Midway vs O'Hare Which Chicago Airport Should You Use?
Midway vs O'Hare is the first choice most Chicago travelers make. Midway is closer to downtown, smaller and quicker to get through. O'Hare has far more airlines and flights around the world. This guide compares the two with the latest 2026 numbers.
Quick answer: Pick Midway if you are flying Southwest, heading downtown or to the south or southwest suburbs, or want a smaller airport that is quick to get through. Pick O'Hare for long international flights, United and American, and the widest choice of nonstop routes. Since June 2026, Southwest flies only from Midway in Chicago.
Midway vs O'Hare at a glance
Here is how the two airports compare side by side.
| Midway (MDW) | O'Hare (ORD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to downtown | About 10 miles, 30 to 40 minutes | About 18 miles, 40 to 60 minutes |
| Passengers in 2025 | About 19.4 million | About 85 million |
| Gates | 43, in Concourses A, B and C | 199, in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 |
| Main airlines | Southwest (about 93% of passengers), plus Delta, Frontier, Volaris and Allegiant | United and American hubs, plus many other US and foreign airlines |
| International flights | Mexico and the Caribbean | Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and more |
| Train to the Loop | CTA Orange Line, 20 to 25 minutes, $2.50 | CTA Blue Line, 40 to 45 minutes, $5 from O'Hare |
| Garage parking, per day | Up to $43 | Up to $43 |
| Economy parking, per day | Up to $15 | $16 to $30 |
| On-time departures, Jan to Jun 2026 | 69.3% | 71.0% |
When Midway is the better airport
For many trips in and out of Chicago, Midway is the easier choice.
Closer to Downtown
- About 10 miles to downtown
- Orange Line to the Loop in 20 to 25 minutes
- Much closer for the south and southwest suburbs
Southwest Flyers
- Southwest ended its O'Hare flights in June 2026
- Midway is its only Chicago airport now
- New routes in 2026 include Wichita and Milwaukee
Quicker to Get Through
- One main security checkpoint
- Average TSA wait under 3 minutes in August 2026
- Short walks to Concourses A, B and C
Snow days
In big snowstorms, Midway usually cancels far fewer flights, partly because it is so much smaller. In the Nov 29, 2025 storm, O'Hare had about 1,232 cancellations and Midway about 246. In a February 2026 snowstorm, O'Hare had 627 cancellations by mid-morning and Midway had 76.
When O'Hare is the better airport
O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world. It makes sense when you need its reach.
- Long international flights to Europe, Asia and beyond
- United and American hubs, with the most nonstop choices in Chicago
- United alone serves 222 nonstop destinations from O'Hare in 2026
- The Blue Line runs 24 hours a day
- Often a shorter drive from the north and northwest suburbs
One thing to know: the FAA limited O'Hare to 2,708 flights a day starting in 2026 to cut delays, and those limits now run through Oct 30, 2027. Both airports had on-time departure rates below the national average in the first half of 2026.
Getting downtown from each airport
| How | From Midway | From O'Hare |
|---|---|---|
| CTA train | Orange Line, 20 to 25 minutes, $2.50. Runs from early morning to about 1 a.m. | Blue Line, 40 to 45 minutes, $5. Runs 24 hours. |
| Shared taxi ride | $22 per person to downtown | $30 per person to downtown |
| Rideshare pickup | Lower level center lane, outside baggage claim, Doors 2 to 4 | Upper level at Terminals 2 and 3. Terminal 5 riders take the airport train to Terminal 2 |
| Private car service | Flat $99 to downtown, with flight tracking | Varies by company |
Chicago taxi meter rates went up on July 1, 2026, and rideshare trips to and from both airports carry a city airport fee. A flat-rate car costs the same in any traffic.
Heads up for train riders: Orange Line service on the Loop is suspended Oct 24 to 26, 2026 for track work. Check the CTA site before you ride that weekend.
Which airport is closer to your suburb?
If you live south or southwest of the city, Midway is almost always the closer airport. Here are the drives to Midway from some of the suburbs we serve.
| Suburb | To Midway | Closer airport |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Lawn | About 7 miles, 15 to 20 minutes | Midway, by far |
| Orland Park | About 15 miles, 25 to 30 minutes | Midway |
| Tinley Park | About 17 miles, 25 to 35 minutes | Midway |
| Bolingbrook | About 23 miles, 30 to 40 minutes | Midway, mostly straight up I-55 |
| Naperville | About 27 miles, 35 to 45 minutes | About the same to both |
Flying into one airport and out of the other
Some trips use both airports, like separate tickets or a cheaper fare home from the other airport. The airports are about 25 miles apart by road.
- By CTA: take the Orange Line to Clark/Lake and switch to the Blue Line. The city says to allow up to 2 hours
- By shared taxi: $45 per person
- By private car: our Midway to O'Hare transfer is a flat $99, about 35 to 50 minutes, with both flights tracked
Flying into Midway? We can meet you
Our Midway Airport car service covers rides to and from Midway across Chicago, the suburbs and the Midwest.
- Flat airport rides from $99 by SUV
- Flight tracking on every pickup
- Meet and greet at baggage claim, or curbside pickup
- Book online in a few minutes, any time
Midway vs O'Hare Questions
Is Midway or O'Hare closer to downtown Chicago?
Is Midway easier than O'Hare?
Does Southwest fly from O'Hare?
Which airport has more delays, Midway or O'Hare?
Does Midway have international flights?
Is parking cheaper at Midway or O'Hare?
Which airport should I use from the south suburbs?
How far apart are Midway and O'Hare?
How much is a car from Midway to downtown?
More pages to help you plan
Picked Midway? These pages help with the rest of your trip.
Flying into Midway?
Book a flat-rate ride to or from Midway, with flight tracking and meet and greet.