How to Use Public Transportation to Get to Midway Airport

Chicago's Midway International Airport located at the southwest side of the city garners far less fanfare than O'Hare - the world's second busiest airport according to Airports Council International. Midway is identified with low cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines and limited numbers of international flight options relative to O'Hare. Still, Midway will always represent the airport of choice for South Siders, price conscious travelers, and individuals seeking relief from brutal North Side congestion.

Midway Airport is located within 10 miles of the Chicago Loop, which compares favorably to O'Hare's 17-mile span of outrageous Kennedy Expressway bottlenecks to downtown.

However, the Interstate 55 - Stevenson Expressway is also privy to paralyzing stop and go during rush hour periods and Cicero Avenue is a battered primary route featuring heavy commercial vehicle flow. The snarl is exacerbated by Midway's curious status as the only major city airport without direct access to the Interstate system.

Chicago public transportation to Midway Airport is the intelligent design to beat traffic, combat $30-$50 cab fares to the airport, and forego ever more absurd parking rates.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Orange Line is the direct link to Midway Airport with service basically running from 4 in the morning to 1 a.m. the next day. One-way CTA fare costs $2.25, or $2.50 for two transfers (leave and re-enter the system - transferring between lines is always free).

Metra rail fares vary according to the time of day and distance traveled. Metra one-way fares top out at $8.05 at the time of this writing. Always familiarize yourself with the Metra schedule before arriving at the station as these commuter trains often run at irregular hourly intervals.

This guide details how to use Regional Transit Authority (CTA/Metra/Pace) facilities to get to Midway.

How to Use Public Transportation to Get to Midway Airport from the Chicago Loop

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Orange Line connects Midway to the Chicago Loop - the Second City's downtown core, which actually takes its name from a variety of CTA lines meeting and encircling the financial district in a "Loop."

The Orange Line stops at all Loop stations - visible from any reference point within this commercial area. Specifically, the elevated "El" tracks comprise the Loop at Van Buren, Lake, Wells, and Wabash Streets.

Chicago veterans of the CTA system will navigate the Loop with a combination of transfers and thoughtful station selection to mitigate the potential loss of time promulgated by traveling around the entire Loop on the Orange Line, which moves one-way in a clockwise direction.

Travelers that are unfamiliar with the El should simply eyeball the closest available platform, walk to that station, and board Orange Line trains marked as "Midway" that also feature the handy airplane icon.

Midway Airport is 30 minutes from the Loop on the Orange Line. This is a smooth ride with few stops and relatively non-existent congestion along the route outside of downtown.

How to Use Public Transportation to Get to Chicago Midway Airport from the South Side and South Suburbs

South Siders maintain the option of picking up the Orange Line at Roosevelt or using a combination of east-west bus routes and Cicero Avenue to Midway. Northbound Red and Green Line trains meet at the Roosevelt Road station with access to the Orange Line at the elevated platform.

The Red Line operates from the Dan Ryan Expressway median with stations at 95^th, 87^th, 79^th, 69^th, 63^rd, Garfield, 47^th, SOX-35^th, and Chinatown. The Green Line largely parallels the Red Line to the east with service to the Englewood, Woodlawn, and Bronzeville communities. The Green Line rarely strays far from King Drive, South Michigan, and Cottage Grove Avenues - with important stations at Garfield, 35^th-Bronzeville-IIT, and along 63^rd Street.

Far South Side and South Suburban Metra riders will take the Rock Island and Metra Electric Lines to Millennium or Van Buren, walk two blocks west across Michigan Avenue and enter the CTA El system at Wabash Street. The Orange Line stops at Adams/Wabash, Madison/Wabash, and Randolph/Wabash.

The X55 55^th Street express (55 makes all stops) bus from Hyde Park to Midway is the fastest CTA east-west bus route across the South Side and serves the Garfield Boulevard (55^th Street) thoroughfare. The X55 is accessible from the Red Line, Green Line, and Metra Rail. The CTA lines both have stations at Garfield and the Metra Electric stops at 55^th street in Hyde Park.

Commuters must be advised that Garfield is a decrepit street flowing through some of the grittier sections of the South Side west of Washington Park. The 55 is often an awkward mix of Hyde Park yuppies, wide-eyed University of Chicago students, shocked Helicopter parents, and stammering junkies.

Conservatively allow one hour of transit time to Midway Airport from the interior areas of the South Side.

How to Use Public Transportation to Get to Chicago Midway Airport from the West Side and West Suburbs

Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line, Pink Line, and Green Line trains trace the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway, Cermak Road, and Lake Street corridors, respectively. Typically, all major West Side north-south streets have stations positioned at each of these branches. All Westerly lines lead to the Chicago Loop - particularly the critical Clark and Lake station.

West Siders must transfer to the Orange Line trains featuring a "Midway" header at Clark and Lake.

Metra Riders from Suburban Cook, DuPage, and Kane Counties will disembark at Union Station or Ogilvie Transportation Center and walk east across the Chicago River to "Midway" Orange Line elevated trains at Washington and Wells or Quincy (Wells between Jackson and Adams). The distance separating the CTA Loop from the Metra terminus is roughly one-half mile and travelers with heavy baggage may wish to hail a cab to Wells Street.

Locals may also prefer to utilize the X54 Cicero Avenue (54 makes all stops) express bus that follows Illinois Route 50 towards Midway and avoids the crushing congestion of the Loop where CTA trains are often standing room only during rush hour. Out of town travelers must be advised that Cicero Avenue by the Eisenhower Expressway marks one of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods.

How to Use Public Transportation to Get to Chicago Midway Airport from the North Side and North Suburbs

North Siders will descend upon the Chicago Loop before transferring to the Orange Line at Roosevelt, Clark/Lake, or Washington/Wells.

The Blue Line follows a northwest track from O'Hare to the Loop along the Kennedy Expressway and Milwaukee Avenue, the Brown Line generally hugs Lincoln and Sheffield, and the iconic Red Line is never far from Chicago's Lakefront - facilitating commuter travel along Sheridan Road, Broadway, and Sheffield Avenues.

Access to viable public transportation is never an issue from Chicago's North Side. The primary concern for this population remains the slow moving trains, multitude of stops along these routes, and the obnoxious behavior of fellow riders. The Red and Brown Line trains are particularly bothersome - featuring jam packed sardine-like conditions throughout large swaths of the day.

The Purple Line express train with direct service from Howard to Belmont is designed to mitigate this abject congestion. North Shore and Rogers Park residents pick up these trains just east of Clark (Chicago Avenue in Evanston) and Howard Streets near the Chicago / Evanston border.

The Purple Line only runs during rush hour and shares Red and Brown Line tracks to the Loop before veering off to the east at Merchandise Mart. Again, transfer to the "Midway" Orange Line in the Loop at Clark and Lake.

Metra riders from the U.S. 14, 41, and 45 corridors into Lake County will exit these commuter trains at Union Station and Ogilvie, walk four blocks east (include Chicago River crossing), and enter the CTA Orange Line at Washington and Wells or Quincy (Wells between Adams and Jackson) elevated platforms.

Of course, Northwest Side residents may also opt to avail themselves to the X54 bus with service from the Jefferson Park terminal along the Kennedy Expressway to Midway Airport via Cicero Avenue.

The commute from the North Side to Midway is a two-hour enterprise - which may still be very well worth the trouble. Bargain bin carrier Southwest Airlines dominates Chicago Midway Airport as its de facto Midwest hub.

How to Use Public Transportation to Midway, Sources:

The Chicago Airport System, Midway Airport, http://www.flychicago.com/midway/midwayHomepage.shtm

Chicago Transit Authority Home Page, http://www.transitchicago.com/

CTA Rail System Map, http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/maps/ctatrainmap_apr09.pdf

Metra Rail, www.metrarail.com