Chicago Midway Airport (MDW): Everything You need to know before your trip

One of the most historic in American aviation and one of the most convenient, Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is just eight miles from downtown Chicago, just south of the city's core. Midway carries over 22 million passengers a year with flights connecting people to dozens of domestic and international cities. The compact and easy-to-navigate Midway Airport is Chicago's go-to airport for proximity and is Southwest Airlines' largest hub in the country. While most people will default to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) when flying into or out of Chicago, Midway is a simpler alternative.

What is Chicago Midway International Airport?

The Chicago Midway International Airport (also referred to as Midway Airport or MDW) is the primary commercial airport operated by the City of Chicago's Department of Aviation. Midway Airport is located in the Chicago neighborhoods of Clearing and Garfield Ridge and is situated just eight miles southwest of downtown Chicago, making it one of Chicago's most convenient airports.

It's the second-largest airport in the city and the second-largest in Illinois. Southwest Airlines calls Midway International Airport its largest hub, having more departures from MDW than any other airport in its entire network. However, there are several other airlines that fly into and out of Chicago Midway, including Volaris, Frontier, and Delta. MDW is comprised of one terminal split between three concourses, which many passengers consider to be among the easiest to navigate major airports in the United States.

Key Identifiers

History of MDW

Chicago Midway International Airport has experienced an incredible tale of the highs, the lows, and a resurgence of epic proportions.

The land where Midway now stands was utilized as an airfield as early as 1923, then informally known as Chicago Air Park. In 1926, the city of Chicago leased the field for a commercial venture, and on December 12, 1927, it was officially dedicated as Chicago Municipal Airport, with the airport already providing airmail, express, and passenger service. It was this same year that the first airmail plane landed here from Omaha, Nebraska, piloted by Captain Ira O. Biffle, who taught Charles Lindbergh everything about flying, and the airport was just 6 months behind Lindbergh's transatlantic flight, catching all of the frenzy and enthusiasm that came with the air age.

Growth was phenomenal and instantaneous; 1928 saw the field boast 12 hangars and 4 runways lightened for nighttime flight, carrying nearly 40,000 passengers along 15,000 flights. By 1931, a functional terminal and administration building had been erected at 62nd Street, passenger numbers reached over 100,000, and that year, Chicago Municipal Airport declared itself to be the world's busiest airport - it was correct. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the airport developed further into America's commercial aviation hub; airlines such as United, American, and TWA operated heavily from the field. 

Terminals and Concourses

Midway International Airport in Chicago only has one passenger terminal and it is made up of three concourses: A, B, and C. All three concourses are linked post-security by the Central Market space, so it is not required for passengers to take a train or clear security again in order to move from gate to gate.

Arrivals are on Level 1 (Lower Level), and check-in, ticketing, and departures take place on Level 2 (Upper Level). Midway's structure is designed so that it is easy, and the walking distance between two points in the terminal is less than ten minutes.

Note: Southwest dominates Concourses A and B of MDW, which provides it with 229 daily departures out of MDW, which is more departures than any other single U.S. Airport that Southwest serves. Concourse B is the biggest concourse of the two, offering more facilities and services (especially the broadest dining and retail options). All private charter departures out of MDW only utilize Concourse C, which provides three charter aircraft gates.

MDW airport lounges

MDW did not have an airport lounge during most of its nearly 100-year history, but this changed in 2024. Today, MDW has two airport lounges that you can access.

The Club MDW (Central Market - concourses A & B)

USO Lounge (Concourse C)

Ways to and from MDW

Midway is considered one of the most accessible airports in the United States, and that's all due to its direct link to downtown Chicago via the CTA Orange Line.

CTA Orange Line (Rapid Transit): The fastest and most common route from Midway into downtown Chicago. Travel to the Loop will take approximately 30 minutes. The Orange Line station is physically attached to the terminal itself, and it is a no-transfer commute.

Pace Bus: Pace runs its own regional bus system from Midway to many surrounding Chicago suburbs, including those within Cook and DuPage counties.

CTA Bus: Many routes for the Chicago Transit Authority system stop at Midway station for direct connection to neighborhoods all over Chicago and other transit hubs.

Metra (River Valley Metro at Midway): Connect at Midway station with select Metra routes servicing communities south and southwest of the city.

Rideshare & Taxis: Traditional taxis, as well as Uber and Lyft, are available at the Ground Transportation area on the arrivals level (level 1). Pickup zones for rideshares are clearly marked.

Car Rentals: Major rental car companies all have services at Midway and can be accessed by shuttle bus. This complimentary shuttle runs every 15 minutes available 24/7.

Parking at MDW

MDW has various parking levels that correspond to trip length and price, in addition to the covered 1999 structure (updated in the Midway Modernization Program), which is directly connected to the MDW terminal.

How it works:

• You can pre-book your parking space through the main MDW or CDA website.

• The main garage includes electric car charging points that were implemented as part of the 2023 modernization.

• Hourly rates and daily rates will fluctuate according to the season and demand - the airport website is recommended to check before traveling.

• Economy lots provide significant savings when parking for a trip of 2-3 days or more.