How early should I get to MDW?
Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago, IL · Checked Oct 24, 2026
The short answer
Southwest, Midway's main airline, suggests arriving 120 minutes before domestic flights at MDW. Delta also recommends at least 2 hours. The Chicago Department of Aviation's TSA page gives no arrival time.
Southwest suggests 120 minutes before international flights at MDW
Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, traffic from your door, and whether you have PreCheck or a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.
Source: southwest.com
Security lines at MDW
The CDA does not publish a routine wait pattern for Midway. For Labor Day weekend 2026, it projected Monday as Midway's busiest day, with nearly 58,000 travelers.
Busiest times: The Monday at the end of a holiday weekend (Labor Day 2026 projection).
Nationally, TSA checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 AM local time. See TSA's hourly numbers and the busiest days to fly.
TSA PreCheck: Midway has one checkpoint. Standard screening runs 3:30am-11pm, but the CDA lists PreCheck lanes only from 4:30am to 8pm, so evening flyers may face standard lanes only.
CLEAR: Available at this airport (see terminals below for which checkpoints).
Touchless ID: TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is listed at MDW for Delta and Southwest (opt in through your airline profile); Southwest's MDW page also lists a Touchless ID checkpoint
Terminals and checkpoints
Main Terminal (Concourses A, B and C)
Southwest, Delta, Volaris, Frontier
- Concourse A: Southwest, Delta and Volaris (Upgraded Points, Sept 2026). Southwest lists gates A4a, A4b, A9, A11 and A15-A19
- Concourse B: Southwest only. Southwest lists gates B1-B3, B5, B7-B12 and B14-B26
- Concourse C (gates C1-C3): Upgraded Points lists Frontier, Avelo and North Country Sky
- Porter moved its Toronto Billy Bishop flights from Midway to O'Hare on Sept 1, 2026
- Drop off at the upper-level departures curb at the concourse for your airline; signs show which concourse each airline uses
Between terminals: Single terminal. All three concourses (A, B and C) are connected after security, so you can walk between them without screening again.
Terminals are connected after security, so you can walk between them without re-screening.
Getting to MDW
Rideshare and taxi: Drop-off is at the upper-level departures curb. Rideshare pickup is on the lower level, center lane, outside baggage claim: Blue Zones A and B (Doors 2-3), Orange Zones C and D (Doors 3-4) and Green Zones E and F (Door 4).
Transit: The CTA Orange Line station is east of the terminal, reached by an enclosed walkway (follow 'Trains to City'). The trip downtown takes 20-25 minutes. Trains leave Midway for the Loop from about 3:30am on weekdays, 4am on Saturdays and 4:30am on Sundays, until about 1:05am. The N62 Archer bus runs overnight.
Driving and parking: The terminal garage is next to the terminal: hourly parking on Level 1 and daily parking on Levels 2-6 ($43 for 8-24 hours). Economy Garage and Lot at 5050 W. 55th St. cost $15 a day, with free shuttles every 10-15 minutes. The Daily Lot is temporarily closed. The CDA says terminal roadways can get congested at peak times; the CTA Kiss and Ride at 59th and Kilpatrick lets drivers avoid them. Curbside waiting is not allowed; the free cell phone lot is at 61st Street and Cicero Avenue.
Construction and changes in 2026
- Runway 22L closed Oct 20, 2026, to repair its safety overrun system, with completion targeted for mid-November. The CDA warns of possible flight delays and cancellations, depending on wind, and says to check flight status before leaving for the airport
- The Daily Lot is temporarily closed; the CDA does not give a reopening date
Checking a bag
Southwest: all bags must be checked 45 minutes before scheduled departure (60 minutes for international); check in at least 30 minutes before domestic departure and be at the gate 10 minutes before. Its MDW ticket counter opens 90 minutes before the first departing flight. Delta: bags 45 minutes before domestic departure, 30 minutes to check in without bags.
MDW tips first-timers miss
- Midway has one checkpoint for all concourses, and the concourses are connected after security
- PreCheck closes at 8pm and CLEAR at 8pm, while standard screening runs until 11pm
- Runway 22L is closed until about mid-November 2026, so check your flight status before you leave
- Southwest's Midway ticket counter opens 90 minutes before the first flight of the day, and bags must be checked 45 minutes before departure
- The CTA Orange Line reaches downtown in 20-25 minutes, and its Kiss and Ride lets drivers skip the terminal roadways
- The Daily Lot is closed; the economy lots are $15 a day with shuttles every 10-15 minutes
Leaving for MDW?
Pick your flight and where you're starting. Leave By checks live traffic, security lines and your terminal, and tells you the minute to walk out the door.
Free. No account.
Questions travelers ask
How early should I get to Midway airport?
Southwest suggests arriving 120 minutes before your flight at Midway, for both domestic and international flights. Delta also recommends 2 hours for domestic flights.
What time does security open at Midway?
The checkpoint runs from 3:30am to 11pm every day. PreCheck lanes are open 4:30am to 8pm, and CLEAR 4am to 8pm.
Where do Uber and Lyft pick up at Midway?
On the lower level outside baggage claim, in the center lane, at Doors 2-4 (Blue, Orange and Green zones).
Can you walk between concourses at Midway after security?
Yes. Concourses A, B and C are all connected after the checkpoint.
How do I get from Midway to downtown Chicago by train?
Take the CTA Orange Line from the station next to the terminal. The ride takes 20-25 minutes, and trains run from early morning until about 1am.
Sources
- Fly Chicago - Midway TSA Information (checkpoint hours)
- Fly Chicago - Midway CLEAR
- Fly Chicago - Midway Connecting Traveler
- Fly Chicago - Midway Taxi, Limo, Rideshare
- Fly Chicago - Midway Drop Off / Pick Up
- Fly Chicago - Midway Public Transit
- Fly Chicago - Midway Terminal Garage (Daily)
- Fly Chicago - Midway Economy Parking
- Fly Chicago - Midway Daily Lot
- Fly Chicago - MDW Full Map (Oct 2025)
- City of Chicago - CDA announces temporary runway closure at Midway (Oct 20, 2026)
- ABC7 Chicago - Runway 22L at Midway closed for repairs (Oct 20, 2026)
- CTA - Orange Line hours of operation
- Chicago Sun-Times - Labor Day weekend travel (Sept 3, 2026)
- Southwest Airlines - Airport Information (MDW)
- Southwest Airlines - When to Arrive for Your Flight
- Delta - Check-In Times at U.S. Airports
- Upgraded Points - Chicago Midway airport guide (updated Sept 7, 2026)
- ch-aviation - Porter Airlines switches Chicago airport (Feb 25, 2026)
- Wikipedia - Midway International Airport
- The Bulkhead Seat - TSA PreCheck Touchless ID airport list (Mar 16, 2026)
Airport conditions change. Always follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.