Cheapest airport near Chicago
5 commercial airports fall within about 2 hours of Chicago. The nearest one is rarely the cheapest one — a real answer depends on your specific route and travel date, since airfare and airport competition vary a lot by destination. Below is the honest starting point: drive time, parking, and hub size for each, all modeled estimates.
| Airport | Drive from downtown | Est. drive cost | Parking/day | Hub size | Low-cost carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDW — Chicago Midway Intl | 10.2 mi / 15m | $2 | $16 | Large hub | Yes |
| ORD — O'Hare Intl | 18.4 mi / 24m | $3 | $20 | Large hub | Yes |
| SBN — South Bend Intl | 80.8 mi / 1h 17m | $14 | $16 | Small hub | Yes |
| MKE — Milwaukee Mitchell Intl | 88.9 mi / 1h 25m | $16 | $16 | Medium hub | Yes |
| RFD — Chicago Rockford Intl | 92.8 mi / 1h 28m | $16 | $16 | Small hub | Yes |
See it priced for a real route
New York LaGuardia → Chicago (LGA→ORD)Los Angeles → Chicago (LAX→ORD)Chicago → Miami (ORD→MIA)Chicago → New York (MDW→LGA)Chicago → Los Angeles (MDW→LAX)Chicago → San Francisco Bay Area (MDW→SFO)Chicago → Washington (MDW→DCA)Chicago → Dallas (MDW→DAL)Atlanta → Chicago (ATL→MDW)Chicago → Detroit (MDW→DTW)
Start a search — ground costs are modeled estimates (29 mpg, $3.35/gal, per-airport parking). Ranking is price/time only.