How long will it take to get to O'Hare?
 

I'll be returning home from Chicago on a Monday morning flight and wonder how long it is going to take to get from western suburbs to O'Hare?
Mapquest shows 40 miles/50 minutes, but I'm thinking that doesn't account for AM traffic. I'm on a 9:45 flight.
Hopefully some locals can help me out.
Thanks for the help :-)

Where in the western suburbs? I live in the far western burbs and have about a 40-mile commute to O'Hare. I've had it take anywhere from 45 minutes to about two hours.

I-88 is under construction (as it has been for most of the four years we've lived here), and the northbound side of I-294 is the heavier side in the morning. If you are aiming to be at the airport by around 8:30, I would allow 90 minutes to get there. Add more if you're returning a rental car, as this is not in the terminal. And err on the high side if there's bad weather.

I would guess that you should leave by 6:45 A.M.but check with the staff at your hotel to be safe. You'll want to arrive at the airport by 8 A.M. because the traffic will get exponentially worse between 8 and 9. Are you coming via I-294 (the tri-state expressway)? If you are using a major highway, you can go to cltv.com and check out their handy map of traffic slowdowns.

When you're at O'Hare, look for the smaller security stations - they are generally faster. For Terminals 1 and 3 head in the direction of Terminal Two. The small stations look as though they are for employees, but anyone can use them.

Thanks for the info! (I'll be coming from Crystal Lake).

Oh...that's from the northwest and will involve a different route via I-290. I don't have any recent experience with I-290 (I live just off I-88), so hopefully someone else who lives in that area can help.

I live in McHenry and was talking to a coworker who lives in LITH just west of CL. You are right, Monday am traffic will be bad. He said it would take more like 90 minutes then. For a 9:45 flight and getting there around 7:45, you would normally leave about 7:00. Do yourself a favor and leave about 5:45/6:00. Then stop somewhere near the airport (Mannheim Rd or River Rd) and eat breakfast, or have a bagel, yogurt or McDonald's breakfast in the terminal and read the newspaper or a magazine. A whole lot less stressful!

You'll probably travel Randall Rd to I-90 East. Don't take 290. Stay on I-90 and exit at O'Hare. After the toll booth, you can exit at Mannheim to find a restaurant, or proceed directly to the terminals or car rental drop-off.

Thanks. I think we will leave nice and early. I'd much rather have extra time at the airport rather than be stuck in traffic, stressing out.

If you are going to get on 90 at Randall or 31, try and hit the tollway before 7...ideally before 6:30. It is slow going for the last 8-10 miles before you get to the airport exit.

If you are willing to do it off the expressway, I am familiar, but it is challenging to the unitiated.