Airport

MDW Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) serves Chicago. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAMDW
ICAOKMDW
Non-stop74
Airlines10
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Elevation189 m

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The airport in numbers

Chicago Midway International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Chicago Midway International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 19M passengers in 2025, against a peak of 23M in 2016.

Passengers / year
19M
as of 2025
Peak traffic
23M
in 2016
Elevation
189 מ׳
above sea level
Passengers per year, 1998–2025

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Airport to city

Getting from Chicago Midway International Airport to Chicago

Train & bus: Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only.

Taxi & apps: A metered yellow cab, with a flat downtown fare at some airports. Uber and Lyft are legal nationwide, picked up from a set zone.

Tipping: 15–20% is effectively expected for a taxi/Uber driver.

Distances

From MDW to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Chicago11 km23 min$23–$37
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Chicago Midway International Airport

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Chicago ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Chicago Midway International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 74 destinations, operated by 10 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Southwest Airlines · AirTran Airways · Volaris · Frontier Airlines · Delta Air Lines · KLM Royal Dutch Airlines · Air France · Porter Airlines · Sun Country Airlines

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Chicago Midway International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Chicago shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Chicago Midway International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Chicago Midway International Airport to the centre of Chicago?
Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only.
Can I use a ride app from Chicago Midway International Airport?
A metered yellow cab, with a flat downtown fare at some airports. Uber and Lyft are legal nationwide, picked up from a set zone.
What's the cheapest way from Chicago Midway International Airport to Chicago?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only.
Can I get from Chicago Midway International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Many big airports connect via AirTrain + rail/metro (JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, ATL, BOS, SEA, DCA, MIA). Others are taxi/car only. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Chicago Midway International Airport?
About 74 destinations, including Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, Denver. 10 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Chicago Midway International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Chicago Midway International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Chicago Midway International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Chicago city guide← United States travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026