Road Topic Tourism & Travel
When coming into Chicago, travelers usually have two choices, fly into Midway or O’Hare Airport. But which of the two airports is closer to the downtown area?
Midway is located about 10 miles southwest of the city’s downtown, while O’Hare is about 17 miles northwest of downtown. Midway is much closer than O’Hare, and the trip from Midway to downtown Chicago takes about 25-30 minutes by car.
If you are taking public transportation, the CTA Orange Line train runs from Midway to downtown in about 20-30 minutes. The Blue Line train runs from O’Hare to downtown in about 45-50 minutes. The cost of the train is $2.50 each way.
In terms of taxis, the cost of a taxi ride from Midway to downtown is about $30-35, and the cost of a taxi ride from O’Hare to downtown is about $40-45.
Overall, Midway is much closer to downtown than O’Hare, but depending on your budget and the time you have available, you can choose the option that works best for you.
What is the Closest Airport to Downtown Chicago?
Chicago is a busy city, filled with people coming and going from all over the world. Chicago is served by two major airports – O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport – both of which are located about 17 miles outside of the city’s downtown. Whether flying into or out of Chicago, it’s important to know which airport is the closest to downtown Chicago.
O’Hare International Airport is a major international hub, serving more than 70 million passengers annually. Located about 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, the drive from the airport to the city center typically takes about 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic. O’Hare is home to domestic and international flights from all major airlines, including American, Delta, United, and more.
Midway International Airport is located about 17 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. It is a smaller airport, serving more than 22 million passengers each year. The travel time from Midway to downtown is usually less than 30 minutes, depending on traffic. It is home to major domestic airlines like Delta, Southwest, and United.
The answer to the question “Which airport is closest to downtown Chicago?” depends on where you’re coming from. If you’re flying in from an international destination, then O’Hare is the closest airport. However, if you’re coming from a domestic destination, then Midway is the closest.
| Airport | Distance from Downtown Chicago | Average Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| O’Hare International Airport | 17 Miles | 30-45 Minutes |
| Midway International Airport | 17 Miles | Less than 30 Minutes |
When traveling to or from Chicago, choosing the right airport is important. O’Hare is the closest airport to downtown Chicago for international flights, while Midway is the closest for domestic flights. Consider the average travel time and distance when choosing an airport to fly in or out of.
Comparing Midway and O’Hare International Airports to Downtown Chicago
Chicago is served by two major international airports; Midway and O’Hare International, but how close are they to downtown Chicago? Are they close enough to be easily accessible? To compare Midway and O’Hare International airports to downtown Chicago, we should look at their locations, travel times, and transportation options.
Midway International Airport is located just southwest of downtown Chicago, about 11 miles away from the city center. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to get to downtown Chicago from Midway International Airport depending on traffic. You can get to downtown Chicago from Midway International Airport via taxi, ride-share, public transportation, or private car service. Most of these will cost around $20-$25.
O’Hare International Airport is located just northwest of downtown Chicago, about 17 miles away from the city center. It takes around 30-45 minutes to get to downtown Chicago from O’Hare International Airport depending on traffic. You can get to downtown Chicago from O’Hare International Airport via taxi, ride-share, public transportation, or private car service. Most of these will cost around $30-$45.
| Airport | Distance | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Midway International Airport | 11 miles | 20-30 minutes |
| O’Hare International Airport | 17 miles | 30-45 minutes |
- Taxi
- Ride-share
- Public Transportation
- Private Car Service
- Midway International Airport: $20-$25
- O’Hare International Airport: $30-$45
Now that we’ve looked at the locations, travel times and transportation options for Midway and O’Hare International airports, we can see that Midway International Airport is much closer to downtown Chicago than O’Hare International Airport. This makes it much more convenient for travelers who want to get to downtown Chicago quickly and efficiently.
