Frequent business travelers weighing apartments near Chicago airports need a home base that works whether the trip starts at O'Hare on Monday or Midway on Wednesday, not just a downtown zip code that looks good on a lease. Stead 220, at 220 N. Ada Street in Fulton Market, sits between both airports with 308 homes built around a suitcase-heavy schedule rather than a photo shoot.
- Stead 220 at 220 N. Ada Street sits about 17 miles from O'Hare and 11 miles from Midway, a straight run down the Kennedy or Stevenson expressways. Buy for apartments near Chicago airports business travelers who fly weekly.
- In-unit washer and dryer beats a shared laundry room schedule when you're only home four nights a week.
- Package lockers hold deliveries safely across a week-long trip; skip any building that leans on a front desk that closes at 6pm.
- A ground-floor coworking lounge handles the call that lands the moment you clear security, no hotel business center required.
- 308 homes, studio to two-bedroom, mean a floor plan exists for the solo flyer and the relocating exec on the same lease term.
Why this matters
A business traveler doesn't rent square footage. They rent a system: a place close enough to both airports that a 6am flight doesn't mean a 4am wake-up, a laundry setup that doesn't require planning around a shared machine's schedule, and a spot secure enough that a delivery sits safely for the five days you're in Denver. Get any one of those wrong and the apartment becomes another thing to manage on top of the travel itself. In 2026, with hybrid work schedules stacking short trips against long stretches at home, that system matters more than a skyline view.
Who this is for
This guide is for the consultant, sales rep, or account exec who boards a flight out of O'Hare or Midway two to four times a month and needs a Fulton Market address that functions like an office and a hotel room in one lease. It's also for the corporate relocator six months into a Chicago assignment who wants a real home, not an extended-stay suite. Stead 220 is built around that split: 308 homes, studio through two-bedroom, positioned in a neighborhood you can walk when you're home and leave quickly when you're not.
What to look for in apartments near Chicago airports
Distance and route to both airports
A building near one airport and nowhere near the other only solves half the problem for anyone who flies out of both O'Hare and Midway depending on the client. Fulton Market's position gives direct expressway access to the Kennedy for O'Hare runs and the Stevenson for Midway, without routing through downtown traffic first. That matters more on a 5:30am departure than any amenity list.
In-unit laundry that survives a travel schedule
A shared laundry room with a sign-up sheet is fine for someone home every night. It's a liability for someone who lands at 11pm on a Thursday and needs clean clothes by Friday's 7am meeting. An in-unit washer and dryer removes the scheduling problem entirely, and it's one of the first things to check before signing.
A workspace that isn't a hotel lobby or the kitchen counter
The call that lands the moment you clear security shouldn't happen from a gate area or a kitchen table stacked with mail. A coworking space downstairs, with real desks and real Wi-Fi, functions as the office you don't have when you're based out of a rolling bag.
Package and mail security for week-long absences
Deliveries don't pause because you're on a trip. A building that relies on a front desk with limited hours, or worse, a lobby table, puts every package at risk the moment you're gone for five or six nights. A package locker system solves this without requiring anyone to be home to sign for anything.
Fitness access without a second membership
Maintaining a routine while traveling is hard enough without adding a second gym membership back home. On-site equipment that's actually usable, not two treadmills in a converted closet, keeps a fitness habit intact between trips instead of resetting it every time you're back.
Top picks for frequent business travelers
The minimalist's landing pad: Studio The hook here is low overhead for someone who's genuinely only home half the month. Oak hardwood floors run throughout, and the closet is an Italian wardrobe built for hanging suits and folding a carry-on's worth of clothes, not a walk-in for a full wardrobe rotation. Verdict: Buy for the solo flyer who wants square footage that matches how often they're actually using it.
The extended-assignment option: One-bedroom This is the pick for the corporate relocator settling into a Chicago-based role for a stretch, not a two-week stay. An in-unit washer and dryer means laundry never competes with a travel schedule, and the extra room gives a real separation between a desk setup and a bed, which matters when both live in the same apartment for months. Verdict: Buy for anyone on assignment long enough to unpack for real.
The plus-one pick: Two-bedroom For the traveler whose partner works remote and needs their own door to close during calls, a two-bedroom keeps two work lives from colliding in one open space. The rooftop pool becomes the decompression spot after a redeye that a studio doesn't have room for. Verdict: Consider if you're splitting the lease or the schedule with someone else.
See current floor plans
Studio to two-bedroom homes at 220 N. Ada Street, Fulton Market.
What to avoid
- Anything marketed as "near the airport" with nothing near it. A ten-minute drive to a highway on-ramp isn't the same as living somewhere with direct expressway access; check the actual route before signing, not the listing copy.
- Buildings with no on-site laundry and a vague promise of a "laundry service." That's a workaround for a problem an in-unit washer and dryer solves outright.
- Front-desk-only package handling. It looks secure on a tour. It fails the first week you're gone for six nights straight and a delivery sits unclaimed.
Comparison at a glance
| Floor plan | Best for | Key detail | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Solo flyers, minimal overhead | Oak hardwood floors, Italian wardrobe storage | Buy |
| One-bedroom | Corporate relocators on extended assignment | In-unit washer and dryer, separate work zone | Buy |
| Two-bedroom | Two working travelers sharing a home base | Rooftop pool, separate bedrooms | Consider |
FAQ
What's the best apartment setup near Chicago airports for business travelers?
A one-bedroom or studio with in-unit laundry, a coworking space on-site, and direct expressway access to both O'Hare and Midway covers most frequent-flier needs in 2026. Fulton Market buildings like Stead 220 sit roughly 17 miles from O'Hare and 11 miles from Midway.
Is Fulton Market closer to O'Hare or Midway?
Fulton Market is closer to Midway, at roughly 11 miles versus about 17 miles to O'Hare. Both routes run on direct expressways, the Stevenson for Midway and the Kennedy for O'Hare, without needing to cut through downtown traffic.
Do I need in-unit laundry if I travel frequently?
Yes, in-unit laundry removes the scheduling conflict a shared laundry room creates for someone landing late and needing clean clothes the next morning. It's one of the first amenities frequent travelers should check before signing a lease.
How does a coworking space in an apartment building help business travelers?
It gives you a real desk and reliable Wi-Fi for calls the moment you land, instead of relying on a hotel lobby or an airport gate area. That matters most for anyone whose schedule alternates between travel days and remote-work days.
What should I check for package security before signing a lease?
Confirm the building uses a package locker system rather than front-desk-only handling. Deliveries during a week-long trip need to sit securely without requiring someone on staff to be available at a specific hour.
Are studio apartments practical for frequent business travelers?
Studios work well for solo travelers who are home less than half the month and want overhead that matches actual usage. Look for real storage, like a proper wardrobe closet, since a studio with poor storage gets cramped fast on a road-warrior schedule.
What amenities matter most for corporate relocators in Fulton Market?
In-unit washer and dryer, on-site fitness access, and a one-bedroom or larger floor plan matter most for relocators settling in for an extended assignment rather than a short stay. A real living setup beats an extended-stay hotel suite for anything past a few weeks.
How many units does Stead 220 have?
Stead 220 has 308 homes across studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans at 220 N. Ada Street in Fulton Market, Chicago.
One last thing
Most apartment searches for frequent flyers start with a map and a highlighter, marking distance to the airport as the only variable that matters. It isn't. A shorter drive to O'Hare means nothing if the laundry room has a sign-up sheet and the front desk closes before your flight lands. Fix the system, not just the commute, and the airport distance becomes a minor detail instead of the whole decision.
