Airport · ORD
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago, United States
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IATA
ORD
ICAO
KORD
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Transport
Getting To & From Chicago O'Hare International Airport
The CTA Blue Line train provides 24-hour rapid transit between O'Hare and downtown Chicago's Loop. The station is located on the lower level of the main parking garage under Terminals 1, 2, and 3. The trip takes approximately 45 minutes, and fares originating at the airport cost $5. Taxis and rideshares (Uber, Lyft) pick up from designated lower-level zones, with downtown trips typically taking 25 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Passengers heading to rental cars or economy parking lots must take the 24-hour Airport Transit System (ATS) people mover to the Multi-Modal Facility.
Navigate
Terminals & Getting Around
Terminals
Chicago O'Hare operates four passenger terminals: Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 handle primarily domestic flights alongside select international departures, and are fully interconnected airside via secure pedestrian walkways. Terminal 5 is the primary international facility, housing customs and immigration. Because Terminal 5 is physically separate, passengers transferring between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1–3 must use the Airport Transit System (ATS), which means leaving security and clearing it again. A Terminal Transfer Bus (TTB) links Terminal 5 with Terminals 1 and 3 airside for some connecting passengers, but it runs limited hours and is not open to passengers arriving on international flights. Check the airport's current rules.
Hours of Operation
Chicago O'Hare is technically open 24 hours a day, though individual airline check-in counters, security checkpoints, and terminal amenities close overnight. A hotel connected directly to the domestic terminal core via walkways provides the main on-site lodging option.
Know Before You Go
Practical Tips
- Allow extra time for international connections: Clearing U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Terminal 5 and transferring across terminals requires a minimum connection buffer of 2 to 3 hours.
- Mind the Blue Line airport surcharge: Ventra ticket machines charge a special $5 base rate for train trips departing directly from O'Hare station.
- Terminal 5 transfer nuance: If making an airside connection between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1–3, ask staff whether you can use the Terminal Transfer Bus, which runs limited hours and is not open to passengers arriving on international flights. Otherwise you leave security and clear TSA again.
- Seating limitations: Most gate seating features fixed armrests, making overnight airside sleeping uncomfortable; plan accordingly if you face a long pre-dawn layover.
Comfort
Lounges
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) hosts a tiered network of airline-specific and independent lounges scattered across its multi-terminal footprint. Because Terminal 5 is a separate building from Terminals 1 to 3, travelers should pick a lounge in their departure terminal. Terminal 1 serves as United Airlines' primary hub, featuring the high-end United Polaris Lounge for intercontinental business-class passengers and multiple United Club locations. Terminal 3 functions as the American Airlines base, hosting several Admirals Club options alongside the exclusive American Flagship Lounge located between gates H6 and K6. Terminal 5 acts as the international gateway and houses the densest cluster of options, including the Delta Sky Club and the Air France Lounge. For independent and paid-access travelers, options are relatively restricted; the Swissport Lounge and the Wingtips Lounge in Terminal 5 provide the primary contract spaces, with Swissport serving as O'Hare's main option accepting Priority Pass memberships. Due to high international volume, Priority Pass holders frequently report capacity constraints and wait times at Swissport.
Staying Online
Wi-Fi & Charging
O'Hare provides unlimited free Wi-Fi across all pre-security and post-security terminal areas through a partnership with Boingo Wireless. Users can connect by selecting either the Boingo Hotspot or _Free_ORD_Wi-Fi network and completing a brief ad-supported portal prompt (choosing to watch a short sponsor video to connect). While the connection is accessible throughout the facility, passenger consensus points to variable performance, with speeds tending to lag and connections occasionally dropping during peak bank hours. For device charging, the airport features dedicated Power Stations—seated work counters equipped with AC power outlets and seating positions—distributed across all terminals, such as Concourse B (Gates B5, B11, B14) and Concourse K (Gates K9, K12). However, traveler feedback frequently notes that a considerable number of built-in USB ports and terminal outlets suffer from inconsistent maintenance or lack active power, making a portable power bank a prudent backup.
Eat & Drink
Food & Dining
Dining options at O'Hare reflect Chicago's prominent culinary culture, though distribution varies significantly depending on terminal modernization. Terminal 5 features an expanded post-security concession lineup resulting from recent international wing developments, offering sit-down spots like Hub 51 alongside local artisanal coffee and quick-bite kiosks. Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 boast extensive selections heavily influenced by local Chicago institutions, ranging from famous deep-dish pizza staples like Lou Malnati's and Giordano's to gourmet burger joints like Billy Goat Tavern and upscale sit-down bars. Terminal 2 and older sections of the domestic concourses lean more heavily toward national fast-casual chains, grab-and-hold sandwich kiosks, and standard airport bars, though ongoing terminal reconfiguration projects continue to phase in localized dining concepts.
Driving In
Parking
O'Hare provides a tiered parking structure spanning close-in multi-level garages, daily surface lots, and budget economy options. The main airport parking garage, situated directly adjacent to the domestic terminals (Terminals 1, 2, and 3), charges hourly rates that rise to a daily maximum. Check flychicago.com for current prices. Daily surface spaces in adjacent Lots B and C offer alternative close-in vehicle storage. For long-term and budget-conscious parking, the airport operates economy facilities such as Economy Lot F, which charges structured increments ($6.00 for 1-2 hours, $10.00 for 2-3 hours, $14.00 for 3-4 hours) up to $30.00 for 4 to 24 hours, supported by 24/7 terminal shuttle buses. A free Cell Phone Lot is also available for motorists waiting to pick arriving passengers up without paying garage fees.
Staying Nearby
Nearby Hotels
Options for lodging immediately adjacent to O'Hare are anchored by one major property physically integrated into the airport footprint: the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport. Located directly on airport grounds, the Hilton connects straight to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 via underground moving walkways and an interior pedestrian bridge, making it the only true walking-distance hotel option without requiring a shuttle. For properties situated just outside the perimeter requiring a brief shuttle ride, the Rosemont commercial district clustered near the airport features well-known flagships including the Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Suites Hotel and the Sonesta Chicago O'Hare Airport Rosemont, both of which operate frequent 24-hour guest shuttle buses to and from the terminals.
Sources: FlyChicago (Chicago Department of Aviation), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), FlyChicago Official Airport Guide, Priority Pass O'Hare Lounges Directory, Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport Property Details