O'Hare vs Midway: A Chicago Traveler's Guide to Picking the Right Airport
Picking between O'Hare and Midway can save you an hour and some money. This guide compares them by distance, layout, airlines, and what a chauffeured ride costs from your suburb.
The basics
O'Hare is the big one: four passenger terminals, flights almost everywhere, and the main home of United and American in Chicago. Midway is smaller and simpler: one terminal, three concourses, and a Southwest Airlines base.
| O'Hare (ORD) | Midway (MDW) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from downtown | About 18 miles | About 12 miles |
| Drive from downtown | 35 to 55 minutes | 25 to 45 minutes |
| Chauffeur from downtown | From $95 flat | From $95 flat |
| Terminals | 1, 2, 3, and 5 | One terminal, three concourses |
| International | Nearly all arrivals at Terminal 5 | Limited |
Drive times are typical ranges.
Distance from your suburb
Where you start often decides it. From the north and northwest, O'Hare is closer: Rosemont is about 2 miles away, Schaumburg about 14, and Arlington Heights about 16. From the south and southwest, Midway wins: Orland Park is about 17 miles from Midway and about 30 from O'Hare.
Some suburbs sit in the middle. Oak Brook is about 17 miles from both. Oak Park is about 13 from Midway and 15 from O'Hare. Hinsdale is closer to Midway, at about 14 miles.
| From | To O'Hare | To Midway |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Chicago | From $95 | From $95 |
| Oak Brook | From $105 | From $105 |
| Hinsdale | From $115 | From $105 |
| Orland Park | From $135 | From $95 |
| Evanston | From $105 | From $125 |
| Naperville | From $125 | From $125 |
Starting chauffeur flat rates before taxes and gratuity.
Terminals and the airport experience
O'Hare has four terminals, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 5. There is no Terminal 4. Terminal 5 sits about a mile from the others and handles nearly all international arrivals. Walks can be long, and the curbs are busy.
Midway has one terminal with three connected concourses after a single security checkpoint. It is easier to get in and out of, especially with kids or heavy bags.
Airlines and destinations
If you fly Southwest, you will most likely use Midway. If you fly United, American, or overseas, you will most likely use O'Hare. When your airline flies from both, choose by distance and flight time.
Ground transportation compared
- Chauffeur: flat rate set before you book, flight tracked, meet and greet inside baggage claim.
- Rideshare: price set at the last second, with surge after big arrival waves.
- Parking: daily airport parking adds up fast on longer trips.
- Transit: works for light travelers, harder with bags or early flights.
So which should you use?
Pick your airline first. Then pick the closer airport. If both still work, choose Midway for a simpler experience and O'Hare for more flight options. Either way, see our O'Hare chauffeur service and Midway chauffeur service pages for full rates.