Chicago’s airports are buzzing with travelers as spring break kicks off, marking the start of what officials say could be a record-breaking travel season.
The Chicago Department of Aviation expects more than 3.36 million people to pass through O’Hare and Midway airports between March 20 and March 31 — up 4% from last year.
“Airlines have projected that this will be a very busy season for O’Hare and Midway,” Karen Pride, director of media relations for the Aviation Department, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
The busiest day at O’Hare is expected to be March 21 at O’Hare, when more than 279,000 passengers are expected to pass through O’Hare Airport on Friday. The busiest day at Midway is expected to be March 29, with an estimated 56,000 travelers, the Aviation Department said.
With higher passenger volumes, airport officials are urging travelers to plan ahead. Passengers should arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international trips.
Using public transportation can also ease congestion.
“With ongoing Kennedy Expressway construction, we strongly recommend using public transit when possible and checking the Illinois Department of Transportation’s website — idot.illinois.gov — for the latest updates on construction projects,” Pride said.
Douglas Lee, a senior at Northwestern University, left Tuesday for his spring break trip to Europe.
“We budgeted extra time because we knew traffic would be bad,” Lee said. “Getting to the airport was slow, and once we arrived, the curbside entrance to O’Hare was packed.”
Not all spring break travelers are opting to fly. Some are taking road trips, drawn to both the cost savings and flexibility of traveling by car.
But for those hitting the road, gas prices have jumped in the Chicago area. Many stations are now charging around $3.59 per gallon — 30 to 40 cents more than a week ago — after the seasonal switch to summer gasoline. The transition, which is required by federal regulations to reduce emissions during warmer months, tends to drive up prices as summer blends contain more expensive refining components, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“Chicago generally has some of the highest prices in the surrounding area,” said De Haan. “If you’re headed to Indiana, prices will be moderately lower. Or if you’re driving south, through areas like Kentucky, they probably will be lower as well. The best advice is to start looking for gas when you’re down to half a tank and track different prices around you.”
Despite the recent increase, gas prices remain lower than last year. The national average sits at $3.12 per gallon, about 40 cents lower than this time in 2024, according to De Haan.
Gabriela Ayala, a Northwestern University senior, is road-tripping to Utah and New Mexico with the Northwestern Outdoors Club.
“We didn’t fly because it was very expensive, and it would be a hassle to bring all the camping gear and equipment through security,” Ayala said. “But it is a really long drive, though, and I am worried about gas prices.”
She’s counting on carpooling to lessen the financial burden. “Hopefully, with a lot of us splitting the cost, it won’t be too bad,” she said.
Even after spring break, airport officials don’t expect travel to slow down as airlines expand their routes and passenger numbers continue to rise.
“This summer, we anticipate connecting travelers to about 265 destinations worldwide, up from 250 last summer,” Pride said. “The airlines are planning for an increase in departures compared to 2024.”