Transfers to/from Chicago

Getting downtown after your plane has landed will be one of the first things to see and do in Chicago during your next visit to the city. Conveniently, both Chicago-O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport are fairly close to the city's urban epicentre and the journey to get downtown from both alternatives is generally quite short.

Read on if you want to find out the best ways to get to your downtown Chicago accommodation quickly, conveniently and economically. I've researched them all to give you the most convenient in terms of price and quality.

Private transfers have always been the most comfortable and exclusive alternative to reach any place by land. Many of these car journeys can be made in moderately luxurious vehicles as well as premium cars.

Conveniently, those that take you from Chicago's nearest airports to the centre of this great city meet these characteristics. Therefore, they are the best option if you have no budgetary constraints to ensure comfort for you and your companions on your arrival in the windy city.

Chicago-O'Hare Airport is one of the largest airports in the country, in fact in terms of its structural dimensions it is the second largest in the United States after Atlanta International Airport. It's a little further from the city centre than Midway International Airport, at 27 kilometres exactly, but you're more likely to fly into the city via Midway International Airport, as 60% of its traffic is from international destinations.

Either way, these private transfers are available from both airports and one of the most interesting aspects of this mode of transport is that you don't have to be moving anywhere, as the car will pick you up exactly at your departure gate by the terminal being used by the airline you are travelling with.

Keep in mind that you have the option of choosing a 4-door sedan car that you could share with two other people as it has a maximum capacity of three people. This makes it the ideal choice for those arriving in the city all alone or as a couple or even with a couple of friends.

The other alternative is to choose a luxury SUV which will allow you to be accompanied by 4 more people. This is a much more suitable and prudent means of transport for those travelling as a family or for those who have a fixation for the large, modern vehicles that are often used by movie escorts or Hollywood celebrities to get from one place to another.

Interesting details

• Prices: Prices vary according to the airport from which the journey starts and the type of vehicle chosen. For example, the cost of travel from Midway Airport to downtown Chicago is typically around 90 euros per person in a 3-passenger sedan, while a larger 5-passenger SUV from O'Hare Airport is typically around 96 or 98 euros per person.
• Duration: If you take into account that traffic is usually significant on the highways connecting both airports to the Downtown Chicago area, then on average a trip like this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a full hour.
• Conditions: Keep in mind that tolls are an additional cost to the private transfer fare and that the driver will usually wait for you just outside your terminal for a very limited number of minutes. So if there is an unexpected delay and he has to park the car, you will have to pay the airport parking fee.
• Advantages: A private and exclusive transfer like this can be the perfect opportunity to recharge your batteries and take part in any of the things to see and do in Chicago in the evening that you have ahead of you for the rest of your first day in the city. At the same time, if you're arriving very late it's also a great way to ensure you have peace of mind as you transfer back to your hotel to start the next day touring some of Chicago's best museums or other tourist attractions.

If you're looking to save money and consider that you're arriving in the city with little luggage that will allow you to move comfortably through a shared means of transport, then you have to go for the CTA trains, also known as Chicago Transit Authority.

Basically, this is the system that combines the city's underground system with intercity buses to form a complete transportation solution for the population of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.

Depending on your point of arrival, you will have to take different train lines. For example, if your plane lands at O'Hare Airport, then you will need to take the blue line that starts at the station located in the airport car park. It can take you to Washington, Monroe and Jackson stations. All are located right at the intersection of all the city's underground lines in what is known as the Chicago Loop.

If you are arriving from Midway Airport you will also have the opportunity to be downtown in less than 30 minutes via a trip on the CTA's orange line. I recommend getting off at the Clark/Lake or State/Lake stations if you are staying in the area near the Chicago Theater.

Although getting out of the underground system and taking a taxi to your Downtown hotel would be a prudent and cost-saving decision if you have to walk several blocks and have no interest in changing train lines at interconnected stations such as Jackson or Adams/Wabash.

Details of interest

• Fares: A basic one-way ticket starting at O'hare Airport usually costs 5 euros. However, you may well find yourself interested in paying for another form of access to the CTA knowing that you will continue to travel around the city on the underground for the next few days of your visit. So the pass for a week's use is approximately 20 euros per person.
• Duration: In about 30 minutes you will be at a downtown CTA station whether you are coming from Midway or O'Hare Airport. Keep in mind that the blue line runs 24 hours a day and train frequency is quite favourable during the morning and evening hours.
• Conditions: CTA trains will clearly not pick you up at your designated departure from either the international or domestic terminal at either airport. However, at both airports there is clear signage indicating where to walk to get to the train station. Both are located at either end of the car park.
• Advantages: By choosing this option you are saving a lot of money on your journey into the city centre and you are also experiencing first-hand how Chicago's public transport works so you know if you will continue to use it for the rest of your trip. The financial savings are so significant that it makes sense to suggest you use the money to pay for some of Chicago's best sightseeing buses or to purchase Chicago Sightseeing Passes that allow you to enjoy discounts for many of the city's attractions.

The third alternative available to you is to use Chicago's bus system, which is also part of the CTA and is just as economical as train travel.

If you take them at O'Hare Airport then you will need to plan your decision sequence to the bus stop very carefully. The international arrivals terminal is Terminal 5 and the public bus stop is right in the middle between Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

I would therefore advise you to take the internal airport shut tle that will drop you off at any of these other terminals once you have cleared immigration checks, as the walk would be quite long and would make this alternative completely unfeasible.

With Midway Airport, everything is less complicated, as all the boarding lounges are located in the same building. In addition, the bus station is very close to the Midway Station area of the city's train system.

Another interesting aspect of bus travel from the airport to downtown Chicago is that you can take in the cityscape from the suburbs to Downtown.

Details of interest

• Fares: The fare for the buses is usually 2.50 euros per ride if you choose to pay cash when you get on the bus. 2.25 if you buy the Ventra Card which costs about 5 euros. These fares apply to all passengers regardless of age or origin and provenance.
• Duration: It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get to the city centre on either route. This is logical, as a train travels at a higher speed on a route that is exclusive to this mode of transport. A bus has to deal with traffic and accidents that may occur on the streets and avenues it travels on.
• Conditions: such a journey is not as exciting as riding an underground train or enjoying a luxurious and private vehicle all to yourself. However, it should also be understood that buses are a favourable alternative if the route they take to get to the centre leaves you a little closer to the exact street where you will be staying.
• Advantages: the economic savings are once again the most relevant factor of this means of transport and this can be extremely interesting for you to invest that money in other activities that you could enjoy from the moment you arrive at the hotel. Just like the best gastronomic tours in Chicago that would give you a tour of the culinary identity of this community.

What would airport terminals be without taxi lines? I don't know, but they are always in operation at departures that are constantly filled with tourists arriving in the cities with no idea how to get to their hotels.

For that reason, taxis from the terminals of both Chicago airports are always a good alternative for getting to the city centre if you want a private transfer, but your budget won't allow you to pay for a pre-booked service.

Keep in mind that depending on the time of day and the type of vehicle you choose, the rate may change. Although the truth is that everything will be adjusted according to what the taximeter indicates and therefore the final fare can be a real surprise when travelling in traditional taxis.

The other option would be to use a transport service such as Uber that guarantees you a fixed fare. However, there is also the fact that this price is adjusted to factors such as the time of year, traffic on the road, the number of requests for rides at the terminal you are at and the type of vehicle you need to fit all your passengers.

Details of interest

• Fares: On average, a taxi from O'hare Airport can cost around 30-40 euros depending on environmental conditions and traffic. Taxis from Midway tend to be a little cheaper. Ubers and such private ride-hailing apps can keep fares the same or double those prices if demand is significantly high.
• Duration: It all depends on traffic, but in general you should be arriving at your accommodation destination in downtown Chicago in about 30-40 minutes.
• Condition: Some cars are quite comfortable and modern, while others are older and more neglected. It all depends on the type of service you hire and the supply of taxis available at the time of your arrival at the airport.
• Advantages: Taxis are often air-conditioned and this can help you transition in the cold weather that characterises this city during the autumn and winter seasons. On the way to the hotel, you won't have to worry about anything, so it's also a great time to familiarise yourself with what there is to see and do in Chicago during the winter or summer depending on what time of year you've chosen to visit.

Chicago is a city that is set up for driving and if you want to be on the move from the city centre to the suburbs of the city for several weeks, then car rental is likely to be a good idea for your financial and practical interests.

Both airports have a Multi-Modal Facility. This is basically a car rental centre where all the major car rental companies in the United States offer their repertoire of cars for all kinds of customers with all kinds of needs.

You could get anything from a minivan to a sports car and it all fits your budget and your expectations. To get to the Multi-Modal Facility you would only have to board a free shuttle bus that takes you from the terminal to this commercial establishment, which is located in the area outside the car park at both airports.

Details of interest

• Prices: It all depends on the type of car you choose and the company offering the rental. On average you can expect to pay around 30-40 euros per day for a relatively modern and luxurious car rental. However, there are also occasions when you can get special discounts that can bring the rental rate down to 100 euros per week.
• Conditions: You clearly assume responsibility for the integrity of the car and it is imperative that you take good care of it if you do not want to take on a significant debt with the car hire company. You will also incur a significant fuel cost and this will be adjusted to the level of daily use of the vehicle and the distances travelled. Keep in mind that most downtown Chicago accommodations do not offer you the option of having your car parked on the premises.
• Advantages: This may be your best alternative if you will be moving between the suburbs and downtown for the duration of your trip or if you plan to visit the entire Chicago Metropolitan Area for an entire season.