<p>Up to this point we have only traveled into Chicago by train. I need advice regarding how much time to allow for travel in and out of airports. For example, if we have a flight leaving Midway at 7:30, what time should we leave the city? When traveling during AM or PM rush hour how much additional time should we allow? We hope to use public transportation when possible. I’d love advise for both Midway and O’Hare. Thanks!</p>
<p>Assuming that your hotel is near the Orange Line (Midway) or Blue Line (O’Hare), allow about an hour for travel time and another hour for dealing with the airport. I say this as someone who does not believe in checking bags. Rush hour shouldn’t change this calculation very much. You might have to stand up for a couple of stops until the train is out of the Loop – otherwise, it’s the same.</p>
<p>Thanks! That is exactly what I needed :)</p>
<p>A lot also depends on where you’re traveling from. From Hyde Park, Midway is a no-brainer. Much closer and easier than O’hare whether by car or public transit. </p>
<p>From downtown, Midway is still a shorter trip, but not by as much. Depending on your starting point, O’hare can take well over an hour, and involve a nasty change of trains.</p>
<p>D will be going to Loyola, so travel will be from either downtown campus or the Lakeshore campus, which at very northern edge of Chicago. Based on comments, it sounds as if Midway is more “commuter friendly”.</p>
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<p>But you can take the Metra out to O’Hare from Union station in about a half hour. Much more comfortable than the El, too. It doesn’t run as often as the El, but it’s much quicker.</p>
<p>OP, you asked about 7:30, but you didn’t say if that was AM or PM.</p>
<p><a href=“http://metrarail.com/Sched/ncs/ncs_wkout.shtml[/url]”>http://metrarail.com/Sched/ncs/ncs_wkout.shtml</a></p>
<p>Actually 7:30 could be AM or PM depending if we are coming or going. We have not tried the Metra as of yet. Chicago has so many options! DH and I will be going to visit as well (Chicago is a great town) so travel will be varied.</p>
<p>downtown to Midway is easy. </p>
<p>Lakeshore Loyola Campus to Ohare or Midway is a bit lengthly unless one is brave enough to take a cross town bus, in which case Ohare becomes a lot easier.</p>
<p>Wow, according to the CTA site both trips take about 1 1/2 hours via the “L”. I am hoping when we get to orientation we can get some transportation tips!
How “brave” does one need to be to take the cross town bus?</p>
<p>Loyola lake shore doesn’t present a good route to either airport. The system is designed to take you between the airports and the center of the city. Loyola is in the northeast corner of the city, near Evanston.</p>
<p>Loyola downtown isn’t that big a deal – just take the Red line to the Blue or Orange.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! At least both routes are pretty straight forward. I guess time will tell which one works best for us.</p>
<p>The only “bravery” needed for taking a cross town bus is the courage to find the schedule, route number and the bus stop. The neighborhoods themselves are fine. </p>
<p>check out the CTAA website, and please don’t be afraid of the bus. D took it many times from Midway airport to UofC, and that was through some much iffier neighborhoods.</p>
<p>Watch the baseball game schedule. If cubbies are playing the red line can go slow and be crowded. Cubs still play day games.</p>
<p>I would also advise you NOT to use the map-my-trip feature of the CTA or RTA site. It will almost always create a trip using more transportation than necessary (two trains and two buses, when a different train line with a two-block walk does the same thing). If you call and speak to someone on the phone, it’s much better… well, when you can actually get someone on the phone.</p>
<p>All I remember from the 3 years we lived in Chicago was that OHare was enormous; often lost our luggage; very time-consuming to garage-park and then walk to terminal. </p>
<p>Midway is smaller and felt less complicated, less stressful.</p>
<p>Whenever I could choose, I chose Midway simply because it felt more user-friendly. Ground transportation wasn’t our issue, so I can’t compare them on that.</p>
<p>Loyola Lakeshore is a lot closer to O’Hare.<br>
From Midway, you would take the Orange line to downtown and switch to the Red Line. You would take the Red Line to Loyola.
I’m not quite sure what would be the best way from O’Hare.</p>
<p>While it looks as if O’Hare may be closer “as the crow flies”, there doesn’t seem to be a direct route. Based on other comments I think we will probably give Midway a try first.</p>
<p>So that brings the next question. How far is the Orange Line stop from the airport itself? Does it go right to the airport, or do you need to take additional transportation?</p>
<p>The Orange Line dumps you off in Midway airport. No further transporation to take. You walk directly from the stop (it’s actually the end of the Orange Line) to the ticketing desks, and it’s all indoor covered walkways. I’d say it’s at most a five minute walk from getting off the train to the ticketing agents.</p>
<p>I should also add, and you’d know this through some of my other posts in other threads that I always pick Midway over O’Hare when possible, and I live in the north/northwest suburbs of Chicago. When we drive down there (sometimes I take the Metra into the city bypassing O’Hare, then take the Orange Line out to Midway) it adds about 25 minutes to our car trip, but to me it’s worth it. I’m a huge fan of Southwest Airlines and they only fly out of Midway.</p>
<p>That sounds just perfect! It does sound as though even if Midway is a bit farther, it is worth the extra time. Southwest does have some great deals. Thanks so much to everyone for all your help!!</p>