Chicago O’Hare vs. Midway: Which Chicago airport is the right choice for your flight?

When planning a trip to Chicago, travelers must decide between O'Hare (ORD), a vast international airport, and Midway (MDW), which offers easier access to the city but fewer flight options.

Southwest Airlines provides the best options from Midway, whereas American Airlines and United Airlines passengers, or those seeking long-haul international flights, will typically choose O'Hare. Let's explore the benefits and drawbacks of each airport.

Travel Distance to Downtown and Transportation Alternatives

Downtown Chicago is divided by the Chicago River, extending both north and south. O'Hare is situated northwest of the city, while Midway lies to the southwest. For distance measurements, we’ll use the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park, known as "the Bean," located two blocks south of the river and within walking distance of Navy Pier, the museum campus, and the shopping haven of the Magnificent Mile.

The Cloud Gate sculpture, known as the Bean, located in Millennium Park, Chicago. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua/Getty)

Here’s a comparison of the two airports:

Chicago O'Hare is situated 18 miles from the Bean by car, while Midway is approximately 12.5 miles away.

If you’re driving, be aware that Interstate 90 (the Kennedy Expressway) tends to get heavily congested near O'Hare. Given the multiple terminals, it may take five to ten minutes just to navigate in and out of the airport area. If you land during rush hour, expect significant traffic when heading into or out of the city. Without traffic, downtown can be reached in about 35 minutes, but realistically, it’s wise to plan for 45 minutes to an hour. An UberX ride typically costs around $35, or you can take the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train directly from O'Hare to downtown, which takes about 50 minutes to an hour, depending on the time of day.

In contrast, Midway is about 25 minutes from downtown and tends to experience fewer traffic delays compared to O'Hare. However, if you're traveling on a Sunday when the Chicago Bears are playing at Soldier Field, nearby Interstate 55 can get congested. Midway has its own CTA station with the Orange Line heading downtown, or you can take an Uber for around $28. Be mindful that Midway is located in a less desirable neighborhood, so it's wise to know your destination upon arrival.

Winner: Regardless of your travel plans, Midway has the advantage: less traffic, shorter trips, cheaper Ubers, and quicker train rides. This is particularly true if you’re heading to downtown Chicago. However, travelers going to the suburbs or different neighborhoods might find O'Hare to be more convenient. For instance, those traveling to Wrigleyville on the north side may prefer O'Hare, even if it means dealing with additional traffic.

Airline and flight statistics

When comparing airlines, O'Hare and Midway are vastly different. O'Hare ranked as the fourth-busiest airport in 2020, serving 30.8 million passengers, as reported by Airports Council International-North America. It's also one of the few U.S. airports that serves as a major hub for two airlines, with both United and American having significant operations there. Additionally, Southwest Airlines began operations from O'Hare in 2021, further increasing the competitive landscape.

In comparison, Midway ranked as the 26th-busiest airport in 2020, accommodating 8.8 million passengers. Southwest dominates the airline scene there, alongside Allegiant, Delta Air Lines, Toronto's Porter Airlines, and Mexico City’s low-cost carrier Volaris.

In 2020, United Airlines operated nearly 700,000 flights out of O'Hare, followed by American with 545,976 flights. At Midway, Southwest led the way with 283,481 flights, while Delta Air Lines came in a distant second with 16,238 flights.

Chicago O'Hare is nearing completion of a $1.2 billion renovation of Terminal 5, which will introduce 35 new gates, 3 million additional square feet of terminal space, and a brand-new "Global Terminal." This project marks phase one of the extensive $8.5 billion "O'Hare 21" modernization plan, which aims to replace Terminal 2 with the Global Terminal.

Future phases of the renovation will enhance the 25-year-old baggage handling system, expand the parking garage, improve roadways to increase lane capacity and reduce traffic congestion, and create a larger curbside area for smoother passenger drop-off and transit between terminals 1, 2, and 3.

Midway underwent a $400 million modernization initiative from 2017 to 2020, which included: widening the existing security checkpoint; enhancing the terminal garage for more efficient access and exit, improving safety and aesthetics, and better signage to assist travelers; upgrading several off-site parking options, including the economy garage, daily parking lot, cellphone lot, and employee lots; nearly doubling concession space to 70,000 square feet; and introducing over 50 new food and shopping brands.

O'Hare offers a comprehensive array of international airlines for travelers. Below are the figures from Cirium for the leading carriers at the airport in 2021.

Regardless of your destination around the globe, there's a strong likelihood that you can catch a direct flight from O'Hare.

Midway serves as a stronghold for Southwest Airlines, which dominates the flight schedule at the airport. Below, you can see the arrivals board at Midway showcasing over 20 Southwest flights alongside two from Delta. Delta has a limited presence at O'Hare and is one of the few airlines besides Southwest operating flights from Midway. Here’s a glimpse of the arrivals at Midway on January 4, 2022:

Southwest's efficiency can be attributed to its strict operational management and its consistent fleet of all 737 aircraft. Overall, I've found Midway to be a highly efficient airport.

Winner: For aviation enthusiasts and frequent travelers, O'Hare has a unique charm. American and United dominate the domestic routes at ORD; there are few places you can reach from Midway that aren’t accessible from O'Hare. With its array of international airlines, O'Hare easily comes out on top.

Airport facilities and benefits

O'Hare isn’t somewhere you’d want to linger longer than necessary. The extensive runways and terminals often result in lengthy taxi times and unexpected delays. Being an older airport, it offers numerous dining options, but high-end shopping is scarce compared to more modern international airports.

However, O'Hare boasts at least two notable comforts. With United Airlines based in Chicago, it made sense for the airline's first updated Polaris lounge to be located here. Access can be somewhat exclusive, but the lounge is impressively modern and ranks among the best of any American airline. I had the opportunity to visit before a Polaris flight to Shanghai (PVG), and even at 7:30 a.m., I was impressed by the exceptional service.

O'Hare is also home to one of American Airlines' Flagship lounges, situated in Terminal 3. This space is perfect for catching up on work before your flight or unwinding with a bite to eat. I particularly enjoy the expansive windows that offer views of the apron and the distant runways 28R/10L and 28C/10C.

O'Hare features two Priority Pass lounges, both located in the international Terminal 5. Unfortunately, T5 isn’t connected airside to the other terminals, and you'll need an international boarding pass to get through security. Although I’ve heard the enforcement of this rule has softened, I was turned away twice at the TSA checkpoint when my boarding pass was for a different terminal. The lounges in T5 — an Air France-KLM Lounge and a Swissport Lounge — aren't particularly luxurious, but they do provide a quiet place to wait.

Midway offers limited on-site amenities. Besides the USO military lounge, there are no lounges available at Midway.

Winner: While most lounges at O'Hare are off-limits unless you're traveling in a premium cabin or possess top-tier elite status, at least there are lounges to use. An airport as large as O'Hare should ideally have more Priority Pass options in the domestic terminals, but having any is better than none.

Bottom line

Having spent four years in Chicago for college, my feelings about O'Hare are mixed. I experienced flight delays and lost luggage, yet some of my first international adventures began or concluded there. Nowadays, I relish the chance to visit the Polaris and Flagship lounges, enjoying a more upscale experience at the airport.

Midway definitely has its advantages. For domestic flights, particularly the Chicago-to-Washington, D.C. (DCA) route that I often took, Midway offered unmatched convenience and efficiency. I could travel from my apartment in Hyde Park to my home in D.C. in just three hours, while getting to O'Hare and clearing security would take nearly twice as long.

For international flights or if you're a loyal United or American customer, O'Hare is your go-to airport. However, if Southwest suits your domestic travel needs, don’t overlook Midway—it's definitely worth considering.