Airport Showdown: Your Ultimate Guide to Midway Vs. O'Hare

O'Hare is huge, but Midway is mighty—in its own smaller, quieter way. Which you choose depends on timing, pricing and personal preference. Compare features before you book your airline reservations to make sure your trip is as comfortable, convenient and uncomplicated as possible. Here's what you need to know about Midway vs. O'Hare.

Big Numbers and Why They Matter

About seven million passengers pass through 189 aircraft gates at Chicago O'Hare International Airport each month. Chicago Midway International Airport serves about two million passengers per month through 43 aircraft gates. O'Hare wins for size and the number of passengers it serves, but pick the one that suits your traveling preferences if you have the option to use either airport. If you enjoy the thrill of travel surrounded by lots of activity and people, the bigger, busier O'Hare is a great way to go. If a quieter, casual pace is more your style, Midway is the better option.

Tackling Ground Transportation

Expect to spend about $40 for a taxi from O'Hare to downtown Chicago. The average fare from Midway to downtown is around $30, but before declaring Midway Airport the winner in this category, consider the reality. Weather conditions, road construction delays and heavy traffic can cause the fare to be higher—though rarely lower—from either airport.

Although there's no clear taxi fare advantage from either airport, you could be a winner if you're inclined to use public transportation. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Orange Line train between Midway and the city is affordable and the ride takes about 25 minutes. Ticket prices and timing are similar for the CTA Blue Line train between the city and O'Hare. Pace buses (the suburban branch of the Regional Transportation Authority) cost only a nominal amount and you'll have a chance to enjoy the scenery if you're not pressed for time.

What to Do While Waiting

It happens—flights get delayed, you got to the airport early or you have a long layover between connections. When you have time to kill at O'Hare, you're in luck. The airport offers spas where you can get a massage, a facial or a manicure. The play area in Terminal Two is ideal for keeping kids entertained during the wait. If you're a business traveler, private lounges with WiFi and comfortable seating make it easy to concentrate on projects.

The amenities are minimal at the much smaller Chicago Midway Airport. There's a quiet "Mother's Room" where you can calm a fussy child, and older kids might be briefly entertained by the WWII fighter plane suspended overhead in Concourse C—it commemorates the Battle of Midway from which the airport got its name. WiFi is available throughout the airport. The first 30 minutes of access are free, but there's a charge for additional usage time.

Snacks, Dining and Getting a Drink

Midway wins in one key culinary category—authentic Chicago deli food. Manny's Deli (Main Terminal, Concourse A, Gate A5) serves up juicy Reuben sandwiches, matzo soup and potato pancakes like the ones featured in its traditional family-owned Chicago restaurant. Several other classic city restaurants and bars are in the food court, along with well-known fast food chain outlets.

But O'Hare Airport wins the overall culinary showdown for the sheer number and variety of food options it offers. Your choices range from the casually elegant Tuscany Cafe (Terminal One, Concourse B, Gate B18) with full table service and a selection of domestic wines, to the quick, easy and healthy B-Smooth Smoothies and Salads (Terminal Three, Concourse K, Gate K4). Each of the five terminals has restaurants, snack stops, bars and coffee shops, and you can wander freely between terminals to find your favorite.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in Chicago.