Chicago airport area?

Question

I'm flying from D.C. to San Antonio with a layover in Chicago and will have 3 hours between flights. How easy is it to get to the city from the airport to walk around and look at stuff?

Answer 1

If it is O'Hare Airport, sorry you won't have time. O'Hare lies northwest of Chicago near Rosemont, and it's about an hour's drive, in good traffic, or about 50 minutes on the el train. By the time you got to city, you'd have to turn right around and go back.

If it's Midway Airport, you'll be in Cicero, just south the city, you might have time for a quick look, but considering the time it takes at the airport to check in and board, I'd say you'd still be pressed for time.

I would just grab something to eat at the airport, or people-watch.

This should give you at least some idea.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=internal&addtohistory=&latitude=PSU7%2bgMepHD3NI0x5lei6Q%3d%3d&longitude=8%2b%2bA7A1rV6pmmwa%2bl%2ftbaA%3d%3d&name=Chicago%20Midway%20International%20Airport%20%28MDW%29&country=US&address=5700%20S%20Cicero%20Ave&city=Chicago&state=IL&zipcode=60638&phone=773%2d838%2d0600&spurl=0&&q=Midway%20airport&qc=Airports

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&address=&city=&state=&zipcode=&formtype=address&cat=Chicago%20O'Hare%20International%20Airport%20(ORD)

Answer 2

Three hours is not really time to do anything. O'Hare is far northwest of the center of the city. There's really nothing around it. It would take you about an hour to get to downtown Chicago on public transportation. Since you have to check in at least an hour before your flight, you would only have time to go downtown, turn right around and head back. I suppose you could get off the train somewhere closer to O'Hare, like Rosemont, but there's really nothing there except a few fast food places, hotels and office buildings. You best bet would be to stay put in the airport. There's enough there to kill time. If you're 21, hit the bar and watch Jerry Springer or something...

Answer 3

O'Hare airport is a 45 minute el (subway) ride to the downtown area or a 30 minute ($40) cab ride. In 3 hours you wouldn't have time to see much. There is a lot to do at the airport, however.

Layovers

The Chicago Airport System has worked hard to provide not only convenience but also attractions at Chicago’s airports. Here are a few points of interests:

Visit the Brachiosaurus Dinosaur in the B concourse of Terminal 1. Our Brachiosaurus is one of the largest mounted dinosaurs in the world. The four-story high, 72-foot long skeleton model is on loan from the Chicago Field Museum.

The Butch O’Hare WWII Fighter Airplane Exhibit is located in Terminal 2. The exhibit is a replica of the WWII F3F-4 fighter plane flown by airport namesake and US Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Comdr. Edward "Butch" O’Hare.

Also in Terminal 2 is the Kids on the Fly Children’s Exhibit. Kids on the Fly is an interactive play area that educates and entertains children up to twelve years of age and their families. The exhibit's displays include an air traffic control tower, a fantasy helicopter, a cargo plane, a luggage station, and more.

The pedestrian tunnel between concourses B and C in Terminal 1 is the location of a 744 foot long kinetic neon sculpture of light and sound titled "The Sky’s the Limit", designed by Michael Hayden.

Of course, over 100 food and retail options are available throughout the airport terminals.

Answer 4

if your layover is ONLY 3 hours i suggest you stay put at the airport... not enough time to leave

Answer 5

not much to do in just 3 hrs.......you have to be back in the terminal at least 1 hr before departure, so you have 2 hrs .....if the flight arrives in time........plus the travel time from/to the airport, lives you with nothing (time on your hands)
by the time you get to downtown, you have to get back fast, really fast.