Here’s a travel guide for visitors arriving in Chicago through O'Hare or Midway airports and heading into the city:

Arriving at O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

1. Train (Chicago Transit Authority - CTA)

- Blue Line: The O'Hare station is directly connected to the CTA Blue Line, which is one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get into the city. The Blue Line runs 24/7, and the trip to downtown Chicago (Loop) takes about 45-50 minutes.

- Cost: $5 for a one-way ticket. The train will drop you downtown Chicago (on the State/Lake stop).

2. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)

- Cost: Approximately $30–$50 to downtown, depending on traffic. It may be more expensive during peak hours or in rush traffic.

- Pick-Up Locations: Follow signs for “Rideshare” at O'Hare to get to the designated pick-up areas in the airport parking garages (Terminals 1, 2, and 3).

3. Rental Car

O'Hare has a large car rental hub, accessible by a short shuttle ride from the terminals.

- Cost: Prices for a standard car rental range from $40–$100 per day, depending on the vehicle and rental company.

- Driving into the city: Follow I-90 or I-294 for a 30–45-minute drive to downtown Chicago, though traffic can get heavy during rush hours.

- Parking: Please be aware that there is no free street parking available in downtown Chicago. If you're planning to drive into the city for the weekend, you'll need to use a parking app (Spot Hero, ParkWhiz, etc.) or find a nearby parking garage (iParkit – parking garage online registration).

Arriving at Midway International Airport (MDW)

1. Train (Chicago Transit Authority - CTA)

- Orange Line: Midway is connected to the CTA Orange Line, which is very convenient for getting downtown. The ride takes about 25 minutes to reach the Loop.

- Cost: $2.50 for a one-way fare.The train will drop you downtown Chicago (on the State/Lake stop).

2. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)

- Cost: Around $20–$30 to downtown Chicago, depending on traffic.

- Pick-Up Locations: Rideshare services are available from designated pick-up zones at each terminal. Follow signs in the terminal for "Rideshare."

3. Rental Car

Midway has a rental car center that you can access via a shuttle.

- Cost: Similar to O'Hare, rental prices range from $40–$100 per day.

- Driving into the city: It’s about a 20–30-minute drive on I-55 or other routes depending on the time of day.

- Parking: Please be aware that there is no free street parking available in downtown Chicago. If you're planning to drive into the city for the weekend, you'll need to use a parking app (Spot Hero, ParkWhiz, etc.) or find a nearby parking garage (iParkit – parking garage online registration).