Chicago area airports

[JudithM]

I might be flying to Chicago later this year. I know O'Hare is a larger airport, but any suggestions/advice on the area airports - O'Hare, Midway or Milwaukee? Thank you.

 

[Ithastobe]

I'm not sure what kind of advise you are looking for....

Personally, I like Midway. It is a nice airport with a new addition recently added, and less crowded than O'Hare. It is on the South Side of Chicago.

Milwaukee is o.k. too, just may not be easy to get as many direct flights as O'Hare or Midway....

 

[RAD]

I don't know why ORD gets such a bad rap. Yea it's big but frankly I've had just as long as a walk getting to the gate in places such as Austin TX or Milwaukee.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

I think midway or ohare (never been to milwaukee's) are both easy to get around and well signed. However, they are both a bit away from the main part of the city (if that's where you are traveling). o'hare is on the north west side and midway on the south side. Making it a cab ride, bus, or rental car to the main city. Of course, if you are traveling to a certain part of chicago, or vicinity north side, oak park, etc... pick which one you would be closer to or pick which one your air line flies to.

MKY ( prefers midway cause joliet is south of chicago)

 

[Trekker]

I've used all 3 many times - Go with the one that has the best deal for you:

Time of day
Price
dirent flights
Etc...

None of them are hard to get around - they all are really great IMO.

 

[marn913]

I agree that both Chicago airports are fine - well signed and fairly easy to get in and out of. I prefer Midway, but that's mainly because I usually fly smaller carriers like ATA and Southwest and the prices are usually better flying out of Midway. If you're coming specifically to visit Chicago I wouldn't recommend flying into Milwaukee (it's a bit far!). If you fly into either airport here there is also public transportation (the "el trains" ) the blue line runs from O'hare into downtown and I think the orange line runs from Midway. It only costs a couple bucks! A cab will cost you ~$30-$50 depending on the traffic and the airport you come in from. Good luck!

 

[plutospup]

I often have used O'Hare, and never had a problem. Living on the NW side of Chicago, it was very convienent.

 

[atigeg]

I too would say go with where you get the best deal. Midway used to be a lot smaller and simpler than O'Hare, but it underwent a major renovation and now they are more similar, at least in my opinion. Everything at Midway used to be just a short walk away, but now you have to hike a bit. But neither one is all that bad...even at O'Hare, I've never run into a major delay and the security lines have been very reasonable.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[JudithM]

Thank you all for the replies. If we go, we'll be north of Chicago near Waukegan. Plus we have friends in Milwaukee, so that is why we might consider that airport.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

If you will be near Waukegan you should use either O'Hare or Milwaukee (Mitchell Field--that is, General Mitchell International Airport). Considering that Mitchell is actually about 8 miles south of downtown Milwaukee and Waukegan is pretty far north of Chicago, Waukegan might be closer to Mitchell than to O'Hare! In any case, I'd bet it's a quicker drive. You would not want to go all the way from Midway to Waukegan unless the airfare were a real bargain.

Ralph

 

[Ralph&Pam]

If you will be near Waukegan you should use either O'Hare or Milwaukee (Mitchell Field--that is, General Mitchell International Airport). Considering that Mitchell is actually about 8 miles south of downtown Milwaukee and Waukegan is pretty far north of Chicago, Waukegan might be closer to Mitchell than to O'Hare! In any case, I'd bet it's a quicker drive. You would not want to go all the way from Midway to Waukegan unless the airfare were a real bargain.

Ralph

 

[RAD]

If you're in Waukegan then Milwaukee would be OK as long as you find a good flight price/time. We used them once on Midwest Express about 2 years ago. I was really disappointed in the airline, flights both ways were late by almost two hours. Their food wasn't at all as good as people say it is, the fruit cup on the breakfast service was frozen solid. A good point is that the garage for parking charged less then the remote lot at ORD.

 

[drusba]

Midway is too far away from Waukegan. Ohare is only slightly closer than Milwaukee. Assuming deal is OK I would go with Milwaukee. Reason: trip from north side of Chicago (O'Hare) to Waukegan is via the Eden's expressway which during busy times of day (6 to 10 a.m., 4 to 8 p.m.) can be traffic from hell. I have had trips from Chicago to Waukegan which have taken only one hour and then I have had others that have taken 4 hours. Milwaukee coming down to Waukegan will be fine because you don't hit traffic jam going into Chicago until after passing Waukegan.