I'll be arriving ORD at 4:35 PM this coming Thursday, headed toward my brother-in-law's in Wilmette.

I'll have just my carry-on, so barring any delays I'll be good to go by, say, 4:45, but I can't think of the best way to get there. My wife will already have a rental car but I don't want to make her make the round trip in rush hour traffic when she could see her family.

That leaves a cab (potentially expensive - anyone know how much? - and almost certainly will mean sitting in traffic), a shuttle (cheaper, but who knows if I'll be first off or last off, and still means traffic, or Metra (cheapest, but I have to go all the way into Chicago to switch trains - in the end, I may not save any time).

Chicago experts - what do you suggest? Would that train ride take more than 90 minutes with the switch? Should I suck up the cab fare?

Thanks!

I recommended a taxi (about $25 to Wilmette +$2 airport tax +gas surcharge), but you'll have to call for one when you arrive. As far as I know shuttles don't go to Wilmette.

Community Cab: 847-296-1131 (gas surchage is 75 cents)
American: 847-566-3131

Sheesh. I can't even imagine trying to work the trains to get there. I'd go the cab route too.

I used them a number of times when I lived in Lincolnwood. http://americantaxi.com/
They have an automated phone system to arrange a pickup-here's the page with instructions:
http://americantaxi.com/automated.html#fromthe

I haven't called for my own cab at ORD for some time, but keep in mind that every taxi that arrives at the airport must go through a 'staging' area, and needs to be 'released' by the city in order to enter the airport pickup area. I'm 99.9% sure that includes 'ordered' cabs.

For that reason, if you're not willing to just take a cab that's already queued up, make sure that you call well in advance so that they know you're coming, and that you can make sure they'll have a cab ready to try and get out of the staging area as soon as you arrive. I've had problems before in which they've had trouble getting out.

The other solution, of course, is to just take a taxi from the cab stand.

If you're trying to save money, you can do it by public transportation - four different options:

- CTA train to Clark/Lake downtown, transfer to Purple Line train to 4th/Linden;
- CTA train to Harlem, Pace 423 Bus to Wilmette 4th/Linden train station this bus meanders through Glenview and Winnetka before swinging down to Wilmette
- CTA train to Harlem, Pace 423 Bus to Golf/Harlem, Pace 208 bus to Old Orchard
- Monorail to Kiss-N-Fly lot (remote parking lot E), Pace 250 bus to Davis Street CTA, train from there

If you time it right, the train/423/208 option only takes an hour, but you have the pleasure of standing at the corner of Golf and Harlem for 10 minutes. The other options take 90-110 minutes.

best bet IMO at that time of day is the PACE bus Route #250 for $1.50 ^

This bus picks you up at the O'Hare Kiss N Fly area which is where the inter terminal tram stops for parking/buses. This bus then proceeds all the way into Wilmette, ending at the Wilmette EL station on 4th. so you don't even have to change buses.

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules...sp?RouteNo=250

A cab will be faster but much more $$$$.

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The taxis that are queued up, waiting, don't go to the suburbs; they're headed primarily to downtown Chicago. You have to call for a suburban cab. I've never waited longer than 20 min. for Community Cab.

RE: shuttle
I checked out shared ride shuttles to satisfy my curiosity. Continental Airport Express does go to northern suburbs, including Wilmette; but it's more expensive than a taxi. Taxi rides to and from the airport are flat fees, not metered.

I'd echo recommendation for American Taxi. Their automated dispatch # is 1-800-244-1177. It will be a flat fee ORD to suburb and they will take a credit card w/o hassle.

It will take about 10 minutes from the time you call until the cab you are assigned shows up at the terminal. If you call when you deplane you should have time to make it to the curb before they show up (at that time of day). Also assuming you don't make an extended bathroom, snack, or shopping stop.

I really appreciate all of the input - sounds like cabs are the way to go. One more question - anyone have any idea how long that ride is in the 4:45 - 5 PM range?

Thanks again. FT is the best.