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Both Chicago airports have their own CTA 'L' station, so you can ride straight from the terminal to downtown. O'Hare is on the Blue Line, which runs 24 hours a day. Midway is on the Orange Line, which is closer to the Loop but does not run overnight.
| Airport | Train | Fare | To downtown | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Hare (ORD) | CTA Blue Line | $5.00 | 40-45 min | 24 hours, every day |
| Midway (MDW) | CTA Orange Line | $2.50 | 20-25 min | About 3:30 AM to 1:30 AM; N62 bus overnight |
Full fares paid with a Ventra Card, a contactless bank card or a phone wallet. The $5 fare applies only when you board at O'Hare; a CTA/Pace pass covers it at no extra charge. Travel times are the CTA's normal estimates.
Blue Line from under Terminals 1, 2 and 3, plus weekday Metra trains from O'Hare Transfer ($3.75 to Union Station).
Orange Line from a station next to the terminal, plus CTA and Pace buses to the South and Southwest sides.
You can tap a contactless bank card or a phone at the turnstile; you do not need to buy a card first. If you are staying a few days, vending machines at the O'Hare and Midway stations sell a 3-Day CTA/Pace pass for $15, which also covers the $5 O'Hare boarding fare. Every train from either airport goes through downtown.
All CTA fares, passes and discounts are on our fares page. For a door-to-door trip from either airport, use the trip planner.