O'Hare to Downtown Chicago
Most arrivals should take the Blue Line, the L train that starts inside O'Hare and runs straight through downtown. It takes 40 to 45 minutes, against 25 to 90 for the road options.
More in our guide: How to get from O'Hare to downtown Chicago.
- Where
- Downtown Chicago: Downtown Chicago and the Loop
- Ways compared
- CTA Blue Line, Metra North Central Service, Taxi, Shared taxi, Shuttle van, Rideshare, Pre-arranged car
Every way to get to Downtown Chicago, compared
| Way | Time | Cost | First from ORD | Last from ORD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTA Blue Line | 40 to 45 minutes to downtown | $5 to board at O'Hare ($1.25 reduced, $0.75 student); a 1-day pass is $5 and covers boarding at O'Hare | Runs 24 hours a day, every day | Runs 24 hours a day, every day |
| Metra North Central Service | 40 to 42 minutes to Union Station | $3.75 one way to downtown, $1.75 reduced; day pass $7.50, $3.50 reduced | Weekdays only: 6:13 a.m. from O'Hare Transfer | Weekdays only: 4:41 p.m. from O'Hare Transfer |
| Taxi | 25 to 90 minutes to downtown | The meter | None published | None published |
| Shared taxi | None published | $30 flat to downtown or McCormick Place | None published | None published |
| Shuttle van | 25 to 90 minutes to downtown | Over $25 to downtown | None published | None published |
| Rideshare | 25 to 90 minutes to downtown | Around $35 to $50 to downtown, surging to $140 or more | None published | None published |
| Pre-arranged car | None published for the trip; the car takes 5 to 20 minutes to reach the pick-up point | None published | None published | None published |
CTA Blue Line
From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, follow the Trains to City signs through the pedestrian tunnels on the basement level; the walk from baggage claim takes under ten minutes. From Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 first. Any train from the O'Hare station goes through downtown on the way to Forest Park or, in some hours, UIC-Halsted. Boarding anywhere else on the L costs $2.50. The CTA allows two free transfers within two hours on the same Ventra card, ticket, bank card or wallet.
Metra North Central Service
Ride the free Airport Transit System from your terminal to the Multi-Modal Facility, then go to the O'Hare Transfer station behind it. The train runs into Chicago Union Station. Tickets are sold by the conductor, at a vending machine or in the Ventra app.
Metra North Central Service at ORD: boarding point and full details
Taxi
Taxis wait at the stand on the lower-level curb outside baggage claim at every terminal. Use the marked stand, and turn down rides offered outside it or on the departure level. The meter charges a $3.25 flag covering the first ninth of a mile, then $0.31 for each further ninth, plus a $4 airport departure tax. A $2.50 rush hour surcharge applies from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a $1.00 overnight surcharge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Shared taxi
Confirm at the taxi stand that the shared ride is running.
Shuttle van
Shuttle vans to downtown cost over $25. No operator or boarding point is published.
Rideshare
Pickups are on the upper level: Terminal 2 at the orange poles 2A to 2G, Terminal 3 at the green poles 3G, 3H, 3J and 3K. The airport names no poles for Terminals 1 or 5.
Pre-arranged car
Book ahead, then call the company once you have your bags; it gives you a plate number, a description of the car and a door to meet at. Cars meet you in lane 2 on the lower level. The airport publishes no fares for them.
Good to know
- Taxi, rideshare and shuttle costs here leave out tips, and road times are estimates for common conditions.
- A card payment adds $0.50 to a taxi fare.
Questions about Downtown Chicago
Is there a shuttle from ORD to Downtown Chicago?
The shuttle or bus option is Shuttle van (25 to 90 minutes to downtown; Over $25 to downtown).
Sources: Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Department of Aviation, Metra, Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, City of Chicago