would take approximately 23 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 2h 50m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 287 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 26 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