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The easiest way from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to downtown Chicago is the CTA Blue Line. The station is under the terminals, trains run 24 hours a day, and the CTA says the trip downtown normally takes 40 to 45 minutes. Boarding at O'Hare costs $5, or nothing extra if you already have a pass.
| Option | Fare | Travel time to downtown |
|---|---|---|
| CTA Blue Line | $5.00 | 40-45 minutes, 24 hours a day, every day. |
| Metra North Central Service from O'Hare Transfer | $3.75 | Weekdays only, limited trains to Union Station. Check the schedule. |
| Taxi | about $50 | Depends on traffic. Average fare according to the airport. |
Fares for one adult paying full fare. Reduced-fare and student riders pay less on the CTA; see fares.
$5 full fare when you board at O'Hare, $1.25 reduced, 75 cents student. A CTA/Pace pass covers it at no extra charge. Up to two transfers within two hours are free.
Tap a contactless bank card, a phone wallet or a Ventra Card at the turnstile. Vending machines at the station sell Ventra Cards and passes, including the 3-Day pass ($15).
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trains come more often during weekday rush hours and about every 15 minutes overnight.
Finding the station. The accessible O'Hare station is on the lower level, connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Follow signs for "CTA Trains" or "Trains to City"; the CTA says the walk from baggage claim takes under ten minutes from any of these terminals. From Terminal 5 (international arrivals), ride the Airport Transit System to Terminal 2, then follow the same signs. There is no Terminal 4.
Where the train goes. Every train from O'Hare runs through downtown to Forest Park, or to UIC-Halsted at some hours. Downtown Blue Line stations connect with other 'L' lines, and the timetable in effect since May 3, 2026 shows trains every 7 to 10 minutes at many times of day. The $5 fare applies only when you board at O'Hare; riding to the airport from any other station costs the regular $2.50.
Planned work tonight (Oct 15-16, 2026): the CTA announced that from 10:00 PM Thursday to 4:00 AM Friday, Blue Line trains will share one track between Irving Park and Jefferson Park, with a boarding change and minor delays. Check service status before you go.
Metra's North Central Service stops at O'Hare Transfer (10300 Zemke Rd.), behind the airport's Multi-Modal Facility. The line runs south to Union Station downtown and north to Antioch. The airport describes it as a weekday service, and there are far fewer trains than on the Blue Line, so check the schedule before you count on it.
O'Hare's automated Airport Transit System (ATS) links Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5 with the Multi-Modal Facility, where you find rental cars, economy parking, Pace buses and the Metra station. According to the airport, it has run around the clock since April 2022, and a ride from Terminal 1 to the Multi-Modal Facility takes about 10 minutes.
Pace suburban buses stop at the Multi-Modal Facility, bus bays 8 and 9. Route 250 runs daily to the Des Plaines Metra station and on to Evanston, with connections to the CTA Purple and Yellow lines. Route 330 runs on weekdays and Saturdays south to Summit via La Grange Road. Pace fares are on our fares page.
Taxi stands are on the lower level curb, outside baggage claim, at each terminal. The airport asks travelers to use only the official stands and not to accept rides from drivers elsewhere. It lists an average taxi fare to downtown of about $50, depending on traffic. For rideshare (Uber, Lyft), the airport lists pickup zones on the Upper Level of Terminal 2 (zones 2A to 2G) and Terminal 3 (zones 3G to 3K).
To plan a trip from O'Hare to a specific address, use our trip planner or check the Blue Line page.
$5 for a full-fare ride when you board at O'Hare, deducted when you enter the station. Reduced fare is $1.25 and student fare 75 cents. If you already have a CTA/Pace pass, you board at no extra charge. Riding to O'Hare from other stations costs the regular $2.50.
The CTA says the normal travel time from O'Hare to downtown is 40 to 45 minutes when trains are running normally.
Yes. Blue Line trains run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The CTA timetable says overnight trains run about every 15 minutes.
On the lower level, connected by pedestrian tunnels to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Follow signs for CTA Trains or Trains to City. From Terminal 5, take the free Airport Transit System train to Terminal 2 first.
Yes, on weekdays. Take the Airport Transit System to the Multi-Modal Facility and walk to the O'Hare Transfer station of Metra's North Central Service, which runs to Union Station downtown. The one-way fare for Zones 1-2 is $3.75.