Official taxi list · downtown Rockford is the local city, not the leftover 68-mile Chicago CBD cell
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
MSN8.5
RFD8.5
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
MSN7.6+0.1
RFD7.5
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
MSN7.5+0.3
RFD7.2
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
MSN7.5+0.1
RFD7.4
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
MSN6.8
RFD7.4+0.6
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
MSN2.0
RFD2.0
Best for
MSN
UW / Capitol Square trips on one of the six live airlinesBudget riders on Metro Route D2 at $2Local food after TSA (Ancora, Metcalfe’s, Tory Miller kitchens)
RFD
Allegiant leisure hops that will book the official $8 advanced lotMeet-and-greet trips that will use the first two free parking hoursTravelers who will treat Skyview Cafe as a concession, not a club
Watch out for
MSN
No passenger lounge and no Priority PassCLEAR is not at MSNVinoteca is closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and SaturdaySome Where We Fly cards have no airline — confirm the FIDS
RFD
No ticketed passenger lounge; live Priority Pass chicago-rockford-rfd is 404Official Landline pages still sell daily RFD–ORD; WIFR 31 Jul 2026 leftover-prints last day 4 Oct 2026Official pages print no mapped fountain and no bottle tariffRMTD #7 / #11 is Monday–Saturday only; official pages print no Uber / Lyft
Amenities and tips
MSN
One TSA, 16 jet-bridge gatesNo passenger loungeAncora, Metcalfe’s, Tory Miller kitchensWi-Fi 6 on msnairportThree Mothers’ Lounges and Gate 12 play areaSix rental counters at bags
Official clock is 90 minutes — TSA prints 4:30 a.m.
The FAQ says arrive at least 90 minutes before departure, or earlier if your airline says so. The security page prints the checkpoint as 4:30 a.m. until the last departure.
One TSA, then Gates 1–16 on the same walk
After screening you stay sterile. Wrong gate is a walk, not a reclear. PreCheck is only at the south checkpoint inside Door 1.
Eat after TSA unless you need landside Ancora
Almost every named kitchen is past security. Landside Ancora is 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. next to baggage claim. Lake Country Travel Mart in the ticket lobby is Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. only.
Official 90 minutes domestic - 2 hours international
Official FAQ prints 90 minutes for Allegiant or American/Landline and two hours for international. Official Landline page prints arrive at least 90 minutes prior to the bus. Official traveler pages print no TSA clock and no wait widget.
Main Terminal - do not invent KRFD
Ticketed jets and Landline coaches use the Main Terminal after a single TSA. Donald Manzullo International Terminal sits next to CBP at 50 Airport Drive. Do not merge ORD or MDW.
Skyview Cafe is a concession, not a club
Official second-floor airside cafe for boarding-pass holders. Two hours before domestic / three hours before international. Live Priority Pass chicago-rockford-rfd is 404.
MSN · Madison put nearly 2.5 million passengers through one TSA and 16 gates in 2025: easy when the bank is quiet, strong local food after screening, and still no lounge.
RFD · Rockford’s one-TSA Main Terminal is compact and cheap to park, but there is no ticketed lounge, Skyview is a boarding-pass cafe, and the official American/Landline coach still needs a live ticket check.
