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Airport Transportation

Chicago Midway International Airport

Also known as: Midway Airport, Chicago Midway Airport, MDW Airport, Midway International Airport. Formerly Chicago Municipal Airport, Chicago Air Park.

MDW · KMDW · Chicago

Airport facts

Name
Chicago Midway International Airport
IATA code
MDW
ICAO code
KMDW
City
Chicago
Country
United States of America
Address
5700 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60638, USA
Coordinates
41.7861, -87.7525
Time zone
America/Chicago
Terminals
One terminal with three connected concourses, A, B and C, and the Central Market food court where they meet

About Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is Chicago's second commercial airport, serving the city and northern Illinois from the Clearing and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods on the Southwest Side. It sits about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the Loop, close to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55), and the drive downtown usually takes 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

Southwest Airlines is the base carrier and flies most passengers, to cities across the United States and to Mexico and the Caribbean. Delta, Frontier, Allegiant and Volaris add flights to Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Florida and several cities in Mexico. The airport handled about 19.4 million passengers in 2025.

One terminal, opened in 2001, leads to 43 gates on three connected concourses, A, B and C, joined by the Central Market food court. International arrivals clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Concourse A.

From Midway, most travelers head to downtown Chicago, the Magnificent Mile and River North, McCormick Place, Hyde Park and the University of Chicago, or the southwest suburbs. The CTA Orange Line runs from a station beside the main parking garage straight into the Loop.

Airport operator, runways and traffic

Operator

Chicago Department of Aviation

Passengers per year

About 19.4 million in 2025

Gates

43 gates on Concourses A, B and C

Opened

1927, as Chicago Municipal Airport; renamed Midway in 1949

Base carrier

Southwest Airlines

Arrival tips for Chicago Midway International Airport

On a domestic flight you walk off the plane straight into the concourse, with no passport check. International flights from Mexico and the Caribbean arrive at Concourse A, where you go through U.S. immigration, collect your bags and clear customs before entering the terminal.

Baggage claim is on the lower level of the main terminal. The Ground Transportation Information Booth sits near carousel 4, and information booths staffed by airport employees and volunteers are in the baggage claim area if you need help.

Outside baggage claim, the lower-level curb is split by door number: taxis at Door 2, rideshare zones at Doors 2 to 4, and pre-arranged cars and limousines at Doors 1 and 2. For the CTA Orange Line, follow the signs through the enclosed walkway to the station beside the main parking garage. The car rental shuttle also leaves from the lower level near baggage claim.

Chicago is on Central Time, and you will pay in U.S. dollars.

Ground transportation

The Orange Line is the quickest cheap ride downtown; a taxi or pre-booked car is easier with luggage or for addresses away from the train.

  • CTA Orange Line to downtown

    Trains leave from the Midway station beside the main parking garage, reached by an enclosed walkway, and reach the Loop in about 20 to 25 minutes. Stations can mean stairs and walking with bags.

  • Taxi from Midway airport

    Taxis wait at the stand on the lower-level curb at Door 2, outside baggage claim, and go door to door anywhere in the city.

  • Rideshare

    Uber and Lyft pickups are on the lower level, center lane, in color-coded zones outside Doors 2, 3 and 4. Waits can grow at busy times.

  • Private transfer

    A pre-booked car meets you at the lower-level pickup area or in baggage claim, useful for families, groups, late arrivals and trips to the suburbs.

  • CTA and Pace buses

    The Midway station is a hub for CTA and Pace buses to the Southwest Side and the suburbs, with more stops than the train.

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Moving between terminals

  1. Walking

    Concourses A, B and C meet at the Central Market past security, and passengers arriving on domestic flights can walk to any concourse without clearing security again.

  2. Changing airlines

    If your connection is on a different airline, ask both airlines whether you need to collect bags and check in again.

Terminals

All three concourses are connected past security, so you can walk between them without screening again.

Concourse A

Home of the Federal Inspection Services facility, where international arrivals clear immigration and customs. It handles international flights and several non-Southwest airlines.

Concourse B

Southwest Airlines' main concourse, with most of its domestic flights.

Concourse C

Used by Frontier Airlines and some Southwest flights.

Airlines and destinations

Southwest uses gates on all three concourses, so check the screens for your gate.

Allegiant Air

Asheville, Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Knoxville, Punta Gorda, Provo (seasonal)

Delta Air Lines

Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Frontier Airlines Concourse C

Atlanta, Baltimore, Cancún, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Miami, Newark, Orlando, Phoenix

Southwest Airlines

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Cancún, Dallas Love Field, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Montego Bay, Nashville, New York LaGuardia, Orlando, Punta Cana, Tampa and more

Volaris Concourse A

Aguascalientes, Durango, Guadalajara, León/Del Bajío, Morelia, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas

Facilities

  • Central Market food court

    Restaurants and shops gather in the Central Market, where Concourses A, B and C meet, with more outlets along each concourse.

  • Information booths

    Information booths in the lower-level baggage claim area are staffed by airport employees and volunteers.

  • Currency exchange

    Foreign currency exchange is available in Concourse A.

  • ATMs

    ATMs are on the concourses and near baggage claim.

  • Nursing rooms

    Nursing rooms and lactation pods are in the Central Market and on Concourses A and C.

  • Pet relief areas

    Indoor pet relief areas are past security near Concourses A and C, with outdoor areas on the lower level near baggage claim.

  • Wi-Fi and charging

    Wi-Fi covers the terminal, and charging points are near most gates and in the Central Market.

Airport lounges

  • The Club MDW

    In the Central Market next to gate B1, open since September 2024. Any passenger with a same-day boarding pass can pay for a day pass, and Priority Pass members are admitted; open daily from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Accessibility and passenger assistance

  • Requesting assistance

    Wheelchair assistance is provided by your airline. Request it when you book or at least 48 hours before you fly.

  • Reduced mobility

    Elevators link the upper and lower levels, and the enclosed walkway to the CTA Orange Line station is step-free.

  • Security screening

    TSA Cares can arrange help at security for travelers with disabilities or medical conditions; call ahead of your flight.

  • Service animals

    Service animal relief areas are past security near Concourses A and C and outside on the lower level near baggage claim.

Parking

Main parking garage

Across from the terminal and linked to it by a walkway, with hourly and daily parking. The CTA Orange Line station is on its east side.

Economy garage

A large garage for longer stays, opened in 2005.

Cell phone lot

A free waiting lot at 61st Street and Cicero Avenue for drivers picking up arriving passengers.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Midway airport from downtown Chicago?

Chicago Midway is about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the Loop, near the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). By car the drive usually takes 25 to 45 minutes, longer at rush hour. The CTA Orange Line runs from the airport station to the Loop in about 20 to 25 minutes, with no change of train.

Is Midway or O'Hare closer to downtown Chicago?

Midway is closer. It sits about 12 miles southwest of the Loop, while O'Hare is farther out to the northwest. Midway is also smaller, with one terminal and three concourses, and most of its flights are on Southwest Airlines. Check your ticket for the code MDW or ORD, because the two airports are far apart.

Is there a train from Midway airport to downtown?

Yes. The CTA Orange Line starts at the Midway station, beside the main parking garage and reached by an enclosed walkway from the terminal. Trains reach the Loop in about 20 to 25 minutes. It is the cheapest way downtown, though stations can mean stairs and some walking with luggage.

Where is the taxi stand at Midway airport?

The taxi stand is on the lower level, inner lane, at Door 2, outside baggage claim. Follow the ground transportation signs after collecting your bags. Taxis go door to door anywhere in Chicago and are easiest with luggage or for addresses away from the Orange Line.

Where do I get an Uber or Lyft at Midway?

Rideshare pickups are on the lower level, center lane, outside baggage claim. The zones are color-coded: blue zones A and B at Doors 2 and 3, orange zones C and D at Doors 3 and 4, and green zones E and F at Door 4. Your app tells you which zone to use.

How many terminals does Midway airport have?

Midway has one terminal with three connected concourses, A, B and C, and 43 gates. The concourses meet at the Central Market food court past security, so passengers arriving on domestic flights can walk between them without screening again. All arriving passengers collect bags on the lower level of the main terminal.

Which airlines fly from Chicago Midway?

Southwest Airlines is the main airline and flies to cities across the United States and to Mexico and the Caribbean. Delta flies to Atlanta, Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Frontier, Allegiant and Volaris add routes to Florida, Denver, Cancún and several cities in Mexico.

Does Midway have international flights?

Yes, a limited number. Southwest, Frontier and Volaris fly to Mexico and the Caribbean, including Cancún, Guadalajara, Morelia, Montego Bay and Punta Cana. International arrivals clear U.S. immigration and customs at the Federal Inspection Services facility in Concourse A before entering the terminal.

What do I need to enter the United States at Midway?

International visitors need a valid passport and either a U.S. visa or, for Visa Waiver Program nationals, an approved ESTA before boarding. You go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Concourse A, collect your bags and clear customs. U.S. citizens and residents use the same facility with their own lines.

Is there a lounge at Midway airport?

Yes. The Club MDW opened in September 2024 in the Central Market next to gate B1, where the three concourses meet. Any passenger with a same-day boarding pass can buy a day pass, and Priority Pass members are admitted. It opens daily from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Where can I park at Midway airport?

The main parking garage sits across from the terminal, linked by a walkway, for hourly and daily stays, and the CTA Orange Line station is on its east side. A larger economy garage serves longer trips. Drivers collecting passengers can wait free at the cell phone lot at 61st Street and Cicero Avenue.

Where is car rental at Midway airport?

Rental car companies operate from a consolidated Rental Car Facility near the airport. A shuttle runs to it around the clock from the lower level near baggage claim, so follow the rental car signs after collecting your bags. Allow extra time for the shuttle on your return.

What was Midway airport called before?

The airport opened in 1927 as Chicago Municipal Airport, on a site first known as Chicago Air Park. It was renamed Midway in 1949 after the Battle of Midway. Its full name today is Chicago Midway International Airport, and travelers usually just call it Midway or MDW.

Why book with Airport Transportation?

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Is the transportation private or shared?

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Are prices per person or per vehicle?

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

How many people can a van carry?

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

How do I find you at the airport?

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

What kind of vehicles do you use?

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Do you have insurance?

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Do you provide baby seats?

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

How far in advance should I book?

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

What payment methods are accepted?

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Do vehicles have air conditioning?

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

What if my flight is delayed?

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Can I make stops during my ride?

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

Do children pay differently than adults?

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Is my reservation refundable?

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Do drivers speak English?

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Are tips mandatory?

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

What currencies are accepted?

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

Are pets allowed?

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Is there room for luggage?

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

What is included in the price?

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.

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