The fare in full
| Passengers | Total fare | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 passenger | $350 | $350 |
| 2 passengers | $375 | $188 |
| 3 passengers | $400 | $133 |
| 4 passengers | $425 | $106 |
| 5 passengers | $450 | $90 |
Each additional passenger adds $25 to the total. Children under 12 ride free with a paying adult. The complete rate card is on the taxi rates page.
How long does the drive take?
About two hours, covering roughly 95 miles. The route runs west on the Indiana Toll Road, then into Chicago via the Skyway or the Dan Ryan depending on traffic and the terminal.
Allow longer on a Friday afternoon. Westbound traffic into Chicago from mid-afternoon Friday is the single most reliable delay on this route.
Mind the time zone. South Bend is on Eastern time, Chicago on Central. You gain an hour driving west and lose one coming back. Your 8am flight out of O'Hare is 9am South Bend time, which catches people out.
Winter adds time. Lake-effect snow along the southern shore of Lake Michigan can slow the Toll Road considerably.
What time should the cab collect you?
Work backwards from the departure time on your ticket, not from boarding. For a domestic flight out of O'Hare, allow two hours at the airport plus the two-hour drive.
| O'Hare departure | Domestic pickup | International pickup |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00am (Central) | 3:00am | 2:00am |
| 9:00am (Central) | 6:00am | 5:00am |
| Midday (Central) | 9:00am | 8:00am |
| 4:00pm (Central) | 1:00pm | Noon |
| 8:00pm (Central) | 5:00pm | 4:00pm |
These build in the one-hour time difference. Confirm yours when you book, because your pickup address changes the maths. There is a fuller explanation of how pickup times are calculated in how airport shuttles work.
Is $350 good value?
It depends entirely on how many of you are travelling and how long you are away. Here is the honest version.
Travelling alone for two nights, it probably is not. Driving yourself and parking at O'Hare for two nights will usually come in below $350 each way. Check the current rate on the airport's own site and compare.
Travelling alone for two weeks, it usually is. Fourteen days of O'Hare parking is substantial, and it is charged per day whether the car moves or not. A cab is charged twice, once each way.
With three other people, it is not close. $106 each, door to terminal, with nobody driving and nobody parking.
On a return after a long-haul flight, the value is not financial. Two more hours of driving after a transatlantic arrival is the part travellers consistently say they regret.
We would rather you did the sum and got the right answer than booked something you felt overcharged for. There is a full comparison, including what to add up, in best airport ride options for Michiana travelers.
How it compares to the alternatives
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft will quote a South Bend to O'Hare trip, but the price moves with demand and a driver can decline a two-hour run after accepting it. At 4am in Michiana, availability is not guaranteed at any price. More on that in local taxi versus rideshare.
The South Shore Line
Runs from South Bend International into Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, and it is much cheaper. It does not serve O'Hare, so you would transfer to the Blue Line with your luggage. Worth it if your destination is the Loop, less so if you are catching a flight.
Driving and parking
Four hours of driving across both legs, tolls each way, O'Hare parking for the duration, and a shuttle bus from the economy lot with your bags. Best for short solo trips, worst for long ones.
Flying from South Bend instead
Often overlooked. South Bend International is 15 minutes away and a taxi there is $20. If a connecting itinerary out of SBN costs less than the fare difference, it is the cheaper trip overall.
What the fare includes
Door-to-door service. Collection from your address, drop-off at your airline's terminal. Tell us the airline when you book, because O'Hare has five terminals.
Tolls and fuel. Included in the quoted rate. No surcharge on arrival.
Luggage. Our shuttle vans take a full set of cases for four or five passengers. Mention golf clubs, skis or a wheelchair at booking so the right vehicle is sent.
Flight tracking on the return leg. Give us the flight number and the driver follows your inbound. If you land late, the pickup moves with you.
No surge, ever. The rate is the rate on a home game Saturday, on New Year's Eve, and at 3am in February.
Booking a South Bend to O'Hare run
Book at least a day ahead for an O'Hare trip, and further out for holiday weekends, Notre Dame home games, and the two weeks either side of a university break. These are long jobs that take a vehicle out of local circulation for four hours, so availability is the constraint, not price.
Have ready: pickup address, airline, flight number, departure time, passenger count and luggage count. That is a ninety-second call on 574-233-9599, or the same fields on the online booking form.
Payment is cash or card at the end of the trip. Every vehicle carries a terminal taking Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, chip and contactless.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from South Bend to O'Hare?
$350 for one passenger, plus $25 for each additional passenger. It is a flat rate agreed before booking, with tolls and fuel included.
How much is a taxi from South Bend to Midway?
The same. Midway and O'Hare are both $350 for one passenger plus $25 each additional.
How long is the drive from South Bend to O'Hare?
About two hours for roughly 95 miles, longer on Friday afternoons and in winter weather.
Is there a cheaper way to get from South Bend to O'Hare?
For a solo traveller on a short trip, driving and parking is often cheaper. The South Shore Line is cheaper still but goes to downtown Chicago rather than O'Hare. For groups of three or more, the cab is usually the lowest cost per person.
Does the price change at night or on Notre Dame game days?
No. United Cab does not use surge pricing. The published rate applies at every hour of every day.
Can I book a return trip from O'Hare to South Bend?
Yes, at the same rate. Give us your flight number and the driver tracks your arrival, so a delayed landing does not mean a missed pickup.
How many people fit in one vehicle?
Our shuttle vans seat up to five passengers with luggage for a trip of this length. For larger groups, call and we will arrange multiple vehicles on one booking.
Do you serve Midway, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne too?
Yes. Midway is the same $350 rate. Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Elkhart Municipal are quoted individually. See the airport shuttle page for all six airports.
About United Cab South Bend
United Cab has run airport trips out of South Bend since May 2006. We are licensed by the City of South Bend, commercially insured, authorized to pick up at South Bend International Airport, and our drivers are background-checked. Dispatch answers the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 574-233-9599.
United Cab South Bend, LLC2107 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46613
Phone: 574-233-9599
Open 24 hours, every day
Booking a South Bend to O'Hare run? Call 574-233-9599 with your flight number and we will confirm the pickup time and the flat fare before you commit.