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If you’ve got a connecting flight, a pickup to coordinate, or you’re just trying to figure out why your Uber quote seems so high, the question is simple: how far is Midway from O’Hare, really?
The short answer: it’s farther than most people expect, and traffic, not mileage, is what actually determines whether your transfer is smooth or stressful.
Quick Answer
- Road distance: about 20 miles, door to door
- Straight-line distance: about 15 miles
- Drive time: 30–45 minutes off-peak, 60–90+ minutes during rush hour
- Public transit (CTA): no direct train — expect 60–90 minutes with a transfer downtown
- Fastest, most predictable option: a pre-booked private car service with flight tracking
How Far Is Midway from O’Hare, Exactly?
O’Hare (ORD) sits on Chicago’s northwest side; Midway (MDW) is on the southwest side. As the crow flies, they’re only about 15 miles apart. But there’s no direct road between them — you’re routing through city streets or expressways — so the real driving distance works out to roughly 20 miles.
That gap between “as the crow flies” and “as you actually drive it” is the first thing that trips people up when they’re estimating travel time from a map.
How Long Does the Drive Actually Take?
This is where things get unpredictable. A 20-mile drive should be quick — and sometimes it is. But Chicago traffic doesn’t care about your connection time.
- Off-peak (midday, late evening): 30–45 minutes
- Rush hour (7–9 AM, 4–7 PM weekdays): 60–90 minutes, sometimes more
- Bad weather or a Cubs/Bulls/Bears game day: add another 15–30 minutes of buffer
We cover this in more detail — including which routes hold up best at which times of day — in our guide to O’Hare vs Midway: Which Airport Is Easier to Travel To, which breaks it down by Chicago-area suburb. If timing your departure is the bigger question for you, our post on choosing the best routes to O’Hare at different times of day is worth a look too.
The takeaway: don’t plan around the distance. Plan around the clock.
Ways to Get from Midway to O’Hare
There isn’t a direct train between the two airports, and that surprises a lot of travelers. Here’s what your real options look like:
Private car service. A pre-booked chauffeur picks you up curbside, tracks your flight in case of delays, and drives you directly — no transfers, no waiting in a taxi line at either end. This is the only option that gives you a fixed, predictable arrival window regardless of traffic.
CTA (Blue Line + Orange Line). The cheapest option, but also the slowest. You’ll ride the Blue Line from O’Hare toward downtown, transfer at Clark/Lake, then take the Orange Line out to Midway (or the reverse). Budget 60–90 minutes, and it’s a rough option if you’re carrying luggage or traveling with kids.
Rideshare or taxi. Convenient to order, but pricing surges during peak hours and bad weather, and you’re at the mercy of driver availability on the other end — which matters if you’re already cutting it close on a connection.
Shared shuttle. Cheaper than a private car, but shuttles make multiple stops, which adds time you may not have if you’re racing a boarding window.
Why Travelers Need to Transfer Between the Two Airports
A few situations come up again and again:
- Cheaper or more convenient connecting flights booked separately — one leg out of O’Hare, the next out of Midway
- Airline-specific routing — Midway is Southwest’s main Chicago hub, while O’Hare handles most international and legacy-carrier traffic, so your itinerary may simply require both
- Meeting someone who’s arriving at a different airport than the one you’re departing from
- Comparing fares across both airports before booking, then needing to actually get between them for the cheaper option
If you’re short on time between flights, the general rule of thumb is to allow at least 2.5–3 hours for the transfer — more if you’re traveling during rush hour or bad weather.
Book a Direct Transfer Between O’Hare and Midway
If your connection is tight or you just don’t want to gamble on traffic, a direct private transfer removes the guesswork entirely. Super Limo Service runs dedicated O’Hare airport transportation and Midway airport transportation, with flight tracking built in, so your chauffeur adjusts automatically if either flight runs early or late. Pricing details are on our Chicago limousine rates page, and you can book your ride here in a couple of minutes.
FAQ
How far is Midway from O’Hare in miles?
About 20 miles by road, roughly 15 miles as the crow flies.
How long does it take to drive from Midway to O’Hare?
30–45 minutes in normal traffic, but plan for 60–90 minutes during rush hour.
Is there a direct train between the two airports?
No. CTA riders need to take the Blue Line, transfer downtown at Clark/Lake, then take the Orange Line, a trip of 60–90 minutes total.
What’s the fastest way to get from Midway to O’Hare?
A private car service, since it goes point-to-point without transfers and isn’t affected by shuttle stops or transit connection times.
How much time should I leave for a connection between the two airports?
At least 2.5–3 hours, more during peak travel periods or winter weather.
