The Geography: Where Each Airport Actually Is
O'Hare International (ORD)
- LocationBensenville/Chicago, NW corner
- From Loop17 miles via I-90/I-94 (Kennedy)
- Drive Time30–45 min (light), 60–90 min (rush)
- Terminals1, 2, 3 (domestic), 5 (international)
- AirlinesUnited hub, American, Delta, all international
- Size7th busiest airport in the world
Midway International (MDW)
- LocationChicago, SW side (near Cicero Ave)
- From Loop10 miles via I-55 (Stevenson Expwy)
- Drive Time20–30 min (light), 40–60 min (rush)
- TerminalsOne terminal, Concourses A, B, C
- AirlinesSouthwest Airlines dominant, some others
- Size22nd busiest in North America
Cost & Time by Neighborhood
Flat-rate pricing. Light traffic estimates.
| From | O'Hare (ORD) | Midway (MDW) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Loop | $75 / 30–45 min | $55 / 20–30 min |
| North Shore (Evanston/Wilmette) | $85 / 25–35 min | $110 / 50–70 min |
| Naperville / Aurora | $95 / 40–55 min | $80 / 30–45 min |
| Schaumburg / Hoffman Estates | $65 / 20–30 min | $95 / 50–70 min |
| Oak Brook / Lombard | $75 / 25–35 min | $65 / 25–35 min |
| Orland Park / Tinley Park | $110 / 55–75 min | $70 / 25–35 min |
All rates flat. I-294/I-355 tolls included. No surge pricing ever.
O'Hare: The Full Picture
O'Hare is a city unto itself. With four operational terminals, over 900 daily flights, and a full international concourse in Terminal 5 on the south side of the airport loop, it handles complexity no other Midwest airport comes close to. This matters for ground transportation in specific ways.
Terminal 1 serves United domestic. Terminal 2 handles United regional and some other carriers. Terminal 3 is American Airlines, Delta, and Air Canada — the busiest terminal for domestic travel. Terminal 5 is international only: Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, Aer Lingus, Korean Air, and dozens more. Terminal 5 is physically separated from the 1/2/3 cluster, connected by the Airport Transit System people-mover.
Ground transportation pickup at O'Hare uses the lower-level arrivals drive. Commercial vehicles like our black cars stage in the designated area off the lower level. Our drivers know every inch of this — which exit puts you closest to your car, which carousel typically has international bags, how long customs takes on a Tuesday versus a Sunday.
O'Hare Terminal Quick Reference
Terminal 1
United Airlines domestic. Gates B and C.
Terminal 2
United regional. Air Canada. Gate E/F connections.
Terminal 3
American Airlines. Delta. Gates G, H, K, L.
Terminal 5
All international. Separate building. Take ATS from 1/2/3.
Midway: Smaller, Simpler, Often Better
Midway's reputation as the "other airport" undersells it significantly. For Southwest Airlines passengers — which covers a huge slice of domestic leisure and business travel — Midway is the only option, and it's a better airport experience than O'Hare for stress-free travel.
One terminal. Clear signage. Baggage claim within reasonable walking distance of arrivals. The commercial vehicle pickup area on the lower level is compact and well-organized. A driver waiting for you at Midway can actually see the exit — not something you can say about O'Hare Terminal 3 domestic arrivals.
The I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) is Midway's highway. Compared to the Kennedy Expressway serving O'Hare, the Stevenson is generally less congested for non-rush-hour travel. Southwest Chicago, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Blue Island — all are Midway territory and all are a quick, direct drive.
If you're heading to neighborhoods south of the Loop — Bridgeport, Pilsen, Hyde Park, Beverly — Midway puts you in the right direction. O'Hare would mean driving through downtown both ways, and no one wants that.
The Expressway Question: Kennedy vs Stevenson
The Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) connecting downtown to O'Hare is, by several measures, one of the most congested stretches of urban interstate in the United States. During morning rush (7–9 AM) and evening rush (4–7 PM), what is a 30-minute trip becomes 60–90 minutes. This is not an exaggeration. This is every weekday.
The alternative routes — the I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) looping around from the north — add miles but sometimes save time during the worst Kennedy backups. Our drivers know when to cut across to the Tri-State and when to stay on the Kennedy. Traffic intelligence is part of what you're paying for.
The Stevenson (I-55) to Midway is generally less severe. It backs up on Friday afternoon, it slows in rain, and post-game Bears traffic from Soldier Field can be bad in autumn. But as a daily commuter corridor, it does not approach the Kennedy in congestion frequency or severity.