USDChicago Midway Airport Parking — 4.9-Star Lot for $4 Less Than the Official Option (2026)
Quick answer: Midway Airport (MDW) has five parking options from $10.99/day to $15/day. The remarkable data point: Park 'N Fly Chicago Midway at 5200 W. 47th St. holds a 4.9-star rating across 5,902 reviews at $10.99/day. The official Economy Lot costs $15/day and has 6,451 reviews at 3.9 stars — worse rating, more expensive. The Hampton Inn at $13.95/day (4.2★, 1,338 reviews) is the best hotel option.
Chicago Midway Airport Parking Rates: All Active Options (2026)
| Facility | Daily Rate | 7-Day Total | Shuttle Every | Rating | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park 'N Fly Chicago Midway (5200 W. 47th St., Forest View) | $10.99 | $76.93 | 15 min | 4.9★ (5,902) | Off-site lot |
| Park Ride + Fly Chicago Midway (5200 W. 47th St., Forest View) | $11.00 | $77.00 | 15 min | 4.9★ (5,902) | Off-site lot |
| Midway HotSpot Airport Parking (4901 W 47th St., Chicago) | $11.97 | $83.79 | 15 min | 3.9★ (153) | Off-site lot |
| Hampton Inn Chicago Midway Airport (6540 S Cicero Ave, Chicago) | $13.95 | $97.65 | On-site | 4.2★ (1,338) | Hotel |
| Economy Parking — Chicago-Midway Airport (5700 S Cicero Ave, Chicago) | $15.00 | $105.00 | 10 min | 3.9★ (6,451) | On-site |
Note: Park 'N Fly and Park Ride + Fly share an address (5200 W. 47th St.) and identical review data — likely the same facility operating under two booking brands.
4.9 Stars on 5,902 Reviews: The Off-Site Lot That Dominates Midway
Park 'N Fly Chicago Midway at 5200 W. 47th Street, Forest View, IL has a 4.9-star rating across 5,902 reviews. That is one of the highest-rated parking lots in the ParkingAccess system for any US airport with this review volume. A 4.9-star average across nearly 6,000 reviews is not an artifact of a small sample — it's a robust operational signal.
It costs $10.99/day. The official Midway Economy Lot costs $15/day with 6,451 reviews at 3.9 stars.
The math: Park 'N Fly at $10.99/day vs. Economy Lot at $15/day = $4.01/day savings. On a 7-day trip: $28.07 savings. On a 14-day trip: $56.14 savings. And the off-site option has a 1.0-star rating advantage. This is the clearest "don't use the official lot" case in the Chicago area parking market.
The 7-Day Comparison: Off-Site vs. On-Site
| Option | Daily Rate | 7-Day Total | Rating | Shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park 'N Fly (off-site) | $10.99 | $76.93 | 4.9★ (5,902) | 15 min |
| Economy Lot (on-site) | $15.00 | $105.00 | 3.9★ (6,451) | 10 min |
| Difference | $4.01 less | $28.07 less | 1.0★ better | 5 min more wait |
The only dimension where the official lot wins is shuttle frequency — 10 minutes vs. 15. For $28 savings and a 1.0-star experience improvement over 7 days, the 5-minute extra shuttle wait is not a significant tradeoff.
Hampton Inn Midway: When the Hotel Option Makes Sense
The Hampton Inn Chicago Midway at 6540 S Cicero Avenue costs $13.95/day with 4.2 stars across 1,338 reviews. It's the hotel park-and-fly option at Midway — more expensive than Park 'N Fly by $2.96/day, with lower ratings.
The Hampton makes sense in one specific scenario: you're flying at 5 AM and want to sleep on-site the night before. The hotel-stay + parking combination means no early morning drive, a guaranteed parking spot already secured, and a short walk to the shuttle. For a one-night pre-departure stay combined with a 7-day trip, the math looks like: one night hotel (at current Hampton rate) + $13.95/day × 7 days parking. Whether that beats driving and parking at Park 'N Fly depends entirely on where you're coming from and what the hotel night costs.
For parking only: Park 'N Fly is the better call at $2.96/day less and a higher rating.
Midway vs. O'Hare: The Airport Choice That Changes Your Parking Decision
Chicago has two major airports: Midway (MDW) on the southwest side and O'Hare (ORD) on the northwest side. The right airport depends entirely on where you're going and where you're coming from — but the parking dynamic is different at each.
| Factor | Chicago Midway (MDW) | Chicago O'Hare (ORD) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southwest Chicago, 10 miles from downtown | Northwest Chicago, 17 miles from downtown |
| Best off-site parking | $10.99/day (Park 'N Fly, 4.9★) | Varies; O'Hare market is larger |
| CTA access | Orange Line direct to Loop (35 min) | Blue Line direct to Loop (45 min) |
| Primary carrier | Southwest Airlines (dominant) | United (hub), American (hub), international |
| Annual passengers | ~20 million | ~68 million |
For Chicago South Side and southwest suburb travelers (Bridgeport, Oak Lawn, Naperville, Orland Park), Midway is significantly closer and has the Park 'N Fly price advantage. O'Hare is correct for northwest suburbs and any international itinerary.
CTA Orange Line to Midway: Transit That Genuinely Competes With Parking
Chicago Midway is served directly by the CTA Orange Line, which runs from the Loop (downtown Chicago) to Midway Airport station. The ride from downtown takes approximately 30-35 minutes. A single CTA fare is $2.50, making a round trip $5.00 — one of the cheapest transit options for any major US airport.
At $5 round trip, CTA transit beats every parking option at Midway for trips under 2 days. The break-even:
| Trip Length | CTA Round Trip | Park 'N Fly ($10.99/day) | Economy Lot ($15/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $5.00 | $10.99 | $15.00 |
| 2 days | $5.00 | $21.98 | $30.00 |
| 3 days | $5.00 | $32.97 | $45.00 |
| 5 days | $5.00 | $54.95 | $75.00 |
| 7 days | $5.00 | $76.93 | $105.00 |
CTA wins on pure cost for any trip length if you're coming from the Loop or a CTA-accessible neighborhood. The limitation: you need to get to a CTA station first. For south and southwest suburb residents — Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Naperville — driving and using Park 'N Fly beats the CTA connection overhead for trips of 3+ days.
Driving vs. Rideshare at Midway: South Chicago Origins
| Origin | Rideshare Round Trip (est.) | Park 'N Fly Break-Even |
|---|---|---|
| South Loop / Bronzeville | $28–45 | 3–4 days |
| Oak Lawn / Evergreen Park | $18–30 | 2–3 days |
| Orland Park / Tinley Park | $28–45 | 3–4 days |
| Naperville / Bolingbrook | $40–65 | 4–6 days |
| Downtown Chicago (Loop) | $30–50 + CTA option | CTA beats all at $5 round trip |
Chicago Midway International Airport: Key Facts
Chicago Midway International Airport (IATA: MDW) is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and served approximately 20 million passengers in 2024. Located at 5700 S Cicero Ave in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Chicago's southwest side, it is one of the busiest airports in the Midwest.
Southwest Airlines is overwhelmingly the dominant carrier at Midway, accounting for approximately 90% of all flights. This makes Midway a Southwest-centric operation — leisure travel, budget fares, no assigned seating. If you're flying Southwest domestically from Chicago, Midway is your airport. Delta and a few other carriers serve MDW in smaller volumes.
Terminal and Parking Structure
Midway has a single terminal. The airport completed a major renovation in 2001 and has been consistently upgraded since. The off-site lots (Park 'N Fly, HotSpot) are in the 47th Street corridor just north of the airport boundary; the official Economy Lot is south on Cicero Avenue with its own shuttle system.
When Off-Site Parking at Midway Isn't the Right Choice
What the MDW 4.9-Star Rating Tells Us About Airport Parking Operations
Park 'N Fly Chicago Midway's 4.9-star rating on 5,902 reviews is exceptional. For context: the TPA Economy Lot has 4.6★ on 27,456 reviews. ALB's Economy E-Lot has 4.2★ on 3,014 reviews. BWI's Econopark has 4.8★ on 5,712 reviews. MDW's Park 'N Fly at 4.9★ sits at the top of the off-site lot quality spectrum among all airports in the ParkingAccess system.
The contrast with the official Economy Lot (3.9★ on 6,451 reviews) is significant: more reviews, lower rating. The official lot's volume is higher (6,451 vs. 5,902), which makes its lower rating more statistically credible. This pattern — dedicated off-site lot outperforming official on-site lot by 1.0+ stars — appears at MDW, CLT (Park 'N Go vs. official), and SFO (SkyPark vs. official). Operationally focused parking companies appear to consistently deliver better experiences than airport-managed on-site facilities.
Chicago Midway Airport Parking: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to park at Chicago Midway Airport?
Chicago Midway (MDW) parking ranges from $10.99/day (Park 'N Fly, off-site) to $15/day (official Economy Lot, on-site). The best option is Park 'N Fly at 5200 W. 47th St., Forest View at $10.99/day (4.9★, 5,902 reviews) — $4/day less than the official lot and a full star higher in rating. For a 7-day trip, Park 'N Fly costs $76.93 vs. $105 for the official lot.
Can you take the CTA to Chicago Midway Airport?
Yes. The CTA Orange Line runs directly to Midway Airport station. From the Loop (downtown Chicago), the ride takes approximately 30-35 minutes. A round trip costs $5.00, making it cheaper than every parking option for any trip length if you can access the CTA from your origin. The Orange Line runs from approximately 4 AM to 1 AM daily.
What is the best parking lot at Chicago Midway Airport?
Park 'N Fly Chicago Midway at 5200 W. 47th Street, Forest View, IL is the best option: 4.9★ across 5,902 reviews at $10.99/day with a 15-minute shuttle and 10-minute ride to the terminal. It outperforms the official Economy Lot on both price ($4.01/day less) and rating (1.0 star higher). For hotel parking, the Hampton Inn at $13.95/day (4.2★) is the best hotel-based option.
Is the Midway official Economy Lot worth using?
The official Economy Lot at $15/day has 6,451 reviews at 3.9 stars — validated but mediocre. Park 'N Fly at $10.99/day is a 1.0-star improvement at $4/day less. Use the Economy Lot only if Park 'N Fly is sold out or if you specifically need on-site parking for a very early/late flight where shuttle reliability is critical.
What airlines fly out of Chicago Midway Airport?
Southwest Airlines accounts for the vast majority of flights at Chicago Midway International Airport — approximately 90% of all operations. Delta Air Lines also serves MDW. For flights on United, American, international carriers, and non-Southwest routes, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the correct Chicago airport.
How early should I arrive at Midway when using off-site parking?
Plan to arrive at Park 'N Fly 80-90 minutes before domestic departure: shuttle every 15 minutes, 10-minute ride to terminal, plus ~20 minutes for security at MDW's typically brisk TSA lines. Add extra time during Thanksgiving week and spring break — MDW's Southwest-dominated schedule creates peak demand at typical leisure travel times.
