CTA Blue Line: Route, Stations and Guide

The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours a day from O’Hare International Airport through downtown Chicago to Forest Park. It has 33 stations, and the ride from O’Hare to downtown normally takes 40 to 45 minutes. The fare from O’Hare is $5 as of 2026.

Fact	Blue Line
Terminals	O’Hare (northwest) and Forest Park (west)
Stations	33
Length	About 26.9 miles
Hours	24 hours a day; some overnight trains end at UIC-Halsted
Downtown route	Milwaukee-Dearborn subway (Clark/Lake to LaSalle)
Airport	O’Hare station on the lower level, linked to Terminals 1, 2 and 3
Fare from O’Hare	$5 full fare (no extra charge with an unlimited pass)

Route overview

The O’Hare branch runs from the airport through Rosemont and along the Kennedy Expressway to Jefferson Park and Logan Square. The Kennedy section opened to Jefferson Park in 1970 and reached O’Hare on September 3, 1984. Closer in, the line uses the 1895 Metropolitan West Side elevated route through Bucktown and Wicker Park, then enters the Dearborn Street subway, which opened on February 25, 1951.

West of downtown, the Forest Park branch runs in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway past UIC-Halsted, the Illinois Medical District, Garfield Park and Oak Park to Forest Park. That branch opened as the Congress line on June 22, 1958.

Hours and service

CTA describes the Blue Line as 24-hour rapid transit service, and the O’Hare to Forest Park direction runs at all times. At some hours, trains from O’Hare go through downtown and end at UIC-Halsted instead of Forest Park.

Stations, O’Hare to Forest Park

#	Station	Area	Transfers and notes
1	O’Hare	O’Hare Airport	Airport terminals 1, 2 and 3
2	Rosemont	Rosemont	Park and Ride
3	Cumberland		Park and Ride
4	Harlem (O’Hare branch)	Norwood Park	Park and Ride
5	Jefferson Park	Jefferson Park	Metra Union Pacific Northwest
6	Montrose	Irving Park/Portage Park	Metra Milwaukee District North at Mayfair
7	Irving Park	Irving Park
8	Addison	Avondale/Irving Park
9	Belmont	Avondale
10	Logan Square	Logan Square
11	California	Palmer Square
12	Western (O’Hare branch)	Bucktown
13	Damen	Wicker Park
14	Division
15	Chicago	Ukrainian Village
16	Grand	West Town
17	Clark/Lake	The Loop	Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple
18	Washington	The Loop	Red at Lake with farecard
19	Monroe	The Loop
20	Jackson	The Loop	Red; Brown, Orange, Pink, Purple at Harold Washington Library with farecard
21	LaSalle	The Loop	Metra Rock Island at LaSalle Street Station
22	Clinton	Near Union Station	Metra and Amtrak at Union Station
23	UIC-Halsted	Greektown
24	Racine	Near West Side
25	Illinois Medical District	Near West Side
26	Western (Forest Park branch)	Tri-Taylor
27	Kedzie-Homan	East Garfield Park
28	Pulaski	West Garfield Park
29	Cicero	Austin
30	Austin	Oak Park
31	Oak Park	Oak Park
32	Harlem (Forest Park branch)	Forest Park
33	Forest Park	Forest Park	Park and Ride

Getting to and from O’Hare

The O’Hare station is on the lower-level concourse and connects to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. From baggage claim in those terminals the walk takes less than ten minutes.

From Terminal 5, take the free Airport Transit System train to Terminal 2 and follow signs for CTA Trains. Every train leaving O’Hare goes through downtown.

The full fare boarding at O’Hare is $5, deducted when you enter. Riders using an unlimited ride pass board at O’Hare at no extra charge. A single-ride Ventra ticket sold at O’Hare is $5 and includes up to two transfers within two hours.

Notable stations and what is near them

Logan Square: the stop for Logan Square.
California: near Palmer Square.
Western (O’Hare branch) and Damen: serve Bucktown and Wicker Park.
Chicago: the Ukrainian Village area.
Clinton: the closest Blue Line stop to Union Station, for Metra and Amtrak.
UIC-Halsted: Greektown and the University of Illinois Chicago.
Illinois Medical District: the hospital and medical campus district on the Near West Side.

Transfers

Clark/Lake: Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple lines.
Washington: Red Line at Lake, with a farecard.
Jackson: Red Line, and Loop lines at Harold Washington Library with a farecard.
Jefferson Park: Metra Union Pacific Northwest line.
Montrose: Metra Milwaukee District North at Mayfair.
LaSalle: Metra Rock Island at LaSalle Street Station.
Clinton: Metra and Amtrak at Union Station.

Tips for riding the Blue Line

Budget 40 to 45 minutes from O’Hare to the Loop, longer during track work.
CTA schedules overnight track work on the O’Hare branch from time to time; check CTA alerts before an airport trip.
Rosemont, Cumberland, Harlem (O’Hare branch) and Forest Park have Park and Ride lots.
For Metra and Amtrak trains at Union Station, use the Clinton stop.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Blue Line run 24 hours?

Yes. The Blue Line runs around the clock, although some overnight trains from O’Hare end at UIC-Halsted.

How long does the Blue Line take from O’Hare to downtown?

CTA says the trip normally takes 40 to 45 minutes.

How much is the Blue Line from O’Hare?

The full fare boarding at O’Hare is $5 as of 2026. Rides into O’Hare cost the standard $2.50 L fare.

Where is the Blue Line station at O’Hare?

On the lower-level concourse, connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. From Terminal 5, take the Airport Transit System to Terminal 2.