O’Hare vs Midway: Which Chicago Airport Is Right for You?

Chicago is lucky to have two airports, but they’re very different animals. O’Hare (ORD) is one of the busiest hubs on earth; Midway (MDW) is its compact, fast-moving cousin on the Southwest Side. Which one is right for you usually comes down to where you’re going, where you’re leaving from, and how much time you want to spend inside a terminal.

Location and drive time

Midway is closer to downtown — about 10 miles via the Stevenson (I-55), usually 20–30 minutes. O’Hare is roughly 17 miles northwest on the Kennedy (I-90), typically 30–45 minutes but more variable at rush hour. If you live or work on the South or Southwest Side, Midway is often the easy choice. From the North Shore or the northwest suburbs, O’Hare wins on convenience. We run flight-tracked airport transfers to both, so the “right” airport is really about your geography.

Flights, terminals and the in-airport experience

O’Hare offers the widest range of nonstop and international routes, with five terminals and a global arrivals hall at Terminal 5. That breadth comes with size: longer walks, busier security, and more time budgeted on departure. Midway is built around a single, walkable terminal with three concourses — it’s quick to navigate and a favorite for domestic travelers, especially on Southwest Airlines.

	O’Hare (ORD)	Midway (MDW)
Distance from Loop	~17 mi	~10 mi
Typical drive	30–45 min	20–30 min
Best for	International + most nonstops	Quick domestic trips
Terminal feel	Large, multi-terminal	Compact, single terminal

Transfer cost

Because Midway is closer to the city center, downtown transfers there usually run a bit less than O’Hare. From the suburbs the gap narrows or flips depending on which side of town you’re on. Either way, a flat rate removes the guesswork — see our full breakdown of what a car service to O’Hare costs for real numbers, and remember that Midway airport transfers follow the same flat-rate, flight-tracked model.

So which should you choose?

If you’re flying internationally or need a specific nonstop, O’Hare is usually unavoidable — and worth the extra few minutes. If you’re taking a quick domestic hop and value a stress-free, fast terminal, Midway is hard to beat. Whichever you pick, book your ride in advance so a professional chauffeur is waiting whether you land at 6 a.m. or after the last flight of the night. Traveling for business? Our corporate transportation team coordinates either airport around your schedule.