Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, solo, or with the whole family, you'll enjoy the flexibility of flying Southwest®.
Find your next flight from Detroit to Chicago (Midway) now!
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Find low faresTravel tips for your next Southwest flight
How to board the plane earlier:
Southwest seats are first come, first served based on check-in order. But there are ways to board the plane earlier!
- Purchase EarlyBird Check-In®1 for automatic check-in and a better boarding position.
Enjoy movies, sips, and snacks during your flight.
Take advantage of inflight entertainment with free movies4, free live TV5, free texting6, and $8 inflight Internet7.
We also offer free sodas, coffee, and snacks8—learn more about the inflight food and beverage experience.
Take advantage of free same-day standby9.
Have a change of travel plans? We offer free same-day standby for most fare types: Wanna Get Away Plus®, Anytime and Business Select®. This means that you can retain your current flight while listing for standby on an earlier flight. If a seat becomes available, it’s yours at no charge!
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| Departing from | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) |
|---|---|
| Arriving at | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) |
| Average flight time | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Distance | 228 miles |
| 107* | Weekly flights |
|---|---|
| 2† | Nonstop flights per day Monday through Friday |
| 3 † | Nonstop flights on Saturday |
| 3 † | Nonstop flights on Sunday |
Other popular flights from Detroit:
*Weekly flights based on DOT published scheduled average flights Monday through Sunday between 7/1/2025 and 7/31/2025. Note: route may not operate every day of the week.
†Nonstop flights based on DOT published scheduled average flights Monday through Sunday between 7/1/2025 and 7/31/2025.
Explore Chicago.
When you deplane at Chicago Midway International Airport, you’re a short Orange Line ride away from the center of the city and access to 77 neighborhoods worth of fun. Rental cars and rideshares are available too, of course, but when you take the ‘L’, you have a chance to take in the unique views from the elevated train system. If views are what you’re after, summit the highest building in the Western hemisphere—Willis Tower (or Sears Tower, as locals still call it). From the famous Skydeck Chicago Ledge, daredevils can step out onto a glass floor 1,353 ft. above the hustle and bustle of the streets below. The views don’t stop there, though. Chicago has architecture tours (by boat or on foot), food tours, mafia-related tours, haunted building tours, and tours amongst the neighborhoods. See for yourself.
While you’re touring the diverse neighborhoods of the city of the big shoulders, don’t forget to eat! Restaurant Row isn’t the only place to find Michelin-starred meals, but hole-in-the-wall dives and local faves abound and deserve your attention. Maybe you’re after a slice of famous Chicago-style pizza—but don’t let anyone tell you deep dish isn’t the only game in town. In fact, there are two kinds of ooey-gooey, larger-than-life pizza styles: deep dish and stuffed. However, Chicago natives actually call thin-and-crispy “party cut” or “tavern style” pizza true Chicago-style pie.
Of course, there’s much more to do when you land in Chicago than eat and take tours: museums, Navy Pier, Botanic Gardens, Broadway in Chicago, standup and improv shows—there’s so much to choose from. No matter how you choose to spend your time, flying from Detroit to Chicago (Midway) with Southwest Airlines makes booking a breeze.
Questions we hear the most
The average flight time from Detroit to Chicago (Midway) is 1 hour 10 minutes.
There are 107 weekly flights from Detroit to Chicago (Midway) on Southwest Airlines.
Yes, Southwest flies nonstop from Detroit to Chicago (Midway) 2 times per day from Monday through Friday.
Yes, Southwest flies nonstop from Detroit to Chicago (Midway) 3 times per day on Saturdays and Sundays.
To find the lowest fares by day and time to fly Detroit to Chicago (Midway) with Southwest, check out our Low Fare Calendar.
You can rent a car at Chicago Midway International Airport—book yours with your flight.
Check the status of your upcoming Southwest flight.
Visit the Southwest Airlines® Help Center for helpful information and answers to frequently asked questions.
1EarlyBird Check-In® pricing starts at $15 one-way, and is subject to availability. Pricing may vary based on the popularity and length of each (one-way) flight. Please see optional travel charges for more details.
2Upgraded boarding prices and benefits are per eligible segment. Flights must be within 24 hours of departure to be eligible for upgraded boarding.
4Where available. Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer.
5Due to licensing restrictions, on WiFi-enabled international flights, free live TV and iHeartRadio may not be available for the full duration of flight.
6Texting only allows access to iMessage and WhatsApp (which must be downloaded and activated before connecting to SouthwestWiFi).
7Internet access for $8 per device from takeoff to landing. Price is subject to change. May not be available for the full duration of flight. In order to provide a top-notch Internet experience, we prohibit access to certain high-bandwidth applications and websites. We also prohibit access to certain obscene or offensive content.
8Flights traveling 175 miles or less will have only water available. Complimentary snacks are served on flights over 175 miles. If you’re flying between Hawaii and the continental U.S., you’ll have even more snacks to choose from.
9Free same-day standby: You can list for same-day standby for an earlier flight via a Southwest Customer Service Agent at the airport or the Southwest app or mobile web. You must request to be added to the same-day standby list at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your original flight or the no-show policy will apply. If using the app or mobile web, you must list your name 30 minutes ahead of scheduled departure. You will receive a message based on the contact preference selected during booking if you are cleared on the flight. Group bookings and Unaccompanied Minors are not eligible for same-day standby. You will be required to pay any government taxes and fees associated with these itinerary changes but refunds will be provided. Your original boarding position is not guaranteed on your standby flight. Southwest Business Customers booked through travel agencies may need to see a Southwest agent at the airport for a standby listing. See Southwest.com/standby for more details.