Transportation · Chicago
Chicago Airport Transfers: Getting from the Airport to the City
How to get from Chicago's airports into the city: train, taxi flat fares, transfers and typical costs, plus arrival and entry notes.
Updated 2026-07-01
Airports serving Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) — 27 km from the centre
Blue Line L direct from ORD to Downtown 45 min US$5; Uber/Lyft US$40–60; taxi flat US$45.
Chicago Midway (MDW) — 16 km from the centre
Orange Line L to Downtown 30 min US$2.50; Uber US$25–40; taxi flat US$35.
Arriving by train
Amtrak Union Station is midwest hub — Lake Shore Limited to NY (19h overnight), Empire Builder to Seattle (46h), California Zephyr to SF (52h).
Entry and arrival formalities
US CBP; Global Entry / Mobile Passport Control at both airports.
Same US rules everywhere — VWP need ESTA US$21; Canadians with passport; everyone else B-1/B-2 visa. Apply 72h+ before boarding.
Getting into the city
The L (elevated + subway trains) reaches O'Hare (Blue Line 45 min, US$5) and Midway (Orange Line 30 min, US$2.50) plus Downtown, Wrigleyville, Wicker Park. US$2.50 per ride or US$5 unlimited day pass with Ventra card. Uber/Lyft plentiful. Divvy bike-share US$18 day pass. Walk the Loop, Millennium Park, Magnificent Mile — Downtown is grid-perfect and walkable.
The L (elevated + subway)
8 lines including Blue (O'Hare), Red (Wrigley), Orange (Midway); US$2.50 per ride.
Metra commuter rail
Reaches Milwaukee (90 min) + suburbs; separate fare US$4–10.
Divvy bike share
US$18/day pass; lakefront trail is 30 km flat riverside/lakeside.
Uber/Lyft
US$10–25 between Loop neighbourhoods.
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