Public Transportation

Public transportation to/from O'Hare airport

CTA Blue Line Train, METRA conmuter train (North Central Service train line) and de Pace Bus with routes 250 and 330. Service details, location of stops and fares

CTA Blue Line

The Blue Line trains are the cheapest public transportation option to get to O'Hare Airport. In turn, through the Blue line you can make connections with most of the other CTA lines. Trains in Chicago are known as "L".

Hours: 24 hours with a more frequent service on weekdays, especially during peak hours.

Cta blue line Subway Chicago

Image from Youtube

Journey Time and Fare

O'Hare airport - Downtown in 35 minutes

A single ticket starts from $5.00. In case of planning a stay of more than 3 days, a more convenient alternative may be to buy a 7-day unlimited pass. There are vending machines located outside the station.​ Cash and credit card are accepted. You can use Ventra Card or via contactless Pay-As-You-Go payment methods.

To see the most up-to-date schedule and timetable, visit the CTA official website

Drop-off/pick-up location

Lower level of the parking garage.

To get to the station from each domestic terminal, you can use the pedestrian tunnel. To do this, follow the "Trains to the city" signs. From Terminal 5, take the free shuttle bus from the lower level (gate 5E) marked "Terminal 1". Follow the signs for "Trains to the city". The CTA is located near the center of elevators 4 in the pedestrian tunnel.

Metra

Metra has commuter rail service throughout the Chicagoland area. Indeed, Metra's North Central Service train line connects Union Station in downtown Chicago with the north central suburbs, terminating in Antioch. The service is available from Monday to Friday.

Travelers coming from the O'Hare International Airport terminals can use the O'Hare Transfer Station to access North Central Service trains.

Journey Time and Fare

O'Hare airport - Downtown in 35 minutes   
Tickets can be purchased online from $6.25. (Paying cash on board is also available)

Drop-off/pick-up location

On the northeast side of O'Hare at Zemke and Mannheim Roads.

From the terminals, take the airport shuttle bus marked "Metra" from the upper level of each domestic terminal or the lower level of Terminal 5 (Gate 5E) to the Metra station. In turn, at the rental car pickup location on the lower level of each terminal, you can take the shuttle bus to the multi-modal facility and walk from there to the Metra station across the street of the multimodal facility, in the northeast corner of the building. View more information here​. 

Pace

It is the public bus line service of Chicago

Pace Route 250

Weekdays and Saturdays. Service along this route includes:

  • Davis Street CTA Station (access to the CTA Purple Line)
  • Skokie Swift CTA Station (access to the CTA Yellow Line)
  • Notre Dame and Main East High Schools
  • Lutheran General Hospital

Journey Time and Fares​

O'Hare's Multi-Modal - Des Plaines Metra station (18 m) - Davis L (1h)   
Single regular ticket from $2.00 (Ventra Transit Value) - $2.25 (cash)

Pace Route 330

Weekdays and Saturdays. Service along this route includes:​

  • Amtrak/Metra BNSF Line La Grange Road Station
  • Quarry Shopping Center
  • Countryside Plaza

Journey Time and Fares​

O'Hare Multi Modal Facility - Harlem / Archer (1h 20m)   
Single regular ticket from $2.00 (Ventra Transit Value) - $2.25 (cash)

PACE drop-off/pick-up location

PACE stops are at the Multimodal facility (Bus bays #8 and #9) and passengers can take the free 24-hour airport shuttle buses directly from each of the terminals, via the multi-modal facility. Upon return, passengers should board an airport shuttle bus from the lower level curb front (baggage claim). On the digital screen of the bus you will see the sign "Rental Cars/Parking Lot F" back to the Multimodal facility.

For further schedule and routes details go to the PACE website