Chicago downtown traffic question from an East Coaster.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
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Is Midway an option?
If Midway is an option with a flight arriving roughly the same time, I would opt for Midway and a taxi ride.
Arriving at ORD roughly before 8:00 am, not counting any delays, makes it tight to get to the Loop/West Wacker Drive under an hour via the EL or a taxicab.
Arriving at ORD roughly before 8:00 am, not counting any delays, makes it tight to get to the Loop/West Wacker Drive under an hour via the EL or a taxicab.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2003
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Hands down take the El. Predictable, on time and always a seat from O'Hare. It's not weather
dependent, traffic dependent, gets you to within one block of your appointment and takes you right back to your terminal. It's only a couple of bucks versus $40 for a cab each way.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
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I live in the Western burbs
When I travel I have my wife drop me off at the EL stop in Oak Park and take the train all the way downtown and then out to ORD (~60 min) or I take my commuter train downtown and grab the EL there.
I haven't cabbed it to/from ORD in over 10 years, just not worth the hassle. Sometimes when you're on the train you'll see traffic actually beating you (considering the stops you make) but it's just not worth the risk.
My 1 piece of advice is to have some in-ear headphone or noise-canceling ones w/ your MP3 player of choice, it gets downright noisy through some of the tunnels.
I haven't cabbed it to/from ORD in over 10 years, just not worth the hassle. Sometimes when you're on the train you'll see traffic actually beating you (considering the stops you make) but it's just not worth the risk.
My 1 piece of advice is to have some in-ear headphone or noise-canceling ones w/ your MP3 player of choice, it gets downright noisy through some of the tunnels.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2001
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He's dead on but if your plane is at alll late...not a chance. I never get out of that airport by
any method without blowing 30 minutes from landing. Deplaning alone takes up most of it (hope your seat is near the front). Train is best bet but you still have walking through the terminal and time to get to the train (its a hike) and then wait for it to show and/or wait for it to leave, then 40 to 45 as others said. Then walking the couple of blocks on the other end. Tight.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
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That assumes that a train is waiting at the station.
If 4Driver4 needs to wait for an inbound train the time is, according to the CTA, is between 4 to 9 minutes during peak times. Realistically, I would allocate one hour for the ride on the Blue Line from O'Hare to the Loop.
Honestly, I think that it is nearly impossible for 4Driver4 to make the meeting in the Loop at 9:00 am when the flight is scheduled to arrive at O'Hare at 7:45 am. There are too many variables and weather this time of the year is very difficult to predict-one storm and schedule is way off.
Honestly, I think that it is nearly impossible for 4Driver4 to make the meeting in the Loop at 9:00 am when the flight is scheduled to arrive at O'Hare at 7:45 am. There are too many variables and weather this time of the year is very difficult to predict-one storm and schedule is way off.
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