NOTE: CTA will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on Thursday, November 25 –Thanksgiving Day. Bus and rail service will operate on a normal weekday schedule on Friday, November 26.
The Chicago Transit Authority provides direct service to both Chicago airports and is a convenient and affordable option for travelers heading out of town for the holiday season.
Industry predictions show Thanksgiving holiday air travel is anticipated to be heavy from Wednesday, November 24 through Sunday, November 28.
CTA will operate extra service and longer trains on the Red, Orange, Brown, Green and Blue lines beginning in the early afternoon hours on Wednesday, November 24 to accommodate additional airport travelers.
Travelers can reach O’Hare Airport in approximately 40-45 minutes from the Clark/Lake station in the Loop. Elevated rail customers can transfer to the Blue Line for no additional charge at the Clark/Lake station. Red Line customers can connect to the Blue Line by using the pedestrian transfer tunnel at Jackson—also for no additional charge.
All east-west bus routes between Grand and Foster and many north-south bus routes also serve as transfer points to the Blue Line.
Orange Line trains provide direct service to Midway Airport. In the Loop, rail customers can transfer to Orange Line trains at the Clark/Lake station for no charge. In addition, Red Line customers can transfer to the Orange Line at the Roosevelt station at no extra charge. Estimated travel time between the Loop and Midway currently is 25-30 minutes.
To avoid traffic congestion, customers can combine the convenience of driving with the economical savings of public transit by using CTA Park and Ride facilities. Parking is available for approximately 6,000 cars at CTA’s 17 Park & Ride facilities, mainly at rail terminals, throughout the CTA system.
Park & Ride stations are listed on CTA’s system map and on the CTA’s Web site at
www.transitchicago.com. Customers may also obtain information on Park & Ride facilities by calling 836-7000 from any local area code.