Chicago, the largest city in the Midwest, lies in the heart of the United States. That makes getting here a breeze, no matter how you like to travel. Explore options by plane, car, train, and more.
Getting to Chicago
Getting to Chicago by plane
Chicago is home to multiple international airports conveniently located in the center of the country, with thousands of daily inbound and outbound flights to more than 240 destinations.
Chicago airports
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Multi-award-winning, environmentally conscious O’Hare (ORD) is one of the largest airports in the world. It lies just 16 miles from downtown Chicago and boasts four terminals — three domestic (Terminals 1, 2, and 3) and one international (Terminal 5).
Chicago Midway International Airport
Midway (MDW) is the nation’s premier point-to-point airport, offering value-oriented leisure and business travel to over 60 destinations. It’s located only 11 miles from downtown Chicago.
Gary/Chicago International Airport
Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) is a full-service airport used for private aviation. Located just 25 miles from downtown Chicago, it’s a convenient location for corporate and weekend flyers entering the Chicago metropolitan region.
Travel advice and resources
REAL ID
All Americans traveling by air now need a REAL ID or another accepted form of identification to board a flight within the U.S. as of May 7, 2025. A traditional driver’s license will no longer be accepted through airport security. Domestic travelers may use:
- REAL ID (generally marked with a star in the upper portion of the card)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. military ID
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- Enhanced driver’s licenses (offered in MI, MN, NY, VT, and WA. Generally marked with U.S. flag)
Transportation to/from O’Hare and Midway
Both O’Hare and Midway are within easy reach of downtown Chicago.
- The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line ‘L’ train, which runs 24/7, connects directly to O’Hare.
- The CTA Orange Line ‘L’ train connects directly to Midway.
- Taxi, Lyft, and Uber pickup points are available at both airports. Alternatively, you can e-hail and e-pay with CHICABS-approved apps ARRO and CURB. Credit cards are accepted in all taxis. Simply enter your current location and destination, review fare options, and request your ride.
- GO Airport Express provides shared ride services to all downtown/suburban hotels.
- Numerous car rental companies have facilities at both O’Hare and Midway airports.
- Find limousine and chauffeur services for your stay in Chicago.
Flight resources
- Access parking, flight status, amenities, and terminal maps for both O’Hare and Midway airports at flychicago.com.
- Get average domestic and international flight times to Chicago.
- Get Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security regulation information.
- Find airlines that fly into and out of O’Hare and airlines that service Midway.
Explore more: Visiting Chicago from abroad? Check out our guide for international visitors.
Getting to Chicago by car
Chicago’s central location and position as a hub for the nation’s major interstates make it a convenient drive from anywhere in the country.
Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway).
View an interactive parking map of downtown Chicago to search for public parking lots and garages by address and points of interest.
Want to pay for parking in advance? Find the perfect Chicago parking spot by comparing price, location, and amenities. Reserve your spot now with Parking.com, iParkit, Millennium Garages, or SpotHero.
Find the latest traffic and road conditions from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Check out the latest traffic and construction updates that may impact road and rail travel:
- Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)
- Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
- Getting Around Illinois – Road construction maps
Getting to Chicago by bus
Greyhound
Greyhound has four Chicagoland stations, with dozens of routes that make Chicago directly reachable from more than 100 U.S. cities.
The Chicago-area Greyhound bus stations include:
Megabus
Megabus is a budget-friendly, city-to-city service. Find Megabus stations and rates.
CharterUP
If you’re headed to Chicago from a Midwestern metropolis like Detroit, Indianapolis, or St. Louis, catch a leisurely ride on a private charter bus. Charter buses include free WiFi, reclining seats, panoramic windows, and plenty of legroom. Find a private charter bus today using CharterUP’s online booking platform.
Getting to Chicago by private motorcoach
Want to prepay and reserve a space for your motorcoach? Prepay online for the McCormick Place Marshalling Yard located at 31st Street and Lake Shore Drive or the 18th Street Lot at 18th Street and Lake Shore Drive. Additional motorcoach parking options include Lincoln Park Zoo, Soldier Field/Museum Campus, and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Learn more about bus parking and reserve spaces.
Download the Chicago Motorcoach Loading Zones and Parking Map.
Getting to Chicago by train
Train stations in Chicago
Chicago’s iconic Union Station in downtown Chicago was originally designed by Daniel Burnham and first opened to the public in 1925. Today, the stunning building is one of the nation’s busiest rail stations, serving both national Amtrak trains and local Metra lines to northeast Illinois.
Just across the street, Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves the three commuter rail lines of Metra’s Union Pacific District. There are also two Metra stations in the Loop: Millennium Station on the Metra Electric District line and LaSalle Street Station on the Rock Island District line.
Chicago rail services
Amtrak
With 21,000 miles of routes across the United States and Canada, Amtrak offers more than 300 high-speed trains to more than 500 destinations daily. Find Amtrak routes and fares.
Metra
The high-speed Metra commuter rail train, which connects outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago, is a fast and easy way to travel to the heart of the city. Find fares and route maps.
South Shore Line
South Shore Line serves Chicago through Northern Indiana to South Bend International Airport. Find South Shore Line routes and fares.
