Midway is weird. If you've spent your life flying through O'Hare, landing at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) feels like stepping into a different era, or maybe just a much smaller, more efficient shoe box. It’s compact. It’s square. It sits right in the middle of a residential neighborhood where planes look like they’re going to clip the chimneys of bungalows on 63rd Street. Because it’s so small compared to the sprawling chaos of O'Hare, people assume they don't need a map of Midway Airport Chicago until they’re actually standing in the middle of the terminal trying to figure out where the heck Concourse A went.
Honestly, the layout is actually one of its best features.
You’ve got one main terminal building. That's it. From that central hub, three concourses—A, B, and C—branch out like fingers. But because of how the security checkpoints and the famous "Battle of Midway" memorial are positioned, it’s easy to get turned around if you aren't paying attention to the overhead signs.
The Layout You’ll Actually Encounter
Most people enter through the front doors on Cicero Avenue. You walk in, and you’re immediately in the ticketing and check-in area. It’s a long, straight hall. If you’re looking at a map of Midway Airport Chicago, you’ll see that the whole place is basically a giant "T" shape.
The top bar of the T is where you check your bags and print your boarding pass. Then, you head upstairs. This is the part that trips up first-timers. The security checkpoint at Midway is massive—it bridges over Cicero Avenue. You’re literally walking over traffic while TSA checks your shoes. Once you’re through that gauntlet, you land in the Central Market. This is the heart of the airport. If you’re meeting someone or need a quick Chicago-style hot dog from Gold Coast Dogs, this is your North Star.
From the Central Market:
- Concourse A is to your left. It handles a lot of the international arrivals and a mix of domestic flights.
- Concourse B is straight ahead. This is the Southwest Airlines kingdom. Since Southwest owns something like 90% of the gates here, you’ll probably spend most of your time in this long, straight hallway.
- Concourse C is tucked away to the right. It’s the smallest of the three. If you’re on a regional jet or a smaller carrier, you’re headed this way.
Why the Gate Numbers Can Be Confusing
Usually, airports number things logically. Midway mostly does this, but the physical distance between Gate A1 and Gate B1 is further than you’d think because you have to loop back through that Central Market.
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You can’t just walk from the end of A to the end of B. You have to go back to the hub.
If you look at the map of Midway Airport Chicago, you’ll notice that Concourse A has a weird little elbow in it. Gates A4A and A4B are notorious for being just slightly out of the way. If your flight is boarding in ten minutes and you’re still at the Harry Caray’s Seventh Inning Stretch in the Central Market, you need to move. It’s about a five to seven-minute brisk walk to the far end of Concourse A or B.
Concourse C is a different beast. It only has about a dozen gates. It feels a bit like the "forgotten" concourse, but it’s actually the fastest to get out of once you land. If you’re flying Volaris or Allegiant, you might find yourself over here.
Real Talk About the "Midway Shuffle"
There is a specific movement frequent flyers do here. Because the airport is so cramped, the moving walkways are your best friend. But—and this is a big but—they are often under maintenance. When you’re studying the map of Midway Airport Chicago, don't assume those walkways will be moving.
Midway was originally built in 1927. It was the world's busiest airport before O'Hare took the crown in the 50s. Because it’s land-locked by the city grid, it can’t grow outward. Everything is built "up" or "tight." This means the hallways are narrower than modern airports like Denver or DFW. During a holiday rush, the map looks less like a floor plan and more like a crowded subway station.
Where to Find the Essentials
If you're hungry, the map is your menu. The Central Market is where the "big" food lives. Potbelly, Reilly’s Daughter, and the aforementioned Gold Coast Dogs are all right there. But if you’re deep in Concourse A, you’ve got options like Billy Goat Tavern. (Yes, the "Cheezborger" place).
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- Restrooms: They are tucked behind the main restaurant clusters. There’s a particularly large set right after you clear security before you hit the gates.
- Mother’s Rooms: Midway is actually pretty great for families. There’s a nursing room near the Yoga Room (yes, there is a Yoga Room) in the Concourse C neck.
- Animal Relief: If you’re traveling with a dog, there’s an indoor relief area near Gate A4. This is a lifesaver because getting back out through security to the grassy patches on Cicero is a nightmare.
The Connection to the CTA Orange Line
One thing the official map of Midway Airport Chicago sometimes undersells is the walk to the "L" train. If you are taking the Orange Line downtown, you aren't just walking out the front door.
You have to follow the signs for "Ground Transportation" and "Trains to City." You’ll go through a long, enclosed pedestrian bridge that feels like it’s a mile long. It isn't, but after a four-hour flight, it feels like it. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the baggage claim to the Orange Line station. If you have heavy bags, look for the elevators—the escalators in that corridor are notoriously finicky.
Navigating the Baggage Claim and Ground Transport
Once you land, everyone funnels toward the same spot. You’ll head back toward the Central Market, back over Cicero Avenue (the bridge again), and down to the lower level.
The baggage claim is split into two main areas. Check the monitors immediately. If you go to the wrong carousel, you might be waiting for a bag that's actually fifty yards away behind a wall.
Outside the baggage claim:
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): You usually have to go to a specific door and sometimes up a level to the departures floor, depending on the current airport construction rules. Check the app as soon as you land.
- Taxis: They’re lined up right outside the lower level. Honestly, for getting to the Loop, a taxi is often faster to snag than waiting for an Uber in the crowded "Cell Phone Lot" queue.
- Parking Shuttles: These pick up on the inner lanes. If you parked in the Economy Lot, look for the blue and white buses.
Technical Specs of the Airfield
For the geeks out there, the map of Midway Airport Chicago is a masterpiece of civil engineering. The airport occupies exactly one square mile. That’s it.
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The runways are arranged in an "X" pattern with a shorter runway cutting through. This is why you sometimes feel like the plane is braking incredibly hard when you land. The runways are shorter than those at O'Hare. Pilots have to be precise.
- Runway 4R/22L: This is the primary "long" runway.
- Runway 13C/31C: The other major strip.
Because the runways intersect, the ground traffic (taxis) can be a bit of a dance. If you’re sitting on the tarmac for twenty minutes, it’s usually because your plane is waiting for someone else to clear the "X."
Common Misconceptions
People think Midway is "the budget airport." While Southwest is the king here, Delta and Frontier also have a presence. It’s not just for low-cost carriers.
Another myth? That it’s always faster than O'Hare. While the map of Midway Airport Chicago is smaller and easier to navigate, the security lines can actually be longer because there’s only one main checkpoint. At O'Hare, if Terminal 1 is backed up, you might have luck at Terminal 3. At Midway, everyone goes through the same funnel. If a group of 200 high schoolers on a field trip hits security at the same time you do, you’re going to be there a while.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Visit
- Download the App: The Chicago Department of Aviation has a decent mobile site, but honestly, just having a high-res image of the terminal map saved to your photos is faster when the Wi-Fi is spotty.
- The "Triangle" Strategy: If the main food court is packed, walk halfway down Concourse A. There are smaller kiosks that usually have zero line for coffee or sandwiches.
- Pre-Check is Vital: Because there is only one security entrance, TSA Pre-Check saves more time here proportionally than almost any other airport in the country.
- Check the Cicero Traffic: If you are being dropped off, check Google Maps for the traffic on Cicero Avenue. Sometimes it’s faster to be dropped off at the Kiss 'n' Fly point at the CTA station and take the short shuttle/walk than to sit in the car line at the terminal.
- The Battle of Midway Memorial: Take two minutes to look at the SBD Dauntless dive bomber hanging in the terminal. It’s a real aircraft recovered from Lake Michigan. It’s located right in the middle of the terminal hub—use it as your landmark if you get lost.
Midway doesn't have to be stressful. It’s a neighborhood airport that grew up to be an international hub. Keep the "T" shape in your head: Ticketing at the base, Security in the middle, and the three Concourses fanning out at the top. If you can remember that, you don't even need the paper map. Just follow the smell of the popcorn from Garrett’s and you’ll find your way home.