Chicago has two airports and they are not interchangeable. O’Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world, sitting on the northwest edge of the city. Midway is a smaller, older airport on the southwest side. Which one you fly into changes your transportation options, your travel time downtown, and your budget. Here’s everything you need to know for both.
The Blue Line: O’Hare to downtown for $5 or less. The CTA Blue Line runs directly from O’Hare to downtown Chicago — no transfers, no connections. Walk out of baggage claim, follow signs to the CTA station inside the terminal, tap your card, and board. Forty-five minutes later you’re at Clark & Lake in the heart of the Loop.
Leaving O’Hare on a cash fare or single-ride ticket costs $5 — an airport-originating surcharge the CTA adds specifically for trips that start at O’Hare. Riding back into O’Hare from anywhere else in the city is the standard $2.50. A CTA day pass avoids the surcharge entirely. The Blue Line is one of only two CTA lines running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — land at 2am and the train still runs.
O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
O’Hare is the main international gateway into Chicago and one of the busiest airports in the world. It sits in the far northwest corner of the city, about 17 miles from downtown. The distance sounds intimidating — it’s not. The Blue Line makes it a non-issue for most travelers. For parking options at O’Hare, see our O’Hare Airport parking guide.
| Option | Cost | Time to Downtown | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line (CTA) | $5 from ORD / $2.50 to ORD | ~45 minutes | Almost everyone — solo travelers, couples, light luggage |
| Shared taxi (official flat rate) | $24/person | 30–75 min | 2+ independent travelers sharing a cab from the stand |
| Private taxi (full cab) | $45–$55 | 30–75 min | Solo travelers or groups wanting their own cab |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | $35–$65+ | 30–75 min | Groups of 3+, heavy luggage, late night |
| Rental Car | Varies + parking | 30–75 min | Travelers exploring suburbs or other cities |
| GO Airport Express | ~$35–$45/person | 45–90 min | Shared shuttle to hotels — convenient but slow |
Taking the Blue Line from O’Hare
- Find the CTA station inside the airport. Follow blue CTA signs from baggage claim — you don’t go outside first.
- Buy a Ventra card or use contactless payment. Tap to pay with your phone or card works at most turnstiles. A single ride leaving O’Hare is $5 on cash or single-ride fare — a day pass avoids that surcharge entirely.
- O’Hare to Clark/Lake (Loop) is the main downtown stop. From there transfer to the Red, Green, Brown, Pink, Orange, or Purple lines.
- The $5 day pass is worth it if you’ll use transit more than twice that day — unlimited rides, all lines.
- Rush hour (7–9am, 4–7pm) means standing room. With luggage this is manageable — train cars are full-size with wide doors.
- The Blue Line runs 24 hours — one of only two CTA rail lines with true round-the-clock service.
O’Hare rideshare reality: pickup is at a designated rideshare lot, not at the terminal door. Follow airport signs to the rideshare area. During peak hours and after large flight waves, wait times can run 20–40 minutes and surge pricing hits hard. The Blue Line leaves on a schedule and doesn’t surge.
Midway Airport (MDW)
Midway is Chicago’s second airport — smaller, older, and closer to the city center than O’Hare. It sits on the southwest side, about 10 miles from downtown. Southwest Airlines operates heavily out of Midway — if you’re flying Southwest into Chicago, you’re almost certainly landing here. For parking options at Midway, see our Midway Airport parking guide.
| Option | Cost | Time to Downtown | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Line (CTA) | $2.50 | ~30 minutes | Solo travelers and couples — faster than the Blue Line |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | $25–$45+ | 20–50 min | Groups, heavy luggage, suburban destinations |
| Taxi | $35–$45 | 20–50 min | Fixed-rate alternative to surge pricing |
| Rental Car | Varies + parking | 20–50 min | Travelers heading to suburbs or beyond Chicago |
Taking the Orange Line from Midway
- The CTA station is connected to the terminal. Walk through the airport and follow Orange Line signs — you don’t go outside.
- Orange Line terminates at the Loop. Adams/Wabash is a central downtown stop — transfer to other lines from there.
- 30 minutes is realistic off-peak. Rush hour adds time but the Orange Line is generally reliable.
- Midway is closer to south side neighborhoods. If you’re heading to Hyde Park, Pilsen, or Bridgeport, Midway is the more convenient airport.
Orange Line hours are limited — check before you fly late. As of mid-2026, the Orange Line does not yet run 24 hours. Current service runs roughly 3:30am to 1:25am on weekdays, with a gap of 2 to 3.5 hours overnight. Check current hours at transitchicago.com before planning around the train for very late or early arrivals.
Rideshare & Taxi from Chicago Airports
- Follow airport signs to the rideshare lot. At both airports, pickup is not at the main terminal doors.
- Surge pricing is real at O’Hare. When multiple large flights land simultaneously, fares can push to $80–$100+. The Blue Line does not surge.
- The official shared taxi rate from O’Hare is $24 per person. Ask the dispatcher before assuming you need a private cab.
- A private taxi runs $45–$55 from O’Hare. Fixed price, your own cab.
- Groups of 3 or more change the math. Three people on the Blue Line costs $7.50 — hard to beat against a rideshare.
Rental Cars and Parking in Chicago
Both O’Hare and Midway have rental car centers accessible from the terminal. Rent a car only if you genuinely need one — driving and parking in Chicago adds cost and stress that transit and rideshare don’t.
Chicago parking before you drive: if you’re renting a car and staying in the city, budget $35–$60/night for hotel parking downtown. See our Chicago parking guide for the best strategies to avoid overpaying.
O’Hare Layover: What’s Actually Worth Doing
Rosemont
Parkway Bank Park entertainment district, restaurants, Fashion Outlets of Chicago. Easy round trip in 2 hours.
The Loop & Millennium Park
Cloud Gate, the lakefront, the Art Institute exterior, deep dish at Lou Malnati’s nearby.
River North
Chicago’s restaurant row. A proper Chicago lunch is 45 minutes away. Worth it on a long layover.
Wicker Park
Independent coffee shops, restaurants, walkable streets — feel like a local, not a tourist.
Midway Layover: What’s Nearby
Pilsen
Chicago’s Mexican-American cultural hub. Murals, tacos, the National Museum of Mexican Art.
The Loop
Midway to downtown is 30 minutes — faster than O’Hare. Quick city visit practical on a 3-hour layover.
Bridgeport
Home of the White Sox. Local character most visitors never see.
Hyde Park
University of Chicago campus, Museum of Science and Industry, lakefront access.
Wherever you land, where you stay shapes how easy the rest of your trip is. Downtown and River North put you close to the Blue and Orange Line connections from both airports. The West Loop is convenient if you’re also headed to a United Center event.
Find Chicago Hotels on Hotels.com Browse Chicago Vacation Rentals on VRBOQuick Reference: Chicago Airport Transportation
- Cheapest way downtown from O’Hare Blue Line — $5 leaving the airport, 45 min, runs 24 hours
- Cheapest way downtown from Midway Orange Line — $2.50, 30 min
- Sharing a cab from O’Hare Official shared rate — $24/person to downtown
- Group of 3+ with luggage from O’Hare Private taxi flat rate (~$45–$55) or rideshare
- Late night arrival at O’Hare Blue Line still runs 24/7 — use it
- Late night arrival at Midway Orange Line has an overnight gap — check hours at transitchicago.com
- O’Hare layover 4+ hours Blue Line to Loop, River North, or Wicker Park
- Driving into the city Pre-book parking before you arrive
The Blue Line from O’Hare and the Orange Line from Midway solve most of this decision by themselves — fast, reliable, and dramatically cheaper than a cab or rideshare. Know the fare quirks, know the hours, and you’ll spend your trip budget on the city instead of getting to it.