Chicago Airport Transfers: O'Hare & Midway Guide

Chicago is served by two major airports — O’Hare International (ORD) to the northwest and Midway International (MDW) on the southwest side. Both are connected to downtown by CTA rail lines, making Chicago one of the best US cities for airport public transit. Here’s everything you need to get from either airport to the Loop, River North, Wicker Park, or wherever you’re staying.

O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

O’Hare is 18 miles northwest of the Loop, one of the world’s busiest airports and the main hub for American and United long-haul routes. Despite the distance, the Blue Line train makes it highly accessible.

CTA Blue Line

The CTA Blue Line runs directly from O’Hare Airport station — accessible from all terminals via the pedway — to the downtown Loop, stopping at dozens of neighbourhood stations along the way.

Key stops on the Blue Line from O’Hare:

• Jefferson Park — 20 minutes from O’Hare (connection point for northwest suburbs)
• Logan Square — 30 minutes (hip neighbourhood with restaurants and bars)
• Wicker Park / Damen — 35 minutes
• Clark/Lake — 45 minutes (the heart of the Loop)
• Washington/Dearborn — 47 minutes (Millennium Park, Chicago Riverwalk area)
• UIC-Halsted — 50 minutes (University of Illinois at Chicago)
• O’Hare–Forest Park direction continues to other West Side stops

Cost (as of 2026): Approximately $5 for a single trip from O’Hare (includes an airport boarding premium). All other CTA trips are approximately $2.50. Pay with a Ventra card or contactless payment at the turnstile.

Frequency: Trains run every 3–10 minutes during peak hours and every 10–15 minutes during off-peak. The Blue Line runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making it one of the few US airport rail services with overnight service.

Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)

Rideshare pickup zones at O’Hare are on the lower level (Arrivals) at each terminal. Terminal 2 is the consolidated rideshare zone — all pickups from Terminal 1, 2, and 3 are directed there. International arrivals in Terminal 5 have a separate rideshare zone.

Typical rideshare fares from O’Hare (as of 2026):

• Loop / Michigan Avenue: approximately $35–$60
• River North: approximately $35–$60
• Wicker Park / Bucktown: approximately $30–$50
• Lincoln Park / Lakeview: approximately $35–$55
• Hyde Park (University of Chicago area): approximately $50–$75

Surge pricing is common during the Friday evening rush (4–7pm) and after major events at United Center.

Taxi

Yellow and blue-and-white taxis queue at designated stands on the lower level at O’Hare. Chicago taxis are metered.

Approximate fares from O’Hare (as of 2026):

• Loop / Magnificent Mile: approximately $40–$55 before tip
• River North: approximately $40–$55
• Lincoln Park: approximately $45–$60

Airport taxis add a $4 ground transportation tax at O’Hare. Taxis are available 24 hours.

Metra UP-NW Line

While Metra does not serve O’Hare Airport directly, travellers heading to certain northern suburbs (Arlington Heights, Barrington, Palatine) can take the O’Hare Transfer Station, a free shuttle bus from the airport that connects to the Metra UP-Northwest Line at the O’Hare Transfer stop. From there, trains run to Ogilvie Transportation Center (downtown Chicago’s northwest commuter hub) in approximately 35–50 minutes.

Cost (as of 2026): Approximately $4.75–$7.50 depending on zone. Note: this is useful mainly for suburban destinations, not for travel to central Chicago neighbourhoods, where the Blue Line is faster and cheaper.

Private Transfer

Pre-booked private cars offer fixed pricing and in-arrivals meet-and-greet service. Book through [/go/transfers-usa] (Kiwitaxi), compare with [/go/transfers-usa-gettransfer] (GetTransfer), or reserve through [/go/welcome-pickups-usa] (Welcome Pickups).

Typical private transfer rates from O’Hare (as of 2026):

• To downtown Loop / Magnificent Mile: approximately $75–$105 sedan
• To River North: approximately $75–$105
• To Chicago’s North Side (Lincoln Park, Lakeview): approximately $80–$110

Private transfers operate 24 hours and track your flight for delays.

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Midway International Airport (MDW)

Midway is 10 miles southwest of the Loop, a compact airport primarily serving Southwest Airlines and domestic budget routes. The CTA Orange Line connects it directly to the Loop.

CTA Orange Line

The CTA Orange Line runs from Midway station (attached to the airport) to the downtown Loop in approximately 35 minutes. It shares infrastructure with other Loop ‘L’ lines at the Elevated Loop, giving direct access to stations throughout the central business district.

Key stops on the Orange Line from Midway:

• Midway (airport terminal connection)
• Pulaski — 5 min (Southwest Side)
• Kedzie — 10 min (Marquette Park area)
• Western — 17 min (Brighton Park)
• Halsted — 24 min (Bridgeport)
• Roosevelt — 31 min (Museum Campus, Illinois Institute of Technology)
• Harold Washington Library–State/Van Buren — 33 min (South Loop, State Street)
• Adams/Wabash — 35 min (Grant Park, Millennium Park, Art Institute)
• Washington/Wabash — 36 min

Cost (as of 2026): Approximately $2.50 with a Ventra card or contactless payment. No airport surcharge on the Orange Line (unlike the Blue Line at O’Hare).

Operating hours: Approximately 4am to 1am daily. The Orange Line does not run 24 hours — late-night arrivals require rideshare or taxi. During overnight hours, limited CTA bus service (#55 Garfield or #63 West 63rd St) connects to the Red Line at Roosevelt for overnight travel.

Rideshare

Rideshare pickup zones at Midway are on the lower level of the terminal. Fares are generally lower than from O’Hare due to Midway’s proximity to the Loop.

Typical rideshare fares from Midway (as of 2026):

• Loop / State Street: approximately $20–$40
• River North: approximately $22–$42
• Wicker Park: approximately $20–$38
• Hyde Park: approximately $30–$50
• O’Hare Airport (if connecting): approximately $45–$70

Taxi

Taxis are available at the ground level. Metered fares from Midway to the Loop typically run approximately $25–$35 before tip. A $2.50 city ground transportation tax applies.

Private Transfer

For fixed pricing from Midway, pre-book through [/go/transfers-usa] or [/go/welcome-pickups-usa]. Typical rates from Midway to downtown Chicago run approximately $55–$80 as of 2026.

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Comparing Your Options

Route	Method	Approx. cost	Approx. time
O’Hare → Loop	CTA Blue Line	$5	45 min
O’Hare → Loop	Rideshare	$35–$60	35–55 min
O’Hare → Loop	Taxi	$40–$55 + tip	35–55 min
O’Hare → Loop	Private transfer	$75–$105	35–50 min
Midway → Loop	CTA Orange Line	$2.50	35 min
Midway → Loop	Rideshare	$20–$40	20–35 min
Midway → Loop	Private transfer	$55–$80	20–35 min

Costs and times as of 2026. CTA travel times are very consistent; surface times depend on freeway traffic.

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Tips for Chicago Airport Transfers

The Blue Line is genuinely the best option from O’Hare. For most downtown or North Side destinations, it is faster than a taxi or rideshare during any kind of peak period and substantially cheaper at all times. The 24-hour service is a real advantage for late arrivals.

Ventra card saves money. Buy a Ventra card at the station machines for $5 (refundable) and load credit. The card gives you the cheapest per-ride fare on all CTA bus and ‘L’ routes, plus free transfers within 2 hours.

Midway is closer but not necessarily faster by cab. The 10-mile distance can still take 30–40 minutes during rush hour on the Dan Ryan Expressway. The Orange Line is more reliable at those times.

Pre-book transfers for early morning flights. Midway’s Orange Line doesn’t run before about 4am. If your flight is at 6am and you need to be there by 4:30am, rideshare surge pricing is often high. A pre-booked transfer through [/go/transfers-usa] locks in your price the night before.

O’Hare Terminal 5 note. International arrivals land in Terminal 5, which is a short bus ride (Terminal 5 connector) from Terminal 2 and the main CTA/Blue Line station. Allow an extra 10–15 minutes for this transfer if taking the Blue Line.

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