Airports · ORD, MDW · Checked against operators’ own pages
Chicago Airports to the City: ORD and MDW, from US$2.50
Find your Chicago experience
Which airport, when you get to choose
Your airline picks the airport, so read the code on your ticket. If you can choose, Midway is the shorter and cheaper train ride to the Loop, and O’Hare is the one that never stops running.
Good to know
- Landing after 1am favours O’Hare, where the train runs all night; at Midway it means the N62 night bus or a taxi.
- Both lines stop at Clark/Lake in the Loop, so the choice changes your fare and your night options more than where you end up.
- The Blue Line also stops at Logan Square and Damen without a change; the Orange Line runs from Midway around the Loop only.
| Train station | To the Loop | After midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD | Blue Line, below Terminals 1 to 3 | 40 to 45 minutes | Trains run 24 hours |
| MDW | Orange Line, beside the terminal | 20 to 25 minutes | Last train just after 1am; N62 bus after |
ORD: US$5 on the Blue Line to the Loop
The Blue Line is the way in for most travellers: the station sits below Terminals 1, 2 and 3, trains run day and night, and every one goes through downtown. Entering at O’Hare costs more than any other station, so a day pass can be the better buy.
- From Terminal 1, 2 or 3, follow the signs for CTA Trains; the station is under ten minutes’ walk from baggage claim.
- From Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2, then follow the same signs.
- Tap a contactless bank card or phone at the turnstile, or load a Ventra card at the machines outside the station. O’Hare’s entry fare comes off on the way in.
- Board any Blue Line train: all of them go through downtown on their way to Forest Park.
Good to know
- A 1-Day Pass costs US$5, the same as the O’Hare entry fare, and boards at O’Hare with no extra charge. Buy it at a Ventra machine.
- Riding to O’Hare from downtown costs the regular US$2.50; the premium applies only when you enter at O’Hare.
- Taxis wait at the lower-level curb of every terminal. The airport authority puts the average metered fare to downtown at about US$50, and it moves with traffic.
- Uber and Lyft pick up on the upper levels of Terminals 2 and 3, not at the taxi stands.
| Item | US$ per adult | € |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Line, O’Hare to the Loop | US$5 | ≈ €5 |
| Shared taxi to downtown, per person | US$30 | ≈ €27 |
| Blue Line, downtown to O’Hare | US$2.50 | ≈ €2 |
On your own
The Blue Line for most people; a shared taxi for two to four travellers with bags.
Pre-booked transfer
Mubboo has no reviewed private transfer for O’Hare, so a late or heavy-luggage arrival means a taxi or rideshare.
Blue Line from O’Hare: US$5 per adult; Mubboo has no reviewed private car for Chicago airports.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
MDW: US$2.50 on the Orange Line to the Loop
The Orange Line is the quick way in: the station is just east of the terminal, joined by an enclosed walkway, and trains reach the Loop in 20 to 25 minutes. The catch is the night, when trains stop for a few hours.
- Follow the signs for CTA Trains, or the orange line painted on the floor, along the enclosed walkway to the station.
- Tap a contactless bank card or phone at the turnstile, or load a Ventra card at the machines outside the station.
- Board an Orange Line train toward the Loop; every train from Midway goes there and circles the Loop clockwise.
- Get off at your Loop stop; a transfer to another CTA train or bus within two hours is free.
Good to know
- Trains leave Midway from about 3:30am on weekdays, 4am on Saturdays and 4:30am on Sundays and holidays; the last one leaves just after 1am.
- After the last train, the N62 Archer night bus runs between Midway and State and Washington downtown. It is the slower fallback.
- Taxis use Door 2 on the lower level; the airport authority quotes an average metered fare to downtown of US$35 to US$40.
- Uber and Lyft use coloured pickup zones outside Doors 2 to 4 on the lower level.
| Item | US$ per adult | € |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Line, Midway to the Loop | US$2.50 | ≈ €2 |
| N62 night bus, Midway to downtown | US$2.25 | ≈ €2 |
| Shared taxi to downtown, per person | US$22 | ≈ €20 |
On your own
The Orange Line for a daytime or evening landing; a shared taxi for two to four travellers with bags.
Pre-booked transfer
Mubboo has no reviewed private transfer for Midway; after the last train, use the night bus, a taxi or rideshare.
Orange Line from Midway: US$2.50 per adult; Mubboo has no reviewed private car for Chicago airports.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Late arrivals and luggage
Only the Blue Line runs all night. Midway’s trains stop for a few hours, and CTA posts temporary construction schedules for the O’Hare branch, so check the alerts on the day you land.
Good to know
- O’Hare: Blue Line trains run around the clock, though construction can bring a modified schedule during non-rush hours and weekends.
- Midway: after the last Orange Line train, the N62 Archer night bus is the low-fare fallback, and taxis and rideshare are the fast way.
- Shared taxis take two to four passengers from designated airport stands, and run only when airport staff are on duty.
- Between the two airports, the train needs a change at Clark/Lake and up to two hours; a shared taxi costs US$45 per person.
Trains running
Blue Line from O’Hare, Orange Line from Midway: fixed fares, no traffic, accessible stations.
After the last Orange train
A taxi, shared taxi or rideshare; Mubboo has no reviewed private car to book instead.
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Line, O’Hare to the Loop | US$5 | – |
| Orange Line, Midway to the Loop | US$2.50 | – |
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Explore Chicago Before You Book
Take a virtual drive or walk, then find tours and tickets for the places you like.
Chicago tours and activities worth booking once you land
Mubboo has no reviewed private airport transfer for Chicago, so the train is the plan. Once you are settled, Chicago tours and activities are ready to book on Mubboo.
Mubboo compares flights and tours and may earn a commission when a traveller uses a partner link. Booking and payment happen with the provider.
Questions people ask
Which Chicago airport is closer to downtown?
Midway. The Orange Line reaches the Loop in 20 to 25 minutes, against 40 to 45 minutes on the Blue Line from O’Hare. Your airline decides which airport you use, so check the code on your ticket.
Is there a train from O’Hare to downtown Chicago?
Yes. The Blue Line station sits below Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and trains run around the clock. From Terminal 5, ride the free airport train to Terminal 2 first.
Why does the train from O’Hare cost more than other CTA rides?
CTA charges a premium fare only when you enter at O’Hare. Riding to O’Hare from downtown costs the regular fare, and an unlimited pass boards at O’Hare at no extra charge.
Does the Orange Line to Midway run all night?
No. Trains stop for a few hours overnight, and the N62 Archer night bus covers the gap between Midway and downtown.
How do I get between O’Hare and Midway?
By train, ride the Blue Line to Clark/Lake and change to the Orange Line, and allow up to two hours. A shared taxi between the airports is quicker, with a flat fare set per person.
Can I book a Mubboo airport transfer for Chicago?
Not at present. Mubboo has no reviewed private transfer for O’Hare or Midway, so this page covers the train, taxi and rideshare options that need no booking.
Plan deeper in Chicago
Sources (14)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- CTA, Airport transit (Blue Line and Orange Line service, journey times, station access, O’Hare fare) — www.transitchicago.com/airports/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- CTA, Fare information (fare chart: L fare, O’Hare fare, bus fare, passes, transfers, contactless payment) — www.transitchicago.com/fares/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- CTA, Blue Line (24-hour service, route diagram, service alerts and planned work) — www.transitchicago.com/blueline/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- CTA, Orange Line (hours of operation, route diagram, service alerts) — www.transitchicago.com/orangeline/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- CTA, 62 Archer (Owl overnight service between State/Washington and Midway) — www.transitchicago.com/bus/62/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Chicago Department of Aviation, O’Hare Public Transit (Blue Line location, 24-hour service, payment) — www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/publictransit/pages/default.aspx (checked 2026-09-19)
- Chicago Department of Aviation, O’Hare Taxi, Limo, Rideshare (stands, rideshare pickup zones, average fare) — www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/taxi/pages/default.aspx (checked 2026-09-19)
- Chicago Department of Aviation, O’Hare Airport Transit System (Terminal 5 connection) — www.flychicago.com/ohare/ServicesAmenities/services/Pages/ats.aspx (checked 2026-09-19)
- Chicago Department of Aviation, Transport to Midway from O’Hare (CTA route and allowed time) — www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/midway/pages/default.aspx (checked 2026-09-19)
- Chicago Department of Aviation, Midway Public Transit (Orange Line station and hours, N62 Owl) — www.flychicago.com/midway/tofrom/publictransit/pages/default.aspx (checked 2026-09-19)
- Chicago Department of Aviation, Midway Taxi, Limo, Rideshare (pickup doors, average fare) — www.flychicago.com/midway/tofrom/taxi/pages/default.aspx (checked 2026-09-19)
- City of Chicago BACP, Ride Smart Chicago (shared-ride airport taxi flat fares effective 1 July 2026) — www.chicago.gov/ridesmart (checked 2026-09-19)
- City of Chicago BACP, Taxi Fare Rate Structure effective 1 July 2026 (shared airport flat taxi fare rates) — www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/bacp/publicvehicleinfo/medallionowners/chicagotaxifarerateseffjuly12026.pdf (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for Chicago (the booking platform destination 673), O’Hare and Midway airport transfer terms, searched 19 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=673&term=O%27Hare+airport+transfer¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured&language=en (checked 2026-09-19)