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MDWKMDW

Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, US

Airportist Score

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MDWGuide

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MDWKMDWModerate

Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, United States · North America

Compact Southwest-dominated city airport with excellent CTA Orange Line access and a real Priority Pass lounge, traded against bank crowds and weak on-time reliability.

Airportist Score

7.4/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.2
Comfort & amenities7.0
Food & retail7.4
Ground access8.8
Reliability5.4
Lounges6.8

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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Flying from Chicago?

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MDWGuide

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All airports Official site

MDWKMDWModerate

Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, United States · North America

Compact Southwest-dominated city airport with excellent CTA Orange Line access and a real Priority Pass lounge, traded against bank crowds and weak on-time reliability.

Airportist Score

7.4/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.2
Comfort & amenities7.0
Food & retail7.4
Ground access8.8
Reliability5.4
Lounges6.8

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare MDW with another airport

Typical security
18 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
20–45 min
Uber / Lyft / rideshare
Cheapest to city
CTA Orange Line
$ · 20–25 min
Lounges
3
2 rated worth it
On time
71%
of departures
Terminals
1
terminal (3 concourses A/B/C)

All 3 lounges at MDW
MDW security wait times

8 photos

MDWGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Beat Southwest banks or pay in stress

Arrive 90–120 minutes early for morning and late-afternoon Southwest banks; off-peak security is often quick in this single-checkpoint layout.

PreCheck/CLEAR help; live TSA waits are on the CDA site/app. Runway 22L is closed for repairs until about mid-November 2026, so check your flight status before leaving. The Orange Line does not run overnight; use the N62 owl bus or rideshare for red-eyes.

Terminal

One building, three short concourses

After security, Central Market feeds A (south), B (west), and tiny C (north)—no trains, no people-movers, just walking.

International arrivals use FIS on A; connecting to a domestic departure usually means re-clearing security—budget time.

Food

Eat at Central Market, not the gate stub

Hit Central Market / Concourse A food hall for Chicago-flavored spots instead of settling for the nearest gate snack case.

Midway Partnership refresh brought stronger local brands airside; landside options are thinner—eat after screening when you can.

Status

One real lounge, not a lounge campus

Priority Pass, LoungeKey or a Club pass (from about $67 online) for The Club MDW; no airline clubs and no Centurion/Chase Sapphire Lounge here.

Priority Pass lists The Club (04:00 to 22:00, Saturday to 20:00) and Gameway on A (gaming hour, not a quiet club).

Live conditions

Right now at MDW

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Southwest flyers who want Chicago without O’Hare sprawl
Downtown trips via the CTA Orange Line
Priority Pass holders using The Club MDW
Short domestic connections inside one security zone

Watch out for

Southwest departure banks crowding security and holdrooms
About 71% on-time departures (BTS, 12 months to July 2026) and Runway 22L closed until about mid-November 2026
Orange Line is not overnight; owl bus or rideshare for red-eyes
No airline clubs; Gameway is entertainment, not a quiet lounge

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.2

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.0

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.4

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

8.8

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

5.4

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

6.8

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

19.4M

Terminals

1 terminal (3 concourses A/B/C)

On-time departures

71%

Typical security

18 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for MDW.

Updated Oct 23, 2026

Single terminal with three airside concourses (A/B/C, ~43 gates); one security zone
Southwest fortress (~90%+ of passengers); also Frontier, Delta, Volaris, Allegiant and seasonal ULCC metal
~19.4M passengers in 2025 (CDA ACFR); Chicago’s closer-in alternative to O’Hare
CTA Orange Line station connected by enclosed walkway — ~20–25 min / $2.50 to the Loop
The Club MDW (Central Market) is Midway’s first shared-use lounge (opened Sep 2024); Priority Pass, LoungeKey and Club passes from about $67 online
Compact and walkable, but Southwest banks, about 71% on-time departures (BTS, 12 months to July 2026) and the Runway 22L closure until about mid-November 2026 punish thin buffers

8 official sources

https://www.flychicago.com/midway
https://www.flychicago.com/midway/tofrom/publictransit/pages/default.aspx
https://www.flychicago.com/midway/tofrom/taxi/pages/default.aspx
https://www.flychicago.com/midway/ServicesAmenities/services/Pages/ClubMDW.aspx
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doa/provdrs/dbata/news/2026/October/10202026.html
https://www.transitchicago.com/orangeline/
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/midway-international
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/fin/supp_info/CAFR/2025CAFR/2025%20Midway%20-%20Annual%20Comprehensive%20Financial%20Reports%20(ACFR)_06.30.26.pdf

Full guide

Explore the MDW guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Chicago Midway International Airport, the Chicago city center, and 4 other airports in the city
City center4 other airports
View Map
Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / Lyft / rideshareCheapest: CTA Orange Line
View Getting There
Lounges
3 lounges with access rules, hours, and verdicts. 2 rated worth it.
The Club MDWUSO Midway
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Default downtown move is the Orange Line: follow “CTA Trains / Trains to City,” walk the enclosed connector, tap Ventra or contactless ($2.50 ‘L’ fare). It is cheaper and often more predictable than surge rideshare.
13 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
CTA Orange Line hookupThe Club MDWCentral Market dining
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
2 spots2 free or refill
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Chicago Midway International Airport, the Chicago city center, and 4 other airports in the city

This airport MDW
City center Chicago
Other airports DPA, ORD, PWK, RFD

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One modern passenger terminal (major rebuild opened 2004 era; continuous concession refresh under Midway Partnership) spans ticketing, security, Central Market, and three piers.
Concourse A: Long pier with a large share of Southwest plus international/FIS activity (Volaris and other border flows). Some tip-end gates are a longer walk—check the board before grabbing food.
Concourse B: Busiest domestic pier for Southwest; also hosts other domestic carriers depending on the day’s assignments.
Concourse C: Short stub with a handful of gates—easy walk from Central Market.
There is no airside train and no need to re-clear when staying sterile between A/B/C.
Ticketing/check-in and baggage claim sit landside along the Cicero-facing terminal; parking garage attaches directly; rental-car buses use the lower-level curb to the consolidated RAC on 55th Street.
Wayfinding is generally straightforward English signage; crowds around Central Market and B holdrooms are the real navigation friction, not maze-like corridors.
Smoking is not an indoor terminal feature—assume outdoor only where marked.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

CTA Orange Line: Best default for Loop / ‘L’ network connections. Enclosed walk to Midway station; about 20 to 25 minutes downtown; $2.50 with Ventra or contactless. Trains run from about 3:30 a.m. on weekdays until about 1:05 a.m., not overnight. From 04:00 on 24 Oct to 02:00 on 26 Oct 2026, Loop track work means trains run Midway to Roosevelt only, with S1 shuttle buses on to Clinton.
CTA / Pace buses: Multiple local and suburban routes serve the Midway Transportation Center; useful when the Orange Line does not match your neighborhood.
Taxi: Lower-level Door 2 stand; downtown often ~$35–40 depending on traffic. Wheelchair-accessible taxis via Curb Mobility (888-928-2277 / 888-WAV-CABS).
Rideshare: Lower-level center-lane color zones (Doors 2–4). Expect variable pricing; still often competitive with taxi for small groups heading outside the Loop rail shed.
Shared ride: CDA-posted flat per-person examples include downtown/McCormick Place $18 and O’Hare $35 when a share is available.
Rental cars: On-airport consolidated facility at 5150 W. 55th St with lower-level shuttle curb pickup/drop-off (Door 3 area per CDA map).
Parking: Terminal garage (hourly/daily) attaches to the terminal; economy garage and surface lot at 5050 W. 55th St. CDA lists the Daily Lot (5400 S. Kilpatrick Ave.) as temporarily closed. Booking ahead is wise on peak travel days.
To O’Hare: Plan a ground transfer; there is no direct airside connector. Shared-ride, taxi, or transit+transfer are the realistic options.

Ride to Chicago

Pickup at MDW. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Chicago city center for a live price.

To city center

Chicago

~14 km

Typical fare

$35–40

From Chicago Taxi notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Chicago — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

CTA Orange Line

Enclosed walk to Midway station; elevated ‘L’ to the Loop and connections across CTA.

Time to city

20–25 min

Cost

$

Tip: Standard $2.50 fare (not O’Hare’s premium Blue Line price). Runs from about 3:30 a.m. (weekdays) to about 1:05 a.m., not 24/7.

Best for luggage

Chicago Taxi

Metered taxis from lower-level Door 2 stand.

Time to city

20–40 min

Cost

$$

Tip: Downtown often ~$35–40 in normal traffic; WAV taxis via Curb Mobility. Shared-ride flats posted for downtown/McCormick ($18 pp) and ORD ($35 pp) when available.

Fastest

Uber / Lyft / rideshare

Lower-level center-lane color zones at Doors 2–4.

Time to city

20–45 min

Cost

$$

Tip: Skip the upper departures curb; follow baggage-claim rideshare signs to the marked zones.

Terminal garage / economy lots

Attached terminal garage plus economy parking on 55th Street; rental-car shuttle to 5150 W. 55th St.

Time to city

N/A

Cost

$$

Tip: CDA lists the Daily Lot as temporarily closed; book ahead on peaks.

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Worth it

Central Market (between Concourses A and B)

Midway’s first shared-use lounge (opened 26 Sep 2024) in Central Market, past security opposite the food court and just before Concourse B. Bar with local beers and spirits, food included, runway views, power at about 90% of seats (CDA). Priority Pass and LoungeKey members can enter 2.5 hours before departure (2.5-hour max stay on Priority Pass); Club pass guests 3 hours before. Infants under 2 free.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey · Day pass

Hours: 04:00–22:00, Saturday 04:00–20:00

Amenities: Food included · Bar with local beers and spirits · Wi-Fi · Power at most seats · Runway views

Best for: Priority Pass holders · Work sessions with power + views · Anyone escaping Southwest gate crowds

Full access guide

Depends

Concourse A

Private gaming stations before the Concourse A Food Hall. Fun Priority Pass experience, not a quiet lounge. A visit is 1 hour of gaming plus a snack and soft drink, or 1 hour plus one alcoholic drink (21+). Children not admitted; some Amex and Capital One cards excluded.

Access: Priority Pass

Hours: 06:00–21:00 daily

Amenities: Gaming stations · Snack or drink with the Priority Pass visit · Wi-Fi · Air conditioning

Best for: Gamers · Short Priority Pass visits · Killing time before an A-gate departure

Full access guide

Worth it

Main terminal (follow USO signs)

Military support lounge for active-duty personnel and their families: free food and drinks, internet, TV and reading material. Not open to the general public and not a Priority Pass location. Call (773) 582-5852 for hours.

Access: Active-duty military and their families

Hours: Call (773) 582-5852 for hours

Amenities: Free food and drinks · Free internet · TV and movies · Reading material

Best for: Military travelers · Quiet family break

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

The Club MDW (Central Market, past security opposite the food court, just before Concourse B): Priority Pass, LoungeKey, and Club passes from about $67 online. Hours are 04:00 to 22:00, but Saturday closes at 20:00 per Priority Pass and the operator (CDA still lists 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily). Power at most seats, bar with local beers and spirits, food included, runway views. Not an airline alliance club.
Gameway (Concourse A): Priority Pass experience with private gaming stations, before the Concourse A Food Hall; Priority Pass lists 06:00 to 21:00. A visit is 1 hour of gaming plus a snack and soft drink, or 1 hour plus one alcoholic drink (21+). Not a quiet work lounge; children not admitted; some Amex and Capital One cards are excluded.
USO: For active-duty military and their families only: free food and drinks, internet, TV and reading material. Call (773) 582-5852 for hours.
There is no United Club, Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, Centurion Lounge, or Chase Sapphire Lounge at MDW.
Food: Central Market and Concourse A food hall concentrate the better options after the Midway Partnership overhaul (local Chicago brands mixed with national chains). Gate stubs get progressively thinner—eat before walking to tip gates when possible.
Free airport Wi-Fi, nursing/lactation rooms, kids play areas, yoga room, chapel, and USO are part of CDA’s posted amenities mix; exact hours vary.
Family and accessibility: standard wheelchair assists via airlines; Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program resources are listed by CDA.

excellent

CTA Orange Line hookup

Easy Transport

Enclosed walk to Midway station; ~20–25 minutes and $2.50 to the Loop—best-in-class rail for a secondary U.S. airport.

good

The Club MDW

Has Lounge

First shared-use lounge in Midway history (opened Sep 2024) in Central Market, with Priority Pass, LoungeKey, and Club passes from about $67 online.

good

Central Market dining

Food

Post–Midway Partnership food hall with stronger local Chicago brands than the old concession mix; best density before A/B tip gates.

excellent

Walkable single terminal

Accessibility

One security zone feeds concourses A/B/C with no airside train required—hard to get lost, easy to underestimate bank crowds.

basic

Gameway Priority Pass

Has Lounge

Concourse A gaming pods with PP hour + snack/drink—fun layover filler, not a substitute for The Club.

good

Free Wi-Fi + refill stations

Fast WiFi

Airport Wi-Fi throughout and bottle refill stations airside near restrooms and concourses, so you can skip buying bottled water.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Default downtown move is the Orange Line: follow “CTA Trains / Trains to City,” walk the enclosed connector, tap Ventra or contactless ($2.50 ‘L’ fare). It is cheaper and often more predictable than surge rideshare.
Orange Line is not 24/7: the first train from Midway is about 3:30 a.m. on weekdays (4:00 Saturday, 4:30 Sunday) and the last about 1:05 a.m. For owl arrivals/departures use the N62 Archer night bus (CDA’s posted overnight link) or taxi/rideshare.
Eat and lounge in Central Market before walking deep into A or B; the far gates are still walkable but you will pass the best food and The Club on the way.
Priority Pass: The Club is the actual lounge; Gameway is entertainment with a snack/drink entitlement. Confirm your card’s visit rules in the Priority Pass app—some U.S. bank packs exclude Gameway.
The Club sells passes online from about $67 including tax (operator site, 23 Oct 2026). Online booking closes 6 hours before your flight; after that, buy at the desk if space allows. Club pass guests can enter 3 hours before departure; Priority Pass and LoungeKey members 2.5 hours before, with a 2.5-hour max stay on Priority Pass.
Rideshare pickup is on the lower level center lanes (color-coded zones by Door 2–4)—follow signs rather than waiting on the upper departures curb.
City taxi from the lower-level Door 2 stand commonly runs about $35–40 to downtown in normal traffic; shared-ride flat rates posted by CDA include downtown/McCormick Place at $18 per person when a share is available, and $35 per person to O’Hare.
Midway’s airfield is famously land-constrained (the “mile square”). That is why it feels compact on foot—and why weather, wind, and Southwest bank irregularities show up as delays more than at sprawling O’Hare.

01

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

PreCheck/CLEAR for Southwest banks

Use PreCheck or CLEAR when Southwest banks hit—Midway has nowhere else to route the queue.

Morning and late-afternoon Southwest banks are when MDW feels small. Live waits on CDA channels; 90–120 minutes early is the sane domestic plan.

Pro

Single checkpoint is fast off-peak with credentials

Watch-out

Regular lanes spike hard in banks

02

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Take the Orange Line downtown

Default to the CTA Orange Line for downtown instead of surge pricing—unless you land after rail hours.

Follow Trains to City into the enclosed connector. $2.50 Ventra/contactless; ~20–25 minutes to the Loop. After ~1 a.m. use N62/owl options or rideshare.

Pro

Cheapest predictable Loop trip

Watch-out

Not overnight; luggage stairs/escalators at some transfers

03

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Priority Pass: The Club over Gameway

Use The Club MDW for a real lounge visit; treat Gameway as optional entertainment.

Central Market opposite the food court, just before Concourse B. Club passes from about $67 online (book at least 6 hours ahead, or buy at the desk if space allows). Hours 04:00 to 22:00, Saturday to 20:00.

Pro

Actual food/bar lounge with apron views

Watch-out

Saturday closes at 20:00; Priority Pass entry only 2.5 hours before departure

04

FoodTraveler Tips & Hacks

Eat at Central Market first

Fuel up in Central Market / Concourse A food hall before committing to a far gate.

Grab food before walking deep into A/B. International FIS connections that leave sterile area must re-clear—don’t cut it close.

Pro

Best F&B density in one place

Watch-out

Tip gates are a longer walk with thinner food

05

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

Pad connections—OTP is soft

Build fat buffers for connections and prefer earlier departures when Chicago weather is messy.

BTS data show about 71% of departures on time in the 12 months to July 2026, and only about 57% in July. Runway 22L is closed until about mid-November 2026. Same-day MDW↔ORD is a city transfer, not an airside hop.

Pro

Early turns still outperform evenings

Watch-out

Weather + Southwest banks cascade

Best valueBest quality

Bottle refill stations

Throughout airside near restrooms and along Concourses A/B after Central Market

Refill stationMain Terminalairside

Free filtered water after security—bring an empty bottle and skip shop markups.

Post-TSA refill

Just after the main security checkpoint before Central Market

Refill stationMain Terminalairside

Dump liquids at the checkpoint, then refill immediately airside.

Entry requirements

United States (US)

Sign in and add a passport to see the entry requirement for United States.

Passports are saved in profile settings. Check the official site before you travel.

Published alerts

Editorial profile notes — not a live alert feed. Live operations are on Overview and in the panel below.

Published alerts

Typical operations snapshot — editorial, not live news. File dated Oct 23, 2026.

Moderate

Runway 22L closed to arrivals and departures since 20 Oct 2026 for safety-system (EMAS) repairs; CDA targets mid-November, so expect some delays and cancellations depending on windCTA Loop track work from 04:00 on 24 Oct to 02:00 on 26 Oct 2026: Orange Line runs Midway to Roosevelt only, with S1 shuttle buses on to ClintonAbout 71% of departures on time in the 12 months to July 2026 (BTS); Southwest banks amplify weather and ATC delays

Typical delay mix from the same editorial snapshot — not a live feed. Current operations are on Overview.

Typical departure delays22 min · 31%

Typical arrival delays18 min · 28%

Typical cancellations0 min · 2.2%

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

Write a review

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

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LOTLewis University Airport
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PWKChicago Executive Airport
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DPADuPage Airport
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44 km
JOTJoliet Regional Airport
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46 km
AUZAurora Municipal Airport
Aurora
60 km

Compare MDW vs ORD

ORDO'Hare International Airport
Chicago
7.225 km
LOTLewis University Airport
Romeoville
35 km
PWKChicago Executive Airport
Chicago
39 km
DPADuPage Airport
Chicago
44 km
JOTJoliet Regional Airport
Joliet
46 km
AUZAurora Municipal Airport
Aurora
60 km