Midway vs O'Hare: Which Chicago Airport Should You Fly Into?

Chicago has two major airports and picking the wrong one can cost you an extra hour in the car or a hundred bucks on your ground transportation. Here is the honest breakdown from a company that drives to both of them every single day.

The Quick Comparison

Feature	O'Hare (ORD)	Midway (MDW)
Annual passengers	83 million	22 million
Terminals	4 (plus international Terminal 5)	1
Airlines	45+ including all major carriers	Primarily Southwest, plus Delta, Porter, Volaris
Distance to Loop	17 miles northwest	10 miles southwest
Drive time to downtown	35-70 min depending on traffic	20-40 min depending on traffic
CTA train to Loop	Blue Line — about 45 min	Orange Line — about 25 min
Typical limo/car service	$65-95 from downtown	$55-80 from downtown
Rideshare estimate	$35-65 (surge can push to $100+)	$25-45 (surge can push to $70+)
Parking daily rate	$20-60/day	$17-36/day
International flights	Yes — Terminal 5	Limited (Volaris to Mexico)

Distance and Drive Times — the Real Numbers

O'Hare sits 17 miles northwest of the Loop. On a Sunday morning, you can make it in 25 minutes via I-90/94. During a weekday rush, the Kennedy Expressway turns into a parking lot and that same trip stretches to 60-70 minutes. The I-190 spur into O'Hare itself adds another 5-10 minutes of merge traffic that Google Maps often underestimates.

Midway is 10 miles southwest. The Stevenson Expressway (I-55) runs straight to it and is generally less congested than the Kennedy. A typical midday trip from the Loop takes about 20 minutes. During rush hour, expect 35-40 minutes. Cicero Avenue backups near the terminal can add 5-10 minutes on Friday afternoons when everyone is trying to catch their weekend flight.

If you are coming from the north suburbs — Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park — O'Hare is closer by 20+ miles. If you are coming from the south or southwest suburbs — Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Tinley Park — Midway is the obvious choice. From the western suburbs like Naperville or Downers Grove, either airport is roughly 30-40 minutes, so pick based on airline and flight time.

Our drivers do these routes daily. We know that the Kennedy is worst from 7-9 AM inbound and 4-7 PM outbound. The Stevenson has a tighter rush window — bad from 7:30-8:30 AM and 4:30-6 PM. We build in buffer time for every airport trip and monitor IDOT traffic cameras in real-time so we can reroute through surface streets if an expressway locks up.

Airlines and Flights

O'Hare is a United hub and an American Airlines hub. If you fly either carrier regularly, O'Hare is probably your default. It also has every other major domestic and international carrier — Delta, Southwest, Spirit, JetBlue, Frontier, plus dozens of international airlines operating out of Terminal 5.

Midway is a Southwest fortress. About 90% of gates are Southwest. If you are a Southwest loyalist — no bag fees, flexible cancellations — Midway is your airport. Delta also runs a few routes out of Midway, and Porter Airlines flies to Toronto Billy Bishop, which is a nice option if you are heading to Canada.

For international travel, O'Hare is the only real option unless you are flying Volaris to Mexico from Midway.

The Size Factor

O'Hare is massive. If you land at Terminal 5 (international) and need to get to Terminal 1 for a connecting flight, that transfer can take 30+ minutes on the ATS train. The walk from the furthest gate in Terminal 3 to baggage claim is a solid 10-minute march.

Midway has one terminal. Everything is compact. You can walk from security to the furthest gate in about 10 minutes. Baggage claim is right downstairs. For families with small kids, older travelers, or anyone who just hates long airport walks, Midway is more manageable.

Ground Transportation Compared

This is where our experience is most useful. We pick up and drop off at both airports dozens of times per week.

O'Hare pickups involve navigating the terminal loop, which redesign construction has turned into a maze since 2024. Terminal 5 international arrivals have a separate pickup area that confuses even experienced drivers. Our chauffeurs know the staging lots and the timing — we track your flight and stage 15 minutes before you clear customs.

Midway pickups are straightforward. There is one arrivals area on the lower level. Pull up, load bags, go. The entire process from curb to expressway takes about 5 minutes.

Rideshare at O'Hare requires walking to a designated pickup zone on the arrivals level — during peak times the wait can be 10-15 minutes plus the walk. Midway's rideshare pickup is closer to the terminal exits but still involves a wait.

With a car service to O'Hare or a car service to Midway, your driver is there when you walk out. No app refreshing, no walking to a pickup zone, no hoping your driver does not cancel.

So Which Airport Should You Pick?

Choose Midway if:

• You fly Southwest
• You are staying downtown or on the south/southwest side
• You want a smaller, faster airport experience
• You are traveling with kids or anyone who prefers short walks
• You want cheaper ground transportation

Choose O'Hare if:

• You need United, American, or international flights
• You are staying on the north side or north suburbs
• You need more flight options and connecting routes
• You are a frequent flyer with lounge access (O'Hare has far more lounges)

Getting There — Our Recommendation

Whichever airport you pick, book your ground transportation in advance. Chicago traffic is unpredictable and missing a flight because of a surge-priced rideshare that cancelled twice is not a situation anyone wants.

Royal Carriage Limousine runs flat-rate airport car service to both O'Hare and Midway with flight tracking, meet-and-greet service, and 60 minutes of free wait time on arrivals. No surge pricing. No last-minute cancellations. Our dispatch team is local, available 24/7, and knows both airports inside and out.

Call (224) 801-3090 to book your airport transfer, or reserve online. We will get you there — or get you home — on time.