Travel and Transit Information for Chicago

Getting There

Air

O'Hare International Airport (ORD) +1 773 686 2200 http://www.ohare.com

O'Hare International Airport is located 18 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Chicago and services the following airlines:

Aero Mexico (+ 1 800 237 6639/ http://www.aeromexico.com) Air Canada (+1 800 776 3000/ http://www.aircanada.ca) Air France (+1 800 871 1366/ http://www.airfrance.com) Alaska Airlines (+1 800 252 7522/ http://www.alaskaair.com) British Airways (+1 800 247 9297/ http://www.british-airways.com) Continental (+1 800 525 0280/ http://www.continental.com) Delta (+1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com) El Al (+1 800 223 6700/ http://www.elal.co.il) Japan Airlines (+1 800 525 3663/ http://www.japanair.com) Korean Air (+1 800 438 5000/ http://www.koreanair.com) Lufthansa (+1 800 645 3880/ http://www.lufthansa.com) Mexicana (+1 800 531 7921/ http://www.mexicana.com) Northwest (+1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com) Qantas (+1 604 279 6611/ http://www.qantas.com) Scandinavian Airlines (+1 800 221 2350/ http://www.scandinavian.net) TACA (+1 800 535 8780/ http://www.taca.com) United (+1 800 241 6522/ http://www.ual.com) US Airways (+1 800 428 4322/ http://www.usairways.com)

Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)

From the Airport

O'Hare International Airport

Train: Chicago's famed El (short for elevated train) (+1 888 968 7282/http://www.transitchicago.com) is the cheapest and quickest option for getting downtown. Its Blue Line exits the airport every ten minutes or less twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Rides last 45 minutes and cost USD1.75.

The Metra's (+1 312 322 6777/http://www.metrarail.com) North Central Commuter Train line connects with downtown's Union Station for USD3.15. There is no weekend service.

Shuttle: ranks as the airports best shuttle service. It exits the airport every 5-10 minutes and averages USD18 per passenger.

Taxi: Taxis, all metered, generally cost between USD35-USD40. Depending on traffic, rides to downtown can range from 30-60 minutes. Taxis can be easily located outside each terminal. Some of the more prominent companies include:

Flash Cab Company (+1 773 878 8500) Jiffy Cab Company (+1 773 487 9000) American United (+1 773 327 6161) Also check out the popular Shoreline Water Taxi.

Car Rental: Alamo (+1 800 327 9633/ http://www.alamo.com) Avis (+1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com) Budget (+1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com) Dollar (+1 800 4000/ http://www.dollar.com ) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com National (+1 800 227 7368/ http://www.nationalcar.com)

Chicago Midway Airport

Train: Chicago's famed El (short for elevated train) (+1 888 968 7282/http://www.transitchicago.com) is the cheapest and quickest option for getting downtown. The CTA orange line will take you to downtown Chicago in 30 minutes. One way fare is currently USD2.


Taxi: Taxis are found outside the terminal, near the baggage claim. For a ride to downtown Chicago expect to pay USD25-USD35.
ACE Taxi (+1 773 381 8000)
American United Cab Association (+1 773 327 6161)
Blue Diamond (+1 312 226 8880)
Yellow Cab Affliation, Inc (+1 773 907 0020)


Car Rental: Rentals can be conveniently picked up and dropped off at the second floor of the parking garage of Midway Airport. Rental companies available include:
Avis (+1 331 1212)
Alamo (+1 800 327 9633/ http://www.alamo.com)
Budget (+1 800 527 7000/ http://www.budget.com)
Dollar (+1 800 800 4000/ http://www.dollar.com)
Enterprise (+1 566 9249/ http://www.enterprise.com)
Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com)
National (+1 800 227 7368/ http://www.nationalcar.com)
Thrifty (+1 800 527 7075/ http://www.thrifty.com)

Shuttle:
Omega Airport Shuttle
+1 773 734 6688
http://www.omegashuttle.com
Call to inquire about home pick-ups. From Southside to Midway Airport expect to pay USD 20.

Train

Union Station national hub. Consequently, Chicago receives more passenger train service than any other city in the country. Thirteen train lines huff into Chicago and include the California Zephyr, running between Chicago and San Francisco, the Cardinal, linking Chicago and Washington D.C., and the Lake Shore Limited, which connects Chicago with Boston or New York.

Bus

Greyhound (+1 800 231 2222/ http://www.greyhound.com/) accesses Chicago daily from every direction. The downtown bus station, (+1 312 408 5800), located at 630 Harrison Street, is open 24 hours. For discounted fares, Megabus (+1 877 GO2 MEGA/ http://www.megabus.com) offers travel to destinations throughout the Midwest.

Highway

Interstate 55 (Adlai Stevenson Expressway), the main connection from St. Louis, zips into Chicago via a southwest direction, terminating at Lake Shore Drive. Interstate 90 merges with Interstate 94 just south of the city and then parallels the lake shore through the city before branching off in Chicago's northwest corner. Interstate 290 (Eisenhower Expressway) begins near the northern suburb of Buffalo Grove, before bending into downtown directly from the west. Interstate 294 (Tri-State Tollway) ribbons through Chicago's western suburbs in a north/south direction. Interstate 88 comes in from the west and Interstate 80 skirts past the southern edge of the city.

Getting Around

Public Transit

The city of "big shoulders" is also a city of big public transportation options. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) (+1 888 968 7282/http://www.transitchicago.com/) services downtown and 38 suburbs, transporting an amazing 1.3 million riders a day. The El (elevated train) ranks as its crown jewel and, in many ways, joins Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower as the true symbols of the city. It offers 289 miles of track with five separate lines. Depending on the time of day, all stops are serviced every 5-20 minutes. One-way fares cost USD1.75 and exact change is required.

The Metra Commuter Railroad (+1 312 322 6777/ http://www.metrarail.com) boasts 12 lines, 495 miles of track and 230 stations while servicing the counties of Cook, Dupage, Kane, McHenry and Will. One-way fares range from USD1.85-6.95.

CTA's bus service is extremely efficient, attending stops every 5-10 minutes during weekday rush hours, and every 8-20 minutes in the evenings. Stops are conveniently located every one or two blocks and are designated by blue and white signs. Fares: USD1.75.

PACE (+1 847 364 7223/http://www.pacebus) is the fourteenth largest bus system in North America. Its seven lines feature 240 routes. Stops are serviced every 20-30 minutes during peak hours. Fares: USD1.75.

Taxi

Cabs are extremely easy to hail along Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the Loop and in Lincoln Park. Otherwise it is best to call. Some of the more noted companies include:

Coral Cab (+1 773 488 0122) Checker Cab (+1 243 2537) Famous Cab (+1 773 643 4330) Flash Cab (+1 773 561 1444) Mercury Cab (+1 773 274 3108)

Boat

Wendella Commuter Boats (+1 312 337 1446/http://www.wendellariverbus.com) usher riders daily via water taxis between the Madison Street and Michigan Avenue commuter train stations. Hours: 7:45a-7p M-F; 9a-7p Sa-Su. Fares: USD3 one-way, USD4 roundtrip. Shoreline Sightseeing (+1 312 222 9328/http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com) offers limited water taxi service 10AM-6PM daily between late May and early September. It shuttles between the Navy Pier and Shedd Aquarium along Lake Michigan, and also transports passengers up the Chicago River to the Sears Tower. Fares: USD6 for a one-day ticket.

Car

Chicago's wide streets and well-placed expressways make it relatively easy to drive when compared to most other major cities. However, attempting to find available parking will seem more like a myth rather than a reality.

Downtown attractions such as the Shedd Aquarium, the Sears Tower, and the Magnificent Mile are all relatively close making walking a fantastic travel option.

Bike

Chicago's famed Lakefront Bike Path should serve as a universal blueprint for every city bike path. It hugs the Lake Michigan shore in a north/south direction passing beaches and marinas and accessing every major Chicago attraction including the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park.