Search “hotels near Midway Airport” and you’ll get a wall of properties on Cicero Avenue — close to the terminal, and priced and built accordingly. If your flight leaves at 6 a.m. and all you need is a bed and a shuttle, one of those will do the job.
But here’s the thing seasoned Chicago travelers figure out: “near Midway” doesn’t have to mean “at Midway.” Fifteen minutes west on I-55 sits Countryside, a quiet suburb on historic Route 66 — and the William Tell Hotel, a restored landmark where the same night’s stay comes with more room, calmer surroundings, and a proper dinner downstairs.
Let’s break down when each choice makes sense.
When to Stay at the Airport — and When Not To
Stay on the airport strip if: you land after midnight, fly out before dawn, and will spend fewer than eight hours in the room. Proximity is the only amenity that matters, and the strip delivers it.
Stay fifteen minutes west if any of these sound like you:
- You’re in town for more than a night. Airport corridors are built for passing through, not staying. Countryside gives you tree-lined quiet, downtown La Grange’s restaurants five minutes away, and Brookfield Zoo ten minutes north.
- You’re driving in on I-55. The hotel sits just off the Stevenson at La Grange Road — you skip the airport traffic entirely and stay pointed toward downtown Chicago, about 25 minutes east.
- You want dinner without a rideshare. Tell’s Tavern is downstairs. The evening ends with an elevator, not a shuttle schedule. Where to eat in nearby La Grange.
- You’re mixing business with the trip. The hotel’s meeting and event spaces serve the I-55 corridor’s offices without downtown logistics, and the room after the meeting is upstairs. See meeting and event spaces.
The Practical Details
Getting to Midway: roughly 9 miles, a 15-to-20 minute drive via I-55 and Cicero Avenue outside of rush hour. Leave margin during peak times, as you would from anywhere in Chicagoland.
Getting downtown: about 25 minutes by car on I-55, or park at the nearby La Grange Road Metra station and ride in without touching downtown parking.
Getting anywhere else: the hotel sits at the junction of I-55, La Grange Road (US-45), and historic Route 66 — which is why travelers have been stopping at this corner since 1974. Fifty years on the Mother Road: our story.
A Better Night Before the Flight
The night before a flight sets up the whole trip. You can spend it listening to the airport strip — or in a quiet room in a restored landmark, with dinner at Tell's Tavern, an easy morning drive, and coffee before the security line. A landmark reimagined for modern comfort, fifteen minutes from the gate.
Check availability at the William Tell Hotel
FAQ
How far is the William Tell Hotel from Midway Airport?
About 9 miles — a 15-to-20 minute drive via I-55 outside of peak traffic. The hotel is in Countryside, Illinois, at the junction of I-55 and La Grange Road.
Are hotels near Midway Airport noisy?
Properties on the Cicero Avenue airport strip sit under active flight paths and along a busy commercial corridor. Staying a few miles west in a residential suburb like Countryside trades the two-minute shuttle for a noticeably quieter night.
Is there a restaurant at the William Tell Hotel?
Yes — Tell’s Tavern, the hotel’s own restaurant and bar, plus downtown La Grange’s dining district five minutes away.
Is the William Tell Hotel good for business travelers?
Yes. It sits just off I-55 with easy access to the southwest suburban corridor and downtown Chicago, offers on-site meeting and event spaces, and puts dinner and a quiet night in the same building as your morning meeting.
How far is the hotel from downtown Chicago?
About 14 miles — roughly 25 minutes by car via I-55, or take the Metra from nearby La Grange for a car-free trip in.