Midway Terminal & Concourse Guide

Midway Terminal & Concourse Guide (2026)

Updated September 2026 · Written by the Royal Limo Services™ dispatch team — a licensed & insured Chicago chauffeur company with 10+ years’ experience and 1,200+ five-star rides.

Quick answer: Chicago Midway (MDW) is a single-terminal airport with three concourses — A, B, and C — all reached from one central ticketing and baggage-claim building. Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier, mostly on Concourse B, with other airlines on A and C. It’s compact and quick to move through, about 12 miles from downtown via I-55. With Royal Limo Services, your chauffeur is flight-tracked and meets you at baggage claim on the lower level. Book online or call (866) 811-0999.

Midway at a glance

• Structure: one terminal, three concourses (A, B, C), one central baggage claim
• Main airline: Southwest (primarily Concourse B); other carriers on A and C
• Distance: ~12 miles from downtown Chicago · ~20–40 min via I-55
• Departures: upper level · Arrivals/baggage claim: lower level
• Pickup: curbside lower level, or Meet & Greet inside at baggage claim
• Car service: flat-rate, flight-tracked, 24/7 — no surge

Midway is Chicago’s smaller, simpler airport — and for travelers on the South and Southwest Sides and suburbs, often the faster choice than O’Hare. It’s easy to navigate, but a first-time visitor still wants to know the layout and where their ride waits. Here’s the full rundown.

Midway concourses

All three concourses connect through the central terminal, so there’s one security checkpoint area and one baggage-claim hall. Airline and gate assignments can change — confirm your gate on your boarding pass.

How to get around Midway

Midway’s single-terminal design makes it fast: you clear one checkpoint and walk to your concourse, and on arrival every flight funnels to the same lower-level baggage claim. There’s no inter-terminal train to worry about — the whole airport is walkable in minutes, which is a big part of why South and Southwest Side travelers prefer it.

Where your chauffeur meets you

On arrival, baggage claim is on the lower level. Your Royal Limo chauffeur monitors your flight in real time and texts you the exact meeting point before you land. Choose Meet & Greet and they wait inside at baggage claim with a name sign and luggage help, or curbside pickup at the lower-level arrivals curb. Departures are dropped at the upper-level curb. Either way, delays are handled automatically at no extra charge.

How much time to allow & getting downtown

Because Midway is compact, many domestic travelers arrive about 90 minutes to 2 hours before departure — add a cushion at peak times or in snow. Downtown Chicago is roughly 12 miles up I-55 (the Stevenson), about a 20–40 minute drive. Planning the trip in? See our Downtown to O’Hare & Midway Guide.

Midway car service with Royal Limo

Every Midway booking includes real-time flight tracking, a chauffeur staged ahead of arrival, and a flat, all-inclusive rate — gratuity, taxes, and tolls included, no surge. Ride in an executive black-car sedan, a luxury SUV for luggage, or a Sprinter for a group. Dispatched from Rosemont, we cover Midway plus O’Hare, Executive (PWK), DuPage (DPA), and Gary (GYY) — see our full Chicago airport car service, and for early flights the Early-Morning Airport Guide.

Book your Midway ride

Reserve online, or call 24/7 dispatch at (866) 811-0999 with your flight number and pickup address for an exact all-inclusive quote. Book your Midway chauffeur now.

Midway Airport FAQ

How many terminals does Midway have?

One. Midway is a single-terminal airport with three concourses — A, B, and C — all connected through a central building with one baggage-claim hall.

Which airlines fly out of Midway?

Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier (primarily Concourse B), with Delta and other domestic airlines on Concourses A and C. Confirm your gate on your boarding pass.

Which concourse is Southwest at Midway?

Southwest operates mostly from Concourse B, with some flights on C. All concourses share the same central terminal and baggage claim.

Where does my chauffeur pick me up at Midway?

Baggage claim is on the lower level. Your chauffeur texts the exact spot before you land — Meet & Greet inside at baggage claim, or curbside at the lower-level arrivals curb. Departures are dropped upper level.

How far is Midway from downtown Chicago?

About 12 miles up I-55 (the Stevenson) — typically a 20–40 minute drive, shorter than the O’Hare run.

How much time should I allow at Midway?

Midway is compact, so many domestic travelers arrive about 90 minutes to 2 hours before departure, with extra time at peak periods or in snow.

How much is a car from Midway to downtown or the suburbs?

Flat, all-inclusive rates with no surge — request a quote with your address and vehicle for an exact figure.

Is Midway or O’Hare better for the South Side and southwest suburbs?

Midway is usually closer and quicker for South and Southwest Side travelers, while O’Hare offers more airlines and all international flights.

Related Chicago travel guides

See the O’Hare Terminal Guide, the Meet & Greet Guide, the Downtown to O’Hare & Midway Guide, and the Flight Delayed or Cancelled Guide.