Fares last verified September 2026
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, with no transfers. Walk out of baggage claim, follow the signs to the CTA station, tap your card or phone, and board. About 45 minutes later you’re at Clark/Lake in the heart of the Loop.
Any pay-per-ride trip that starts at O’Hare costs $5, whether you tap a Ventra card, a contactless bank card, or your phone. Riding into O’Hare from elsewhere in the city is the standard $2.50. A CTA pass, including the 1-day pass, is exempt from the O’Hare fare. The Blue Line is one of only two CTA lines that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so a 2am arrival still has a train.
O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
O’Hare is the main international gateway into Chicago. It sits in the far northwest corner of the city, about 17 miles from downtown. The distance sounds intimidating, but 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 (from the taxi stand) | Flat per-person rate; ask the dispatcher | 30–75 min | 2+ independent travelers heading downtown |
| Private taxi | Metered, typically $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 the CTA signs from baggage claim. You don’t go outside first.
- Tap a Ventra card, contactless card, or your phone. Any pay-per-ride trip leaving O’Hare is $5. A CTA pass avoids that fare.
- Clark/Lake is the main downtown stop. From there, transfer to the Green, Brown, Pink, Orange, or Purple lines.
- The $5 1-day pass is worth it if you’ll ride more than once that day. It covers your ride out of O’Hare plus unlimited rides for 24 hours.
- Rush hour (7–9am, 4–7pm) means standing room. With luggage it’s manageable, since the cars have wide doors.
- The Blue Line runs 24 hours, one of only two CTA rail lines with round-the-clock service.
O’Hare rideshare reality: pickup is at a designated rideshare area, not the terminal curb. Follow airport signs to find it. After large waves of arrivals, waits can run 20 to 40 minutes and surge pricing hits hard. The Blue Line runs on a schedule and never surges.
Midway Airport (MDW)
Midway is Chicago’s second airport: smaller, older, and closer to downtown than O’Hare. It sits on the southwest side, about 10 miles from the Loop. Southwest Airlines operates heavily out of Midway, so if you’re flying Southwest into Chicago, you’re likely 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 | Metered, typically $35–$45 | 20–50 min | No surge pricing, unlike rideshare |
| 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. Follow the Orange Line signs through the airport. You don’t go outside.
- The Orange Line loops through downtown. Adams/Wabash is a central stop, with transfers to other lines.
- 30 minutes is realistic off-peak. Rush hour adds a little time.
- Midway is closer to South Side neighborhoods. If you’re heading to Hyde Park, Pilsen, or Bridgeport, it’s the more convenient airport.
Orange Line hours are limited, so check before a late flight. The Orange Line does not run 24 hours, and there’s a gap in service 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 pickup area. At both airports, pickup isn’t at the main terminal doors.
- Surge pricing is real at O’Hare. When several big flights land at once, fares can push past $80. The Blue Line doesn’t surge.
- O’Hare’s taxi stand offers a shared-ride option at a flat per-person rate to downtown. Ask the dispatcher for the current price.
- A private taxi from O’Hare is metered and typically runs $45 to $55 to downtown, depending on traffic.
- Groups of 3 or more change the math. Three people on the Blue Line from O’Hare pay $15 total, still hard to beat.
Rental Cars and Parking in Chicago
Both O’Hare and Midway have rental car centers reachable from the terminal. Rent a car only if you genuinely need one, because driving and parking in Chicago add cost and stress that transit and rideshare don’t.
Budget $35 to $60 a night for hotel parking downtown. Reserving a garage spot ahead usually beats walk-up rates. See our Chicago parking guide for how the city’s meters, garages, and tickets work.
Compare & Reserve Chicago ParkingO’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. A quick city visit is 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 VRBOChicago Airport Transportation FAQ
How do I get from O’Hare Airport to downtown Chicago?
The CTA Blue Line runs directly from O’Hare to downtown in about 45 minutes, with no transfers. Any pay-per-ride trip starting at O’Hare costs $5, and CTA passes are exempt from that fare. The Blue Line runs 24 hours a day.
How do I get from Midway Airport to downtown Chicago?
The CTA Orange Line runs from Midway to downtown in about 30 minutes for $2.50. The Orange Line does not run 24 hours, so late-night travelers should check current hours before relying on it.
Why does the Blue Line cost $5 leaving O’Hare but $2.50 going there?
The CTA charges $5 for any pay-per-ride trip that starts at O’Hare, whether you tap a Ventra card, contactless bank card, or phone. Riding into O’Hare from elsewhere costs the standard $2.50. CTA passes, including the 1-day pass, are exempt from the O’Hare fare.
Is rideshare or the train better from Chicago airports?
For solo travelers or those with light luggage, the CTA trains are usually cheaper and more predictable, since they run on a schedule and don’t surge in price. Rideshare makes more sense for larger groups, heavy luggage, or late-night travel outside Orange Line hours.
Quick Reference: Chicago Airport Transportation
- Cheapest way downtown from O’Hare Blue Line — $5 leaving the airport, 45 min, runs 24 hours
- Skip the $5 O’Hare fare Use a CTA 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day pass
- Cheapest way downtown from Midway Orange Line — $2.50, 30 min
- Sharing a cab from O’Hare Ask the taxi dispatcher for the flat shared rate
- Group of 3+ with luggage from O’Hare Metered taxi (~$45–$55) or rideshare
- Late night arrival at O’Hare Blue Line still runs 24/7
- Late night arrival at Midway Orange Line has an overnight gap — check hours at transitchicago.com
- O’Hare layover 4+ hours Blue Line to the Loop, River North, or Wicker Park
- Driving into the city Reserve 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.