Chicago, Illinois - Getting There

By plane

Chicago is served by two major airports: O'Hare and Midway. There are plenty of taxis from both to and from the city center, but they are quite expensive, especially during rush hours. Expect upwards of $40 for O'Hare and $30 for Midway. CTA trains provide direct service to both larger airports for $2 from anywhere in the city — faster than a taxi during rush hour and a lot less expensive.

Many large hotels offer complimentary shuttle vans to one or both airports, or can arrange one for a charge ($15-25) with advance notice.

O'Hare

O'Hare International Airport is 17 miles northwest of downtown and serves many international and domestic carriers. United Airlines has the largest presence here, followed by American. Most connecting flights for smaller cities in the Midwest run through O'Hare. It's one of the biggest airports in the world, and it has always been notorious for delays and cancellations. Unfortunately, it's too far northwest for most travelers who get stuck overnight to head into the city. As a result, there are plenty of hotels in the O'Hare area. See the O'Hare International Airport|O'Hare article for listings.

The CTA Blue Line runs between the Loop and O'Hare in about 48 minutes. During July 2008, construction on the Blue Line has closed the O'Hare stop; a shuttle bus will operate between the shuttle bus stop near the Hilton and the Rosemont El stop until July 28th. This will likely increase travel times in and out of the airport. [1]

Midway

Chicago/Midway Area|Midway International Airport [2] is 10 miles southwest of downtown. It is serviced by domestic and discount carriers like Southwest Airlines and AirTran. If it's an option for your trip, Midway is more compact, less crowded, has fewer delays, and usually cheaper.

The CTA Orange Line train runs between the Loop and Midway in around 25 minutes. There are a number of hotels clustered around Midway, too — see the Chicago/Midway Area|Midway article for listings.

Others

Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport [3] is served by 7 Amtrak trains per day (6 on Sunday), and the Hiawatha Service was Amtrak's most on-time route in 2006. The trip from Chicago Union Station to Mitchell Airport Station is about one hour and 15 minutes.

By bus

• Greyhound 630 W Harrison St, +1 312 408-5800, http://www.greyhound.com, 24 hours. America's largest bus carrier offers service to destinations throughout the Midwest. The main terminal is near the southwestern corner of the Loop. There are secondary terminal at the CTA Red Line station at 95th/Dan Ryan and the CTA transit building (5800 N Cumberland). With advance purchase, the trip to Detroit costs about $27.

• Megabus 4400 S Racine Ave, +1 877 462-6342, http://www.megabus.com/us, M-Sa 6:30AM-10PM, Su 6:30AM-8PM. Popular in the United Kingdom, Megabus recently established a branch in Chicago. These buses stop in Chicago near Union Station (see below). At present, buses run express from Chicago to eleven other major Midwestern cities. With advance purchase, the trip to Detroit costs about $8.

By train

Chicago is historically the rail hub of the entire United States. Today, Amtrak [4], ☎ +1 800 872-7245, uses the magisterial Union Station (Canal St and Jackson Blvd) as the hub of its Midwestern routes, making Chicago one of the most convenient U.S. cities to visit by train, serving the majority of the passenger rail company's national routes, with options from virtually every major US city. With its massive main hall, venerable history, and cinematic steps, Union Station is worth a visit even if you're not coming in by train.

Most (but not all) Metra suburban trains run from Union Station and nearby Ogilvie/Northwestern Station (Canal St and Madison St). The suburban trains run as far as Kenosha, Aurora, and Joliet, while the South Shore line runs through Indiana as far as South Bend. Several CTA buses converge upon the two stations, and the Chicago/Loop|Loop CTA trains are within walking distance. See the #Metra_and_South_Shore|get around section for more details.

By car

Chicagoans have a maddening habit of referring to some expressways by their names, not the numbers used to identify them on the signs you'll see posted on the U.S. interstate highway system, so you'll have to commit both name and number to memory. I-55 (The Stevenson) will take you directly from St. Louis into downtown Chicago. I-90/94 (The Dan Ryan) comes in from Indiana to the east (via the Chicago Skyway and Bishop Ford Freeway) and from central Illinois (via I-57). I-90 (The Kennedy) comes in from Madison (Wisconsin)|Madison to the northwest. I-94 (The Edens) comes in from Milwaukee to the north, but recent roadwork has slowed traffic considerably compared to I-90. I-80 will get you to the city from Iowa which neighbors Illinois to the west.

If arriving downtown from Indiana, from the south on I-94 or I-90, or from the north, Lake Shore Drive (U.S. Highway 41) provides a scenic introduction in both directions, day or night. The shore and Chicago skyline guide|skyline are not to be missed. If arriving on I-55 from the southwest, or on I-290 (The Eisenhower, formerly and sometimes still called The Congress Expressway) from the west, the skyline may also be visible from certain clear spots, but without the shore view.