O'Hare to Union Station and Amtrak
Metra's North Central Service runs from O'Hare Transfer straight into Chicago Union Station, but it's weekdays only. The Blue Line covers weekends and nights because it runs 24 hours a day, every day.
More in our guide: O'Hare to Union Station and Amtrak.
- Where
- Chicago Union Station (Amtrak): Chicago Union Station, 255 South Clinton Street
- Ways compared
- Metra North Central Service, CTA Blue Line, Taxi, Pace Route 330 to the La Grange Road station
Every way to get to Chicago Union Station (Amtrak), compared
| Way | Time | Cost | First from ORD | Last from ORD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metra North Central Service | 40 to 42 minutes | $3.75 one way, $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 |
| CTA Blue Line | 40 to 45 minutes to downtown | $5 to board at O'Hare ($1.25 reduced, $0.75 student) | Runs 24 hours a day, every day | Runs 24 hours a day, every day |
| Taxi | None published | The meter | None published | None published |
| Pace Route 330 to the La Grange Road station | None published | $2.00 with a Ventra card, mobile wallet, app or contactless bank card; $2.25 in cash with no transfers; reduced fare $1.00 by card, $1.10 in cash | 5:00 a.m. weekdays and Saturdays, 6:00 a.m. Sundays and holidays, from the Multi-Modal Facility | 12:02 a.m. weekdays, 10:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the last buses from the Multi-Modal Facility that reach La Grange |
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. Its waiting room is open 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and trains normally board from Platform 1. O'Hare Transfer is in fare Zone 2 and Union Station in Zone 1. Tickets are sold by the conductor, at a vending machine or in the Ventra app. Metra publishes a printable North Central Service schedule.
Metra North Central Service at ORD: boarding point and full details
CTA Blue Line
Ride to Clinton station, at 426 S. Clinton St., which connects to all Amtrak trains at Chicago Union Station. 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.
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.
Pace Route 330 to the La Grange Road station
For Amtrak at La Grange Road instead of Union Station. The bus leaves the Multi-Modal Facility from bus bays 8 and 9 and calls at the La Grange Road station for Amtrak and the Metra BNSF Line. Ride the Airport Transit System to the Multi-Modal Facility first.
Pace Route 330 to the La Grange Road station at ORD: boarding point and full details
Good to know
- Check your Amtrak ticket for your train's departure time.
- Amtrak's Union Station Metropolitan Lounge is open daily 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. It admits Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Executive and Select Plus members, private room customers and Single Visit Pass holders with same-day reservations. Amtrak sells the Single Visit Pass for $35.
- Pace runs Route 330 every day.
Sources: Metra, Chicago Department of Aviation, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Pace