Travel to Chicago

Travel Information

Getting to Chicago by Plane

Chicago is home to two international airports conveniently located in the center of the country, with thousands of daily inbound and outbound flights to more than 240 destinations.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Multi-award-winning, environmentally conscious O’Hare (ORD) is one of the largest airports in the world. It lies just 16 miles from downtown Chicago and boasts four terminals—three domestic (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and one international (Terminal 5).

- For more information, visit their website.

Chicago Midway International Airport

Midway (MDW) is the nation’s premier point-to-point airport, offering value-oriented leisure and business travel to more than 60 destinations. It’s located only 11 miles from downtown Chicago.

- For more information, visit their website.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT AIR TRAVEL: Travel ID Changes

All Americans traveling by air will need a REAL ID or another accepted form of identification to board a flight within the United States on and after May 7, 2025. A traditional driver’s license will no longer be accepted through airport security. Domestic travelers may use:

REAL ID (generally marked with a star in the upper portion of the card)
U.S. passport or passport card
U.S. military ID
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
Enhanced driver’s licenses (offered in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington, generally marked with U.S. flag)

Learn more about REAL ID and how to get one.

Southwest Airlines Offers Discount to Conference Attendees

USAging has arranged for a special airline discount on Southwest Airlines for attendees traveling to the Annual Conference and Tradeshow in Chicago, IL.

Attendees may expect additional discounts on Southwest Airlines airfare, based on the type of ticket purchased and time of day flown.

By using this special USAging discount, attendees will not lose any Southwest Rapid Rewards points, status or profile settings. The discount is an added bonus for Conference attendees.

Please note: For best availability and access to the Conference location, we recommend flying into Chicago Midway International Airport (airport code: MDW), which is a Southwest hub and closer to the city of Chicago than Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

To Access the USAging Airlines Discount Program

Log into swabiz.com (Southwest Airlines Business).
Enter Company ID for USAging Annual Conference: 99898035
Enter your personal Southwest Rapid Rewards info for log in (it will “link”).
Select your flight itinerary as usual, then pay and confirm.
Jet to the USAging Annual Conference and Tradeshow!

Airport Transportation

Both O’Hare and Midway are within a short distance of downtown Chicago.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line ‘L’ Train, which runs 24/7, connects directly to O’Hare. The CTA Orange Line ‘L’ Train connects directly to Midway. See maps and fares.
Taxi, Lyft and Uber pick-up points are available at both airports. Alternatively, you can e-hail and e-pay with CHICABS-approved apps ARRO and CURB. Credit cards are accepted in all taxis.
GO Airport Express provides shared ride services to all downtown/suburban hotels.
Numerous car rental companies have facilities at both O’Hare and Midway airports.

Flight resources

Access parking, flight status, amenities and terminal maps for both O’Hare and Midway airports at flychicago.com.
Get average domestic flight times to Chicago.
Get Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security regulation information.
Find airlines that fly in Chicago.

Getting to Chicago by Car

Chicago’s central location and its position as a hub for the nation’s major interstates make it a convenient drive from anywhere in the country. Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway). Find average drive times to the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.

Getting to Chicago by Train

Chicago’s iconic Union Station serves both Amtrak and Metra, the city’s commuter rail service. Originally designed by Daniel Burnham and completed by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, Union Station is a glowing expression of Chicago’s status as a national railroad hub and remains a treasured part of the city’s history. Additionally, the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves the three commuter rail lines of Metra’s Union Pacific District, which approach the terminal elevated above street level. There are also two Metra stations in the Loop: Millennium Station on the Metra Electric District line and Lasalle Street Station on the Rock Island District Line.

Amtrak

With 21,000 miles of routes across the United States and Canada, Amtrak offers more than 300 high-speed trains to more than 500 destinations daily. Find Amtrak routes and fares.

Metra Rail

The high-speed Metra commuter rail train connects outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago and is a fast and easy way to travel to the heart of the city. Find fares and route maps.

South Shore Line

South Shore Line serves Chicago through Northern Indiana to the South Bend Airport. Call 219.874.4221, ext. 245, for group rates. Find South Shore Line routes and fares.