How Early to Get to Midway Airport

Written by the All Star Limo Service team, Chicago chauffeurs and dispatchers serving the city and suburbs for more than a decade

Quick answer: For most domestic flights from Chicago Midway International Airport, plan to arrive about 2 hours before departure. You can cut that to around 60 to 90 minutes with only a carry-on and expedited security at a quiet time, but allow more on early weekday mornings, Friday and Sunday afternoons and holiday weekends. International departures need about 3 hours. From downtown Chicago, the drive is typically 25 to 40 minutes. All Star Limo Service flat rates from downtown to Midway start at $85, with early-morning pickups available 24/7.

How Early to Arrive at Midway: The Short Version

These are planning guidelines. Your airline’s check-in and bag cutoff times always take priority, so confirm them before you leave.

Why Midway Timing Is Different From O’Hare

Midway is much smaller than O’Hare and mostly serves domestic flights, so it is usually faster to get from the curb to the gate. That is why many travelers from downtown and the south suburbs prefer it. But a smaller airport can still get crowded when many flights depart at once, especially first thing in the morning. The difference is that at Midway, crowding tends to come in short, sharp waves rather than lasting all day.

If you usually fly from O’Hare, our guide on how early to arrive at O’Hare covers the larger airport.

What Makes the Wait Longer or Shorter

Time of Day

Early weekday mornings are typically the busiest, when business travelers and the first wave of departures arrive together. Mid-morning through mid-afternoon is often calmer.

Day of the Week

Friday and Sunday afternoons fill up with weekend travelers. Tuesday and Wednesday are often the lightest days.

Checked Bags

Airlines set bag drop cutoffs before departure. If you check a bag, the cutoff, not security, can be what makes you late. Arrive with time to spare.

Security Screening

Expedited screening programs can shorten your wait considerably. Without them, allow extra time at peak hours.

Holidays and Events

Thanksgiving week, the winter holidays, spring break and summer weekends bring larger crowds. Add 30 to 60 minutes during these periods.

Drive Times to Midway From Chicago and the Suburbs

Midway sits on Chicago’s Southwest Side near the Stevenson Expressway (I-55), which makes it a short trip from downtown and the south and southwest suburbs.

Estimates in normal traffic. Weekday rush hours, weather and construction add time.

How to Calculate Your Pickup Time

1. Start with departure time. Example: an 8:00 a.m. domestic flight.
2. Subtract your airport arrival time. With checked bags, arrive 2 hours early: 6:00 a.m.
3. Subtract your drive time. From Orland Park, about 30 minutes: 5:30 a.m.
4. Subtract a traffic buffer. Add 15 minutes for safety: 5:15 a.m.

So a traveler from Orland Park with checked bags on an 8:00 a.m. flight should plan a pickup around 5:15 a.m. When you book, our dispatch team suggests a pickup time for your exact address and flight.

Early-Morning Flights From Midway

The first departures of the day are popular with business travelers and families catching connections, and they are also the flights where timing is tightest. A few habits make early mornings easier:

• Book your ride the day before, not the morning of.
• Check in online and download your boarding pass the night before.
• Pack the night before and set out ID and travel documents.
• Build in extra buffer, since early-morning security lines can build quickly.

All Star operates 24/7, so a 4 a.m. pickup is routine for our chauffeurs. Your chauffeur arrives a few minutes early, loads your bags and takes the fastest route based on current conditions.

Traveling With Kids or a Group

Families and groups need more time at every step: unloading the car, checking bags, getting through security together and finding the gate. Add 30 minutes to your usual plan. For a family, a Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator carries 6 passengers and 4 bags. Groups of up to 14 fit in an Executive Sprinter with room for 6 bags.

Flying for Business

Business travelers with a same-day meeting at their destination should avoid cutting it close. A missed early flight can mean a missed meeting. Companies that book frequently can set up a corporate chauffeur account so travelers’ Midway rides are handled in one place.

What to Do If You Arrive Early

Arriving early at Midway is rarely wasted time. The airport has restaurants, shops and places to work near the gates. Our Midway layover guide covers what to eat and do while you wait, and our Midway airport travel guide explains the terminal layout.

Common Midway Timing Mistakes

• Planning around security only. Travelers often estimate security time and forget the airline’s bag drop cutoff, which comes earlier.
• Using weekend drive times on a weekday. A drive that takes 25 minutes on a Sunday can take much longer on a weekday morning on I-55 or Cicero Avenue.
• Booking a ride the morning of the flight. Early-morning demand is high. Booking the day before gives you a confirmed pickup.
• Skipping the buffer in winter. Snow and ice slow both the drive and the airport. Add extra time between November and March.
• Forgetting the return trip. Arranging your pickup for the flight home before you leave saves a scramble at arrivals.

Midway or O’Hare: Which Is Easier for Your Trip?

For travelers starting downtown or in the south and southwest suburbs, Midway is usually the shorter drive and the simpler airport. O’Hare offers far more nonstop and international flights, and it is often closer for the northwest suburbs and the North Shore. If you have a choice of flights, compare total travel time, including the drive and the time you need at the airport, not just the flight itself. See our guide to getting from O’Hare to downtown Chicago for the O’Hare side.

Driving and Parking vs a Car Service to Midway

For trips longer than a few days, parking fees add up quickly. Our Chicago airport parking guide compares the costs.

Returning to Midway: Arrivals and Pickups

When you fly back into Midway, your chauffeur tracks the flight and adjusts to early or late arrivals. See our guide to the fastest way to leave Midway Airport for arrival tips, and book your return ride at the same time as your departure to lock in the flat rate.

Midway Travel Checklist

• Confirm your airline’s check-in and bag cutoff times.
• Check in online and save your boarding pass.
• Book your ride with your flight number for tracking.
• Pack ID, travel documents and chargers in your carry-on.
• Plan your pickup time with a traffic buffer.
• Book your return ride before you leave.

What Our Clients Say

“Our trips to the airport were flawless. Beautifully cleaned vehicles, waters for my family, and worry free. Thank you for your service!”

— Allison A., Google Review

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— Kat A., Google Review

Quick Facts: Midway Airport Rides With All Star Limo Service

How Early to Get to Midway: 12 Common Questions

How early should I get to Midway Airport?

For most domestic flights, plan to arrive about 2 hours before departure. Allow more time on busy mornings, holiday weekends and when checking bags, and less if you have only a carry-on and expedited security.

Is 90 minutes enough time at Midway?

Often, if you have no checked bags and travel at a quieter time. On peak mornings, holidays or with checked luggage, 2 hours is safer.

How early should I arrive at Midway for an international flight?

Plan on about 3 hours for international departures, since document checks and bag cutoffs are stricter. Confirm with your airline.

When is Midway security busiest?

Early weekday mornings, Friday and Sunday afternoons, and holiday travel periods are typically the busiest.

How long does it take to drive to Midway from downtown Chicago?

About 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

How long does it take to get to Midway from Orland Park?

Typically about 25 to 40 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Is Midway faster than O’Hare?

For downtown and the south and southwest suburbs, Midway is usually the shorter drive, and the airport is smaller and easier to navigate.

What time should my car service pick me up for Midway?

Work backward from your flight: recommended arrival time, plus drive time, plus a traffic buffer. Our dispatch team can suggest a pickup time for your address.

How much is a car service to Midway?

All Star flat rates from downtown Chicago to Midway start at $85 in an executive sedan. Suburban rates vary by distance.

Do you provide early-morning rides to Midway?

Yes. All Star operates 24/7, including pickups for the first flights of the day.

Should I arrive earlier on holidays?

Yes. Around Thanksgiving, winter holidays and summer weekends, add 30 to 60 minutes to your usual plan.

Can a chauffeur help with luggage at Midway?

Yes. Chauffeurs help load and unload bags at the departures curb.

Related Services

• Midway Limo Service
• Chicago Airport Limo Service
• O’Hare Limo Service
• Orland Park Limo Service
• Chicago Limo Pricing