O’Hare & Midway Airport Wait Times Right Now — What Chicago Travelers Need to Know

TRAVEL TIPS & UPDATES · MARCH 2026

If you’re flying out of or into Chicago this spring break season, you need to know what’s happening at O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) right now. Between record-breaking passenger volumes, ongoing TSA staffing shortages, and a partial federal government shutdown, conditions at both airports are more unpredictable than they’ve been in years. Here’s everything you need to know — backed by the latest data — so you don’t miss your flight.

What’s Causing the Delays?

Two major forces are colliding at Chicago’s airports this March. First, spring break travel is surging. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) expects more than 3.76 million passengers to pass through O’Hare and Midway between March 19 and March 30 — a more than 10% increase over the same period last year. O’Hare alone is projecting over 296,000 passengers on its single busiest day.

Second, and more critically, the partial federal government shutdown that began February 14 has left approximately 50,000 TSA agents nationwide working without pay, leading to significant call-out rates. At Midway specifically, nearly 30% of TSA officers called out sick on one recent weekend day, according to ABC7 Chicago. Nationally, over 450 TSA workers have resigned since the shutdown began, and the agency has warned that security checkpoints may need to be consolidated as a result.

“TSA simply cannot afford to lose its screening workforce as it takes four to six months to train new recruits. As TSO callouts rise, airport security checkpoints will need to be consolidated or reduced.” — U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement.

Current Wait Times at O’Hare (ORD)

As of Tuesday, March 24, 2026, travelers at O’Hare are reporting average TSA security wait times of 20 to 35 minutes at most checkpoints during normal hours. However, during morning and midday peak windows, waits have surged to 40 to 60 minutes — and experts warn peaks of 90 to 120 minutes are possible if staffing conditions worsen further.Time WindowEstimated WaitCongestion LevelBefore 6:00 AMUnder 10 minLow6:00 AM – 9:00 AM30 – 60 minHigh9:00 AM – 11:00 AM20 – 35 minModerate11:00 AM – 2:00 PM15 – 25 minModerate1:00 PM – 4:00 PM35 – 60 minHighAfter 8:00 PMUnder 15 minLow

One important note: O’Hare does not maintain an official real-time TSA wait time dashboard on its flychicago.com website. The MyTSA mobile app, which normally provides live wait times, is also not being actively updated during the shutdown. Terminal 5 (International Arrivals) has seen particularly long processing lines, with some reports of queues stretching nearly the length of the building.

Additionally, TSA PreCheck dedicated lanes have at times been closed due to lack of available personnel, forcing even vetted low-risk travelers into the general security queue — creating a cascading delay effect throughout the terminal.

Current Wait Times at Midway (MDW)

Midway Airport, a primary hub for Southwest Airlines and domestic leisure travel, is also under significant pressure. Friday, March 27 is expected to be Midway’s single busiest day of the spring break season, with over 52,000 travelers expected. The airport has seen a 1.4% increase in spring break travel compared to 2025.

Wait times at Midway have generally tracked slightly shorter than O’Hare during this period, given its smaller footprint and primarily domestic operations. However, the near-30% TSA officer call-out rate recorded on a recent weekend has made conditions highly unpredictable. CLEAR Lanes are available at Midway on the Mezzanine Level for eligible travelers.

IMPORTANT

Neither O’Hare nor Midway currently publish real-time TSA wait times on their websites. The CDA recommends monitoring flychicago.com, airline notifications, and local news apps for the most current conditions. Do not rely on the MyTSA app during the shutdown period — its data may be outdated.

How Early Should You Arrive?

Given current conditions, both the TSA and the Chicago Department of Aviation have issued updated guidance on arrival times. Travel expert Julian Kheel, CEO of Points Path, recommends adding at least one hour to your normal arrival window on top of standard TSA recommendations.Flight TypeStandard RecommendationCurrent Recommendation (Spring 2026)Domestic (carry-on only)90 min2.5 – 3 hoursDomestic (checked bags)2 hours3 hoursInternational3 hours3.5 – 4 hoursPeak hours (6–9 AM, 1–4 PM)—Add 30–60 min extra

5 Tips to Get Through Faster

1. Enroll in TSA PreCheck or CLEAR.PreCheck members typically wait around 4 minutes — roughly half the standard line. CLEAR is available at O’Hare Terminals 1, 2, and 5, and at Midway on the Mezzanine Level.
2. Fly before 6 AM or after 8 PM. Historical data shows these are consistently the lowest-congestion windows at O’Hare. Early morning flights also have the best on-time performance.
3. Check in online and use a mobile boarding pass. Skip the check-in counter entirely and go straight to security. Every minute counts right now.
4. Pack smart. Remove all liquids, laptops, and metal items before reaching the bin — every fumble in line adds 30–60 seconds of delay for everyone behind you.
5. Book your ground transportation in advance. The last thing you want after a long security line is to discover there’s a 45-minute wait for a rideshare, or that Uber is surging 3x because of the crowds. Pre-booking a flat-rate black car service eliminates that variable entirely.

Why Pre-Booked Ground Transportation Matters More Than Ever

Here’s the thing most travelers overlook: the airport chaos doesn’t just happen inside the terminal. Rideshare pickup zones at O’Hare and Midway become overwhelmed during spring break peaks. Uber and Lyft surge pricing regularly spikes 2–3x during high-demand windows, and wait times for a pickup can stretch to 20–40 minutes — right after you’ve already spent an hour in the security line.

When you pre-book a professional black car service, your driver is already tracking your flight, adjusting for delays in real time, and waiting for you when you land — not the other way around. At BlackCarIllinois, we use live flight tracking on every single ride so that whether your flight lands early or two hours late, your chauffeur is there. Flat rates mean no surge pricing surprises, ever.

 Skip the Rideshare Chaos — Book Your Ride Now

Flat-rate black car service to & from O’Hare and Midway. Flight tracking included. Licensed & insured. 24/7 availability across Illinois, Wisconsin & Indiana.

Spring break travel in Chicago this year is genuinely more complicated than usual. The combination of record passenger volumes and TSA staffing shortages means unpredictability is baked into the experience right now. Your best defense is time — arrive earlier than you think you need to, keep an eye on airline notifications, and take the ground transportation variable completely off your plate by pre-booking. Safe travels.

Sources: Chicago Sun-Times (March 24, 2026) · NBC Chicago (March 23, 2026) · ABC7 Chicago (March 22, 2026) · Chicago Department of Aviation official press release (March 19, 2026) · Fox 32 Chicago (March 20, 2026) · Axios Chicago (March 19, 2026) · IBTimes Australia (March 24, 2026) · FlightQueue.com (March 25, 2026) · U.S. Department of Homeland Security