Transit to/from Chicago’s Airports

O’Hare and Midway are easily accessible by train (CTA), taxi, rideshare, and shuttle bus. These options connect Chicago’s visitors to award-winning restaurants, five-star hotels, over 600 parks, 77 unique community areas, and Chicago’s iconic lakefront.

The Chicago Transit Authority serves both airports for easy and economical travel between downtown and Chicago neighborhoods using the ‘L’ train. The 24-hour CTA Blue Line connects directly to O’Hare and the CTA Orange Line connects directly to Midway. Read more on getting around Chicago with public transportation or visit transitchicago.com/airports for full fare information and maps.

Both airports offer plentiful taxi service to downtown and the suburbs. Rates range from $40-50 from O’Hare, and $30 – $40 from Midway. Taxi stands are located on the arrivals level of each terminal. Rates vary based on travel time and are subject to change.

Rideshare companies offer service to and from both of Chicago’s airports. Refer to rideshare applications to hail a driver and for rideshare rates. Rideshare pick-up locations are as follows:

• Midway
• Lower Level Outside of Baggage Claim, Door 4.
• O’Hare
• Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 – Upper Level outside Door 2A
• Terminal 3 – Upper Level outside Door 2E
• Terminal 5 – Lower Level outside Door 5C

GO Airport Express provides shared ride services to all downtown/suburban hotels and many businesses. Pair fares and group discounts are available along with customized reservation portals for groups.

Getting to Chicago by Train

Amtrak serves Chicago with about 50 trains arriving and departing daily. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, the national rail operator Amtrak offers more than 300 trains each day — at speeds up to 150 mph — to more than 500 destinations.

Metra is the commuter rail agency serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in the Chicago area. It is the sister agency to the Chicago Transit Authority, which provides mass transit rail (the “L”) and bus service to Chicago and some suburbs, and Pace, which provides bus service primarily in the suburbs. Metra serves more than 100 communities with 241 stations on 11 lines running from Chicago’s downtown. Click on an online system map to see route and station locations.

Getting to Chicago by Car

With its central geographic location and status as a hub for major interstates, Chicago is convenient to drive to from every region in the country. In fact, more than 20 million people live within a three-hour drive of the city.

Average Drive Times to Chicago

Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), I-294 (Tri-State Tollway).

Use this fully-interactive parking map to search for parking options in downtown Chicago.

More information about Chicago check out the Chicago Concierge.