Getting Around Chicago
There are many ways to access the city and to keep moving while you are here.
Chicago International Airports
Chicago is home to two international airports conveniently located in the center of the country, with thousands of daily inbound and outbound flights to more than 240 destinations.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Multi-award-winning, environmentally conscious O’Hare (ORD) is one of the largest airports in the world. It lies just 16 miles from downtown Chicago and boasts four terminals — three domestic (Terminals 1, 2, and 3) and one international (Terminal 5).
Chicago Midway International Airport
Midway (MDW) is the nation’s premier point-to-point airport, offering value-oriented leisure and business travel to over 60 destinations. It’s located only 11 miles from downtown Chicago.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Multi-award-winning, environmentally conscious O’Hare (ORD) is one of the largest airports in the world. It lies just 16 miles from downtown Chicago and boasts four terminals — three domestic (Terminals 1, 2, and 3) and one international (Terminal 5).
Chicago Midway International Airport
Midway (MDW) is the nation’s premier point-to-point airport, offering value-oriented leisure and business travel to over 60 destinations. It’s located only 11 miles from downtown Chicago.
Chicago Amtrak and Metra Commuter Train Systems
Chicago’s iconic Union Station in downtown Chicago was originally designed by Daniel Burnham and first opened to the public in 1925. Today, the stunning building is one of the nation’s busiest rail stations, serving both national Amtrak trains and local Metra lines to northeast Illinois.
Just across the street, Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves the three commuter rail lines of Metra’s Union Pacific District. There are also two Metra stations in the Loop: Millennium Station on the Metra Electric District line and LaSalle Street Station on the Rock Island District Line.
Amtrak has 21,000 miles of routes across the United States and Canada. Amtrak offers more than 300 high-speed trains to more than 500 destinations daily.
Metra, the high-speed commuter rail train connecting outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago, is a fast and easy way to travel to the heart of the city.
Union Pacific Northwest Line: Runs between the Northwest suburbs and downtown Chicago, terminating at Ogilvie Transportation Center (Madison & Canal Streets).
Milwaukee District West Line: Connects the Northwest suburbs to downtown Chicago via Union Station (Canal Street between Adams & Jackson).
South Shore Line serves Chicago through Northern Indiana to the South Bend Airport.
Just across the street, Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves the three commuter rail lines of Metra’s Union Pacific District. There are also two Metra stations in the Loop: Millennium Station on the Metra Electric District line and LaSalle Street Station on the Rock Island District Line.
Amtrak has 21,000 miles of routes across the United States and Canada. Amtrak offers more than 300 high-speed trains to more than 500 destinations daily.
Metra, the high-speed commuter rail train connecting outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago, is a fast and easy way to travel to the heart of the city.
Union Pacific Northwest Line: Runs between the Northwest suburbs and downtown Chicago, terminating at Ogilvie Transportation Center (Madison & Canal Streets).
Milwaukee District West Line: Connects the Northwest suburbs to downtown Chicago via Union Station (Canal Street between Adams & Jackson).
South Shore Line serves Chicago through Northern Indiana to the South Bend Airport.
Chicago Highways & Interstates, Buses, and Taxis & Rideshare
Highways & Interstates
Chicago’s central location and its position as a hub for the nation’s major interstates make it a convenient drive from anywhere in the country.
Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway).
PACE Bus Service
One of the largest suburban bus services in the U.S. Covers 3,500 square miles with 193 fixed routes serving Chicago, suburbs, and convention areas.
Taxis & Rideshare
In addition to hailing taxis throughout the city, you can e-hail and e-pay with apps ARRO and Curb. Credit cards are accepted in all taxis.
Download Lyft and/or Uber for on-demand ridesharing throughout the city. Simply enter your current location and destination, review fare options, and request your ride.
Chicago’s central location and its position as a hub for the nation’s major interstates make it a convenient drive from anywhere in the country.
Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway).
PACE Bus Service
One of the largest suburban bus services in the U.S. Covers 3,500 square miles with 193 fixed routes serving Chicago, suburbs, and convention areas.
Taxis & Rideshare
In addition to hailing taxis throughout the city, you can e-hail and e-pay with apps ARRO and Curb. Credit cards are accepted in all taxis.
Download Lyft and/or Uber for on-demand ridesharing throughout the city. Simply enter your current location and destination, review fare options, and request your ride.
Chicago Transit System
The nation’s second-largest public transportation system, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), operates Chicago’s eight ‘L’ train lines and 127 bus routes.
CTA Trains
Not all of the system’s train lines are elevated (which is where the term ‘L’ comes from). The color-coded system connects the city via above-ground, street-level, and subway trains, and serves 145 rail stations all over town. Three lines operate 24/7: the Blue Line, which connects Chicago O’Hare International Airport and downtown, the Orange line, which connects Midway International Airport and downtown, and the Red Line, with service between the North and South Sides via downtown. The CTA is a fast and affordable way to get to and from Chicago’s international airports:
Blue Line service from O’Hare to downtown takes about 40 minutes.
Orange Line service from Midway to downtown takes about 25 minutes.
Train fare is $2.50 per ride, with reduced fares and unlimited day passes available. The Blue Line from O’Hare costs $5.
CTA Buses
Convenient CTA bus routes travel throughout the city, with stops every few blocks. The CTA bus system includes more than 120 lines that cover 1,516 miles and serve over 10,000 bus stops throughout Chicago.
Bus fare is $2.25 per ride, with reduced fares and unlimited day passes available.
How to get CTA train and bus tickets
There are a few ways you can pay for your bus and train fare:
Cash: Cash can be used directly on Chicago buses; train fare cannot be paid directly with cash.
Ventra vending machines: You can buy disposable paper tickets and reloadable cards at Ventra vending machines (located in every ‘L’ station).
Retail locations: More than 1,000 local businesses sell reloadable Ventra cards.
Mobile pay apps: Ventra readers can accept contactless payments directly from mobile devices, using Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.
CTA Trains
Not all of the system’s train lines are elevated (which is where the term ‘L’ comes from). The color-coded system connects the city via above-ground, street-level, and subway trains, and serves 145 rail stations all over town. Three lines operate 24/7: the Blue Line, which connects Chicago O’Hare International Airport and downtown, the Orange line, which connects Midway International Airport and downtown, and the Red Line, with service between the North and South Sides via downtown. The CTA is a fast and affordable way to get to and from Chicago’s international airports:
Blue Line service from O’Hare to downtown takes about 40 minutes.
Orange Line service from Midway to downtown takes about 25 minutes.
Train fare is $2.50 per ride, with reduced fares and unlimited day passes available. The Blue Line from O’Hare costs $5.
CTA Buses
Convenient CTA bus routes travel throughout the city, with stops every few blocks. The CTA bus system includes more than 120 lines that cover 1,516 miles and serve over 10,000 bus stops throughout Chicago.
Bus fare is $2.25 per ride, with reduced fares and unlimited day passes available.
How to get CTA train and bus tickets
There are a few ways you can pay for your bus and train fare:
Cash: Cash can be used directly on Chicago buses; train fare cannot be paid directly with cash.
Ventra vending machines: You can buy disposable paper tickets and reloadable cards at Ventra vending machines (located in every ‘L’ station).
Retail locations: More than 1,000 local businesses sell reloadable Ventra cards.
Mobile pay apps: Ventra readers can accept contactless payments directly from mobile devices, using Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.
