Follow the journey beyond the train station
For each airport, write the entire chain: starting point, first station or bus stop, any transfers, airport station and departure terminal. These terminal connections are different:
O’Hare — ORD
The CTA Blue Line serves O’Hare. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 connect to its station by pedestrian tunnels. For Terminal 5, add the Airport Transit System connection via Terminal 2 or 3; do not end your access plan at the Blue Line platform.
O’Hare official public-transit informationMidway — MDW
The CTA Orange Line serves Midway. Its station sits east of the terminal and connects through an enclosed walkway. Include that walk, along with your journey to the Orange Line, when comparing airport access.
Midway official public-transit informationCheck accessibility for every station and transfer you would use, not only the airport station. Allow separately for check-in, security and your own buffer.
Check the return before choosing an early departure
CTA lists Blue Line service around the clock, while the Orange Line has defined operating hours rather than overnight train service. A workable outbound rail journey therefore does not establish that the same plan will work after a late arrival.
Check your travel date, direction and boarding station against the current timetable and alerts. For the return, allow for leaving the aircraft and collecting bags before reaching transit. If rail will not work, establish an alternative and its cost before booking.
Build two complete ground budgets
Make one budget from your starting point to ORD and another to MDW, covering both directions where relevant. Use the terminal and parking option you would actually choose; an airport’s map location alone cannot establish the road journey.
- Count transit charges for every paying traveler; keep shared car costs separate.
- If driving, check road mileage, fuel, tolls, parking duration and any terminal transfer.
- If getting a lift or using a taxi or rideshare, include both journeys and applicable quoted charges.
- If returning to a different airport, account for retrieving a parked car or arranging a different ride.
Unknown tolls, parking charges or transfer fees remain unknown, not zero. Record the source and date of each amount.
Use the distance only for geographic context
ORD and MDW are approximately 15.4 straight-line miles apart in FliteMaster’s catalog. This is neither driving mileage nor a train distance or travel-time estimate.
When exploring a radius centered on your selected home airport, remember that it begins at that airport rather than your house.
Calculated with FliteMaster’s distanceMiles function from its OurAirports coordinate snapshot, retrieved October 18, 2026, and rounded to one decimal place. This date describes the catalog, not transport-service freshness.
Keep the airport choice tied to the same trip
ORD and MDW are eligible in FliteMaster’s airport planner. Eligibility does not confirm an airline, route or available fare.
For any flight-price comparison, keep destination, dates, cabin and traveler count consistent. Compare schedules, connections and relevant bag or seat charges alongside the complete ground budget. Keep both airports on the shortlist if unresolved costs or access questions could still change the decision.