O'Hare to a Loop or Michigan Avenue Hotel
The Blue Line runs 24 hours a day and takes 40 to 45 minutes to reach the Loop. Two of the five hotels name a Blue Line stop in their own directions: Monroe for the Palmer House and Jackson for the Hilton Chicago.
More in our guide: O'Hare to a Loop or Michigan Avenue hotel by train.
- Where
- Loop and Michigan Avenue hotels: Downtown hotels on and near Michigan Avenue: Palmer House, Hilton Chicago, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, The Langham and Omni Chicago Hotel
- Ways compared
- CTA Blue Line, Taxi, Shared taxi, Shuttle van, Rideshare
Every way to get to Loop and Michigan Avenue hotels, 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 |
| Taxi | 25 to 90 minutes to downtown | The meter, plus tip | 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 |
CTA Blue Line
Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel: Monroe, then a walk east along Monroe Street. Hilton Chicago: Jackson, then a 0.6 mile walk southeast. The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, The Langham and the Omni name no stop, so confirm one with the hotel before you leave, or take a cab. 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. Board the train signed for Forest Park or, in some hours, UIC-Halsted; both pass Monroe and Jackson. The CTA allows two free transfers within two hours on the same Ventra card, ticket, bank card or wallet.
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 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.
Good to know
- The Blue Line stop for the Palmer House is Monroe.
- The Hilton Chicago sits on South Michigan Avenue over Grant Park, and its Jackson stop and 0.6 mile walk are the one set of train directions here for a Michigan Avenue address.
- The Omni is on the Magnificent Mile at Huron Street. The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is on South Michigan Avenue.
- A taxi from the stand pays a $4 airport departure tax, and tips are extra.
Questions about Loop and Michigan Avenue hotels
Is there a shuttle from ORD to Loop and Michigan Avenue hotels?
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, Each hotel's own page, Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, City of Chicago