The main private jet airports near Chicago are Midway (MDW), about 9 miles from the Loop; Chicago Executive (PWK) in Wheeling, closest to the North Shore; and DuPage (DPA) in West Chicago, with a 7,570-foot runway and on-site customs. Gary/Chicago (GYY) in Indiana and Waukegan (UGN) add options south and north, and O'Hare (ORD) handles private flights too.
Key takeaways
- Midway is the closest airport to downtown and has private terminals run by Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation.
- Chicago Executive is the North Shore's airport, but its main runway is about 5,000 feet, so larger jets on long trips may go elsewhere.
- DuPage has a 7,570-foot main runway, an FBO that advertises 24/7 service and user-fee customs.
- Gary/Chicago has an 8,860-foot runway on the Indiana side, convenient for the South Side and northwest Indiana.
- Customs is available at several airports, but hours and notice rules differ.
Which airports serve Chicago by private jet?
Six airports cover most private flights to the Chicago area. Runway and customs details are from the FAA airport data on AirNav, such as DuPage's listing, and CBP's list of user-fee airports.
| Airport | Longest runway | Customs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midway (MDW) | 6,520 ft | CBP port of entry | The Loop, South Loop, Hyde Park |
| Chicago Executive (PWK), Wheeling | 5,000 ft | CBP user fee | North Shore, northwest suburbs |
| DuPage (DPA), West Chicago | 7,570 ft | CBP user fee | Western suburbs, large jets |
| O'Hare (ORD) | 13,000 ft | Yes | Airline connections, the largest jets |
| Gary/Chicago (GYY), Indiana | 8,860 ft | Customs landing rights | South Side, northwest Indiana |
| Waukegan (UGN) | 6,000 ft | CBP user fee, advance notice | Lake Forest, Lake County, the Wisconsin border |
To compare what each aircraft class costs from Chicago, use our private jet charter cost calculator, and for airports in other cities see the top private jet airports in the US.
Why use Midway for a private jet to Chicago?
Midway is the closest airport to downtown Chicago, about 9 miles from the Loop in a straight line. It is a busy airline airport, but private flights use separate FBO terminals run by Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation.
What to know about Midway:
- Runways: the two main runways are about 6,520 and 6,450 feet, fine for light, midsize and super midsize jets on most trips.
- Customs: Midway is listed as a CBP port of entry for Illinois.
- Noise: departures are asked to climb quickly through 1,500 feet at night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Midway suits the Loop, the South Loop, the Near West Side and Hyde Park. For a jet heading a very long way with full fuel, the operator may prefer a longer runway.
When is Chicago Executive (PWK) the better choice?
Chicago Executive is the closest private aviation airport to the North Shore, about 8 miles from Winnetka and 10 from Lake Forest in a straight line, and about 21 miles from the Loop.
- Runway: the main runway is about 5,000 feet. That works well for light jets and midsize jets, and for many larger jets on shorter trips. A heavy jet departing for Europe at full fuel will usually need a longer runway.
- FBOs: Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation operate there.
- Customs: Chicago Executive is a CBP user-fee airport.
- Noise: the airport has noise-sensitive areas to the north and south and noise abatement procedures.
For North Shore trips on light or midsize jets, it is usually the most convenient choice.
DuPage, Gary and Waukegan: the larger-runway alternatives
These three airports give you longer runways or a better location for the suburbs and Indiana.
- DuPage (DPA) in West Chicago has a 7,570-foot main runway. Its FBO, DuPage Flight Center, advertises 24/7 service with on-site customs, and CBP lists DuPage as a user-fee airport. It is about 16 miles from Oak Brook and 12 from Naperville.
- Gary/Chicago (GYY) in Indiana has an 8,860-foot runway and Gary Jet Center as its FBO. The FAA lists it as a customs landing rights airport. It is about 21 miles from the Loop in a straight line, but the drive crosses the state line, so allow for traffic.
- Waukegan (UGN) has a 6,000-foot runway, a Signature Aviation FBO and user-fee customs. The FAA notes customs needs at least 2 hours' advance notice, with limited weekday hours and a Friday afternoon deadline for weekend arrivals. It is about 11 miles from Lake Forest.
Can you fly a private jet into O'Hare?
Yes, and it has the longest runways in the region, but most charter passengers do better at a smaller airport. O'Hare's general aviation FBO is operated by Signature Aviation. Private flights share the airfield with one of the busiest airline operations in the country, which means longer taxi times and more airspace delays.
O'Hare makes sense for an international departure in a very large jet, a connection to an airline flight, or a meeting near the airport. Otherwise Midway, Chicago Executive or DuPage is usually simpler.
Which Chicago airport is closest to where you are going?
Straight-line distances, in statute miles:
| Destination | MDW | PWK | DPA | ORD | GYY | UGN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Loop | 9 | 21 | 32 | 16 | 21 | 39 |
| Gold Coast | 10 | 20 | 32 | 15 | 23 | 38 |
| Winnetka | 22 | 8 | 30 | 12 | 38 | 23 |
| Lake Forest | 33 | 10 | 32 | 20 | 50 | 11 |
| Oak Brook | 11 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 32 | 40 |
| Naperville | 21 | 28 | 12 | 20 | 39 | 49 |
Chicago traffic can make a short distance slow, especially on the expressways at rush hour. Arrange a car to meet you at the FBO; our guide to what an FBO is explains what to expect on arrival.
Flying from Chicago in winter
Winter is when Chicago charters most often run late, so build in time. Cold, snowy mornings mean de-icing before departure, and the queue for de-icing trucks at a busy FBO can add time on the ground.
A few habits help:
- Ask about a hangar overnight. If the aircraft is staying in Chicago, a heated hangar can avoid de-icing the next morning. Hangar space costs extra and is limited, so book it early.
- Expect de-icing on the invoice. It is usually billed at cost and can be significant on a larger jet; our guide to charter fees explains how it appears on a quote.
- Leave slack before connections. Allow extra time on winter mornings if you have a meeting or an onward flight at the other end.
- Pick the airport with the weather in mind. When one airport is busy with snow removal or de-icing, another may be moving faster; your operator can advise on the day.
Winter is also peak season for Chicago to Florida, Arizona and the Rockies, so book holiday and spring-break trips early.
Popular private jet routes from Chicago
Most Chicago trips are within light or midsize jet range. Straight-line distances from Chicago Executive, with estimated still-air flight times at typical class speeds:
| Destination | Distance | Usual class | Est. time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (Teterboro) | 630 nm | Light jet | 1 h 48 min |
| Aspen | 880 nm | Light or midsize jet | 2 h 24 min |
| Palm Beach | 1,000 nm | Light or midsize jet | 2 h 42 min |
| Naples, Florida | 1,005 nm | Light or midsize jet | 2 h 42 min |
| Scottsdale | 1,240 nm | Midsize jet | 3 h 14 min |
| Los Angeles (Van Nuys) | 1,510 nm | Midsize or super midsize jet | 3 h 52 min |
| Cabo San Lucas | 1,580 nm | Midsize or super midsize jet | 4 h 02 min |
| London (Farnborough) | 3,420 nm | Long-range heavy jet | 8 h 23 min |
Westbound flights usually take longer than these still-air times because of prevailing winds. For Arizona trips, see our Phoenix to Chicago route guide; for New York and Florida, our guides to New York private jet airports and private jets to Miami.
Typical US charter rates run about $4,000 to $5,900 per flight hour for a light jet and $5,000 to $7,200 for a midsize jet, before taxes and fees; quotes vary with season, availability and positioning. Ask about empty legs on busy routes such as Chicago to Florida in winter.
Plan your Chicago charter
Pick the airport by where you are going and the size of the aircraft, then check customs hours if you are arriving from abroad. Estimate your trip with the charter cost calculator, and request a quote with your dates, group size and destination.