If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Chicago Midway Airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Chicago Midway airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.
We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.
Sleeping inside Chicago Midway Airport Overnight
Locations & Seating
Airside areas are generally more comfortable than the landside/public zones. You’ll find more seating options, though most have armrests, making it hard to relax. Still, the airside zone is quieter. Travellers consider Concourse C the most peaceful and cleanest, but benches for stretching out are few and far between – grab one if you can. Otherwise, you’ll likely wind up on the floor, so bring an extra layer, sleep mat, or sleeping bag for some cushion.
Travellers have specifically reported a few metal benches just behind the TSA Security checkpoint where the three concourses meet. You could lie down here for the night once security closes.
Do you have a good location, airport tip or photos to add? Click here for our review form.
Rest Zones
At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.
Hotels
Prefer some privacy and comfort? You’ll have to exit the airport if you want a good, solid sleep. A few hotels are nearby, and most offer free shuttle service to and from the airport. Here are a few:
- Carlton Inn Midway » Check Rates
- Chicago Marriott Midway » Check Rates
- Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Midway Airport » Check Rates
- Doubletree by Hilton Chicago Midway Airport » Check Rates
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Midway Airport » Check Rates
- Hampton Inn Chicago-Midway Airport (Bedford Park) » Check Rates
- Hilton Garden Inn Chicago/Midway Airport » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chicago-Midway Airport, an IHG Hotel » Check Rates
- Hyatt Place Chicago/Midway Airport » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Midway Airport.
Lounges
Unfortunately, Chicago Midway Airport has no pay-to-use lounges.
Flight Delays & Cancellations
Chicago Midway Airport sees more than its fair share of flight cancellations due to bad weather, with snowstorms and freezing ice situations in winter and even tornadoes in the summer. The upside is that this means they are more prepared than other airports.
When mass cancellations happen at Chicago Midway Airport, cots are available for stranded passengers who opt against getting a hotel room. To find them, ask an airline or airport employee or use a courtesy phone to reach someone with access to this information. (Note that cots are not available for travellers who simply choose to spend the night here, and they cannot be reserved in advance.)
More Airport Services & Facilities
For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our Chicago Midway Airport Guide.
Airport Conditions
If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Temperature: Expect the airport to cool down at night, with air conditioning running and fewer people inside.
- Noise: Even as overnight flights slow down or stop entirely, the airport may still run announcements, and cleaning crews may make the rounds, so anticipate some noise.
- Lighting: The airport may stay bright thanks to around-the-clock lights, but certain corners may be dimly lit.
Arrive prepared! We recommend earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, an extra layer of warmth, eyeshades, or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Security & Safety
Airport staff seem quite tolerant of overnight sleepers.
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Chicago Midway Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
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Airport Photo Gallery
Thank you to the airport sleepers who have written reviews and shared their airport photos to help future travellers. Click here to add your airport photos.
