Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed by Lija Scheiman, CEO, leading the TaxiBambino Content Audit Team
Chicago has two airports, and for a family they're very different arrivals. Midway is about 10 miles from the Loop, 25 to 45 minutes by car. O'Hare is about 18 miles away and can take well over an hour at rush hour. The car seat question is the same at both: Illinois law doesn't clearly require taxis to carry or use child seats, and rideshare isn't addressed at all. So plan to bring a seat or book one.
Illinois child seat law
The Child Passenger Protection Act (625 ILCS 25) requires:
every child under 8 to ride in an appropriate child restraint, booster seats included,
children under 2 to ride rear-facing, unless they weigh 40 lb or more or are 40 inches or taller.
The fine is $75 for a first offence and $200 for later ones.
Taxis and rideshare
The Act applies to non-commercial passenger vehicles. It doesn't name taxis, for-hire cars or rideshare anywhere, so it doesn't clearly cover them, and no Chicago taxi is required to have a seat for your child. That's the honest position, and it's the reason families arriving with babies or toddlers book a seat in advance.
O'Hare or Midway?
O'Hare (ORD) | Midway (MDW) | |
Distance to the Loop | about 18 miles | about 10 miles |
Typical drive | 45 to 75 min | 25 to 45 min |
Average taxi fare downtown | about $50 | about $35 to $40 |
Train | CTA Blue Line, 40 to 45 min, 24 hours | CTA Orange Line, 20 to 25 min, no overnight trains |
Taxi pickup | Lower-level curb outside baggage claim | Lower-level curb, Door 2 |
Rideshare pickup | Upper level at Terminals 2 and 3 | Lower level, Doors 2 to 4 |
On the CTA, children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Chicago taxi fares
Chicago raised taxi fares on 1 July 2026. The meter now starts at $3.25 and charges about $2.79 per mile, with a $2.50 surcharge from 3:30 to 7 pm and $1 from 8 pm to 6 am. From October 2026, drivers may also add a fuel surcharge of $1 to $3 depending on the fare. Every taxi trip leaving the airport adds the $4 airport departure tax, charged per trip, not per person. Bags are free, and tolls are extra. The airport's published average fares may not yet reflect the July rise, so expect to pay somewhat more.
What Chicago families booked with us
Chicago is one of our busiest US destinations, with 104 completed family transfers in the past 12 months:
Our Chicago bookings, last 12 months | |
Typical price (median) | €131 |
Middle half of bookings | €106 to €151 |
Groups of 4 or more | 38% |
Booked within 2 days of travel | 62% |
Busiest months | December, June, April |
December was our busiest month in Chicago, which means icy roads and dark evening arrivals for many families. A pre-booked car with the seats already fitted saves standing in the cold at the taxi line.
Chicago with children
Lincoln Park Zoo: free, with no tickets, open every day of the year.
Museum Campus: the Field Museum (home of SUE, the most complete T. rex skeleton ever found), Shedd Aquarium (more than 32,000 animals, including belugas) and the Adler Planetarium, all side by side.
Museum of Science and Industry: a walk-through U-505 submarine and a coal mine, in the last remaining building from the 1893 World's Fair.
Maggie Daley Park: a 3-acre play garden downtown, plus a skating ribbon in winter.
Winter: January averages around 25°F, so pack warm layers for the walk from terminal to car.
Choosing a seat
Rear-facing seat: under 2, unless 40 lb or 40 inches.
Forward-facing harness seat: toddlers who have outgrown rear-facing.
Booster: older children under 8.
All seats we arrange meet US federal standard FMVSS 213. For bigger families, see our vehicle fleet.
Spending time in the city? See our Chicago family taxi guide. Travelling on? See our guides for Denver Airport and New York. Browse all our car seat options or every city on our destinations page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Chicago taxis have to provide a car seat?
No. Illinois' child seat law covers non-commercial vehicles and doesn't name taxis, so taxis aren't required to have one.
Which Chicago airport is closer to downtown?
Midway, about 10 miles from the Loop. O'Hare is about 18 miles away.
How much is a taxi from O'Hare to downtown Chicago?
The airport gives an average of about $50, which may not yet reflect the July 2026 fare rise, so expect a little more, plus tip.
Do children ride free on the CTA from the airport?
Children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Does my 1-year-old have to face backwards in Illinois?
Yes, until age 2, unless your child already weighs 40 lb or is 40 inches tall.
Travel Safely with TaxiBambino
Knowing the law is one thing; having the right seat ready when you land is another. TaxiBambino.com connects families with certified child-seat taxis and airport transfers in Chicago and 150+ destinations worldwide. Infant seats, forward-facing seats and boosters for all ages, booked in advance so nothing is left to chance on arrival.
About this page
TaxiBambino is run by Avaren Group AB (org. nr 559536-5247), Nacka, Sweden, and arranges family airport transfers with child seats fitted in advance through vetted local partners. Contact: [email protected].
Sources: Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act · O'Hare: taxis and rideshare · Midway: taxis and rideshare · CTA: airports · CTA: riding with children · City of Chicago: taxi rates from 1 July 2026 · Lincoln Park Zoo
This page is reviewed and updated regularly. For the most current official rules, always check your destination country's government transport authority.