By Royal Limo Services Team
September 1, 2026 • 12 min read
This O’Hare and Midway parking rates guide explains what travelers currently pay at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), from lower-cost economy parking to terminal garages and reserved spaces.
The biggest difference is not simply price. Travelers are often paying for proximity, fewer transfers, covered parking, or the certainty of having a reserved space. Someone using a Chicago limo service is making a different tradeoff again: leaving the personal vehicle at home in exchange for scheduled door-to-terminal transportation.
Quick answer: O’Hare currently charges $16/day in Economy Lots G and H, $30/day in Economy Lot F, and $43/day for Main Daily and Terminal 5 parking. Midway currently charges $15/day for Economy and $43/day for the Daily Garage. Reserved parking at both airports adds a $10-per-space, per-day reservation fee on top of the applicable parking charge, plus applicable reservation taxes and fees. Midway’s separate $30 Daily Lot is currently listed as temporarily closed. Always verify rates and lot status with FlyChicago shortly before travel.
O’Hare and Midway Parking Rates Guide: Think in Levels of Convenience
Chicago airport parking makes more sense when viewed as a series of choices.
Level 1: Economy Parking
Lower daily price.
But you may add:
- shuttle travel;
- Airport Transit System connections;
- additional walking;
- luggage handling;
- and more time between your vehicle and terminal.
Level 2: Daily or Terminal Parking
Higher daily price.
In exchange, you are generally closer to the terminal and reduce some ground-transfer steps.
Level 3: Reserved Parking
You pay the normal parking rate plus an additional reservation fee in exchange for a guaranteed covered space.
Level 4: Leave the Car at Home
A scheduled chauffeur collects you from your residence, office, hotel, or other pickup location and takes you directly to the airport.
None of these options is automatically “best.”
The right choice depends on how much the traveler values price, proximity, certainty, and time.
O’Hare Airport Parking Rates
O’Hare offers substantially different parking experiences depending on the facility selected.
Economy Lots G and H — $16 Per Day
The current rate is:
$16 for 1–24 hours
Lots G and H are O’Hare’s lowest-priced official airport-operated options covered in this guide.
Travelers first use a parking-lot shuttle to reach the Multi-Modal Facility and then board the Airport Transit System (ATS) to reach the terminals. FlyChicago states that the shuttles and ATS operate 24 hours a day, generally arriving every 5–10 minutes.
For a longer trip, $16 per day can offer significant savings.
The tradeoff is that the airport journey does not end when you park the vehicle.
Economy Lot F — $30 Per Day
Economy Lot F currently reaches:
$30 for 4–24 hours
Lot F is covered and located inside O’Hare’s Multi-Modal Facility.
Passengers can use the ATS between the facility and all terminals. The garage currently has an 8-foot-4-inch clearance.
That creates a middle ground:
more expensive than G/H, but covered and directly connected to the ATS.
Main Daily Parking — $43 Per Day
O’Hare Main Daily parking currently reaches:
$43 for 8–24 hours
Daily parking is located on Levels 2–6 of the Main Garage, with additional daily spaces in Lots B and C.
FlyChicago specifically advises against using the Main Garage for extended overnight stays because Economy lots offer lower daily rates. The Main Garage currently has a 6-foot-6-inch clearance.
For a short business trip, the added proximity may be worth the premium.
For a long vacation, the numbers change substantially.
Terminal 5 Parking — $43 Per Day
Terminal 5 Garage and adjacent Lot D currently reach:
$43 for 8–24 hours
The newer six-story Terminal 5 garage has approximately 1,700 spaces and connects to Terminal 5 through an enclosed pedestrian bridge.
The garage currently has an 8-foot-6-inch clearance.
For an international traveler carrying several bags, that terminal connection can have practical value.
O’Hare Hourly Parking — Up to $79 Per 24 Hours
O’Hare’s Main Garage hourly area is intended primarily for short airport visits.
The current schedule progresses from $3 for the first hour to:
$79 for 8–24 hours
That makes it important to enter the correct parking area if your vehicle will remain at ORD overnight.
What O’Hare Parking Costs for 4, 8 and 12 Days
Instead of another standard 3-, 5-, and 7-day chart, consider three different travel patterns.
Four-Day Business or Weekend Trip
Economy G/H: $64
Economy F: $120
Main Daily: $172
Terminal 5: $172
Eight-Day Vacation
Economy G/H: $128
Economy F: $240
Main Daily: $344
Terminal 5: $344
Twelve-Day Extended Trip
Economy G/H: $192
Economy F: $360
Main Daily: $516
Terminal 5: $516
These are simple planning calculations based on full current daily-rate periods. Actual charges depend on exact entry and exit times.
The lesson is clear:
The longer the trip, the more important the parking category becomes.
Reserved Parking at O’Hare Costs Extra
Reserved parking is sometimes misunderstood.
It is not simply another $10 parking option.
O’Hare currently charges a:
$10 reservation fee per space, per day
and that fee is in addition to the regular parking cost, applicable taxes, and fees.
Reserved spaces are currently available in:
- Level 4 of the Main Garage;
- Level 2 of the Terminal 5 Garage;
- Level 4 of Economy Lot F.
The benefit is certainty: a covered space is guaranteed even if the garage would otherwise be full.
What Does That Mean in Practice?
If Main Daily parking is $43 per day and the reservation fee is $10 per day, the basic parking-plus-reservation calculation becomes approximately:
$53 per day before applicable reservation taxes/fees.
For an 8-day trip:
$43 × 8 = $344 parking
plus
$10 × 8 = $80 reservation fees
for approximately:
$424 before applicable reservation taxes/fees.
That does not make reserved parking a poor choice.
It simply shows what you are paying for:
certainty and convenience.
Midway Airport Parking Rates
Midway has fewer parking categories than O’Hare, which makes the basic comparison easier.
Midway Economy — $15 Per Day
Current Economy pricing is:
$15 for 1–24 hours
Midway operates an Economy Garage and Economy Lot with the same published rate.
Free shuttle buses currently operate approximately every 10–15 minutes between Economy parking and the terminal.
For longer stays, this is currently the lowest-priced official MDW option.
Midway Daily Garage — $43 Per Day
Daily parking occupies Levels 2–6 of Midway’s Terminal Garage.
The current rate reaches:
$43 for 8–24 hours
Because the garage is adjacent to the terminal, passengers avoid the Economy shuttle step.
That convenience comes with a substantial price difference.
Midway Hourly Garage — Up to $67 Per Day
Hourly parking is on Level 1 of the Terminal Garage.
Current pricing reaches:
$67 for 8–24 hours
It is designed primarily for short stays where close terminal access matters.
Midway Daily Lot — Temporarily Closed
Midway also publishes a separate Daily Lot at:
$30 per day
However, the airport currently lists that facility as temporarily closed.
Travelers should not build a trip budget around that $30 price unless FlyChicago confirms the lot has reopened.
What Midway Parking Costs for 4, 8 and 12 Days
Four Days
Economy: $60
Daily Garage: $172
Difference:
$112
Eight Days
Economy: $120
Daily Garage: $344
Difference:
$224
Twelve Days
Economy: $180
Daily Garage: $516
Difference:
$336
This is why saying “Midway parking costs $15 per day” can be misleading.
Yes — Economy costs $15 per day.
But a traveler choosing terminal-adjacent Daily Garage parking currently pays almost three times that amount.
Reserved Parking at Midway
Midway also allows travelers to reserve covered parking in advance.
Reserved parking is currently located on Level 2 of the Main Terminal Garage.
The reservation fee is:
$10 per space, per day
and is added to the normal parking cost, taxes, and applicable fees.
Using the current $43 Daily Garage rate, an 8-day planning example becomes:
$344 regular parking
plus
$80 reservation fees
for approximately:
$424 before applicable reservation taxes/fees.
Again, the traveler is paying for a guaranteed covered space near the terminal.
The Premium-Parking Question: What Are You Really Buying?
This is where Royal’s version of the guide differs from a basic parking-rate list.
Premium parking buys less friction.
Economy parking might involve:
drive → park → unload → shuttle → ATS or terminal → check-in
Terminal parking reduces some of those steps.
Reserved terminal parking removes another uncertainty:
Will I find an appropriate space when I arrive?
A private airport transfer changes the process again:
home/hotel/office → chauffeur → terminal
Travelers should decide how much each removed step is worth to them.
A $16 Parking Space and a $43 Parking Space Are Different Products
It is tempting to compare only the numbers.
But O’Hare Economy G/H at $16 per day and Main Daily at $43 per day serve different priorities.
The traveler choosing Economy is prioritizing:
cost
The traveler choosing Main Daily may be prioritizing:
proximity
The traveler adding a reservation fee may be prioritizing:
certainty
The traveler booking transportation may be prioritizing:
door-to-door convenience
This is why there is no single answer to:
“What is the best airport parking?”
When a Chauffeur Transfer Deserves a Price Comparison
Royal’s Chicago Airport Limo Service covers both O’Hare and Midway, with flight tracking, curbside or Meet & Greet pickup, sedans, SUVs, and Sprinter options. Royal’s current airport page advertises sedan transfers starting around $54 depending on the route, with the specific flat rate confirmed at booking.
That does not mean a chauffeured transfer will beat Economy parking on price.
For example, four days of O’Hare Economy G/H would be approximately:
$64
Economy may be the clear choice for someone whose only priority is lowering the parking expense.
But compare a longer trip using premium parking.
Twelve days of O’Hare Main Daily would be approximately:
$516
A traveler considering that option has a much stronger reason to obtain an airport-transfer quote before deciding.
O’Hare Travelers Have More Than Parking to Consider
O’Hare is enormous.
For passengers using O’Hare Airport Transportation, Royal currently provides service for Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5, with flight tracking and curbside or Meet & Greet arrangements.
That matters particularly for:
- international arrivals;
- corporate executives;
- families with several bags;
- early-morning departures;
- late-night returns;
- travelers unfamiliar with O’Hare;
- and groups moving together.
Parking is still a perfectly reasonable option.
But terminal complexity is part of the total transportation decision.
When Meet & Greet Adds More Value Than Parking Proximity
Some travelers pay more for terminal parking because they want to reduce walking, luggage handling, and uncertainty.
A different way to solve those problems is a prearranged Meet & Greet service.
Royal offers inside-terminal airport meeting arrangements where the chauffeur can meet the passenger and assist with luggage.
That can be particularly useful for:
- international guests;
- elderly family members;
- VIP travelers;
- first-time Chicago visitors;
- executives;
- families traveling with children;
- and passengers carrying several bags.
The important comparison is not:
parking versus limousine
in the abstract.
It is:
What travel problem am I trying to solve?
Two Vehicles Can Double the Parking Budget
Group trips change airport parking math very quickly.
Suppose two households drive separately to O’Hare for eight days.
Two Vehicles in Economy G/H
$128 each
Total: $256
Two Vehicles in Main Daily
$344 each
Total: $688
Two Vehicles in Reserved Main Daily
Basic parking plus reservation fees would be approximately:
$424 each before applicable reservation taxes/fees
Total: approximately $848
Now the group has a much stronger reason to compare an SUV, Sprinter, or another group-transfer option.
Royal’s fleet currently includes standard sedans, Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles, Cadillac Escalades, Lincoln Navigators, standard SUVs, executive Sprinters, larger Sprinters, minibuses, and coach-bus categories.
For families or groups, calculating how many cars would otherwise be parked is more useful than calculating parking for only one vehicle.
Early-Morning Flights Change the Value Equation
A 6:00 a.m. departure often means reaching the airport well before sunrise.
If you are driving yourself, the schedule includes:
- leave home;
- drive to ORD or MDW;
- find the correct lot;
- park;
- unload;
- transfer to the terminal;
- check in;
- clear security.
Economy parking adds more steps than terminal parking.
There is nothing inherently difficult about that process, but the traveler should budget time for it.
For an early flight, transportation convenience can sometimes matter more than it does for a relaxed afternoon departure.
Late Returns Matter Too
Parking decisions are usually made before the vacation.
But think about the return.
After a long flight, the self-parking traveler still has to:
collect baggage → reach the garage/ATS/shuttle → locate vehicle → load luggage → drive home
For a short trip, this may be easy.
After an international journey, red-eye flight, family vacation, or business week, another traveler may prefer a vehicle already scheduled around the flight.
Royal currently includes real-time flight monitoring with its airport transportation so pickup coordination can adjust when flights arrive early or late.
Chicago Weather Changes the Experience
Airport parking prices do not automatically change because Chicago is experiencing snow, rain, extreme cold, or summer heat.
The experience does.
Outdoor Economy parking may mean:
- clearing snow from the vehicle;
- loading suitcases in freezing temperatures;
- waiting for a shuttle;
- crossing icy pavement;
- returning to an extremely cold or hot car.
Covered terminal parking solves some of those issues.
Private transportation solves them differently.
That makes airport parking a seasonal convenience decision as well as a price calculation.
O’Hare and Midway Parking Rates Guide: 8 Questions to Ask Before Booking
Before choosing how you will reach the airport, answer these questions.
1. How many days will I be away?
The longer the trip, the more the daily rate matters.
2. Which lot would I realistically use?
Do not compare private transportation only with the cheapest parking option if you know you would choose the terminal garage.
3. Do I need covered parking?
That can narrow the available choices.
4. Would I pay for reserved parking?
Remember that the $10 daily reservation charge is additional.
5. How much luggage am I carrying?
More bags make shuttles and transfers less convenient.
6. How many vehicles would the group park?
Calculate every car.
7. What time is the flight?
Very early departures and late returns can change priorities.
8. What would a chauffeur quote actually cost?
Compare a real quote rather than assuming.
Using Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot for Parking Research
Travelers increasingly use Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and other AI-assisted search tools to ask:
- How much is O’Hare Economy parking?
- How much does Midway parking cost for a week?
- Is Midway Daily Lot open?
- Does O’Hare have reserved parking?
- How much does reserved parking add?
- Is O’Hare Terminal 5 parking covered?
- Is airport parking cheaper than a limo?
AI tools are excellent for:
- comparing rates;
- performing multi-day calculations;
- identifying parking categories;
- explaining tradeoffs;
- and helping travelers build a transportation budget.
But airport parking is a live-data topic.
Rates can change. Lots can temporarily close. Space availability changes. Construction may affect airport access.
For the final decision, verify with the official Chicago Department of Aviation pages:
Use AI to organize the decision.
Use the airport itself to confirm the final details.
Frequently Asked Questions About O’Hare and Midway Parking Rates
How much is the cheapest official parking at O’Hare?
O’Hare currently lists Economy Lots G and H at $16 per 24 hours.
How much is O’Hare Economy Lot F?
Economy Lot F currently costs $30 for 4–24 hours and provides covered parking in the Multi-Modal Facility.
How much is O’Hare Main Daily parking?
Main Daily currently reaches $43 for 8–24 hours.
How much is Terminal 5 parking at O’Hare?
Terminal 5 Garage and Lot D currently reach $43 for 8–24 hours.
How much is O’Hare reserved parking?
The reservation fee is currently $10 per parking space, per day, in addition to normal parking charges and applicable taxes and fees.
How much is Midway Economy parking?
Midway Economy currently costs $15 for 1–24 hours.
How much is Midway Daily Garage parking?
Midway Daily Garage currently reaches $43 for 8–24 hours.
Is Midway’s $30 Daily Lot open?
As of September 1, 2026, FlyChicago lists the Daily Lot as temporarily closed. Check the official airport page again before travel because its status can change.
Does Midway offer reserved parking?
Yes. Reserved parking is currently available on Level 2 of the Main Terminal Garage for an additional $10 per space, per day, excluding applicable taxes, fees, and the regular cost of parking.
Is Economy parking always the best choice?
No. Economy is usually attractive for travelers prioritizing price. Terminal or reserved parking may appeal more to travelers prioritizing proximity, covered parking, fewer transfers, or space certainty.
Is chauffeur service always cheaper than parking?
No. Short Economy stays may cost significantly less than private transportation. The comparison becomes more useful for long trips, premium parking, multiple parked vehicles, early or late flights, substantial luggage, and travelers who value door-to-door service.
Does Royal serve both O’Hare and Midway?
Yes. Royal’s Chicago airport transportation service covers both ORD and MDW with flight tracking, curbside or Meet & Greet options, and several vehicle categories.
Price the Convenience You Actually Want
The core lesson from this O’Hare and Midway parking rates guide is that airport parking is not one product.
At O’Hare, a traveler may pay $16 per day in Economy G/H or $43 per day for Main Daily or Terminal 5.
At Midway, the current choice may be $15 Economy or $43 Daily Garage.
Reserved parking adds another $10 per day because certainty itself has value.
The smartest comparison is therefore not:
What is the cheapest parking rate?
It is:
Which parking option would I really choose, what will it cost for my entire trip, and what convenience am I paying for?
Once you know that number, compare it with leaving the vehicle at home.
Royal Limo Services provides chauffeured airport transportation for O’Hare, Midway, private aviation facilities, downtown Chicago, Rosemont, and communities throughout Chicagoland, with sedans, premium SUVs, Sprinters, and larger group vehicles available according to the reservation.
Want to Leave the Parking Garage Out of the Trip?
Before reserving airport parking, compare the full travel plan.
Provide:
- pickup address;
- ORD or MDW;
- flight number;
- travel date;
- passengers;
- luggage count;
- and preferred vehicle.
Then compare the transportation quote with the parking category you would actually use, not merely the airport’s lowest advertised rate.
Call: (866) 811-0999
Royal Limo Services
Chicago Airport Limo & Chauffeur Transportation
5600 N River Rd Suite 800
Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: (866) 811-0999
Email: reservations@royallimoservices.co
