Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a major hub for both United Airlines and American Airlines. Located approximately 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago in the suburb of Rosemont, ORD handles over 80 million passengers annually.

The airport has four terminals numbered 1, 2, 3, and 5 (there is no Terminal 4):

• Terminal 1: United Airlines hub (Concourses B and C)
• Terminal 2: Domestic flights including Delta, Air Canada, and other carriers (Concourse E and F)
• Terminal 3: American Airlines hub (Concourses G, H, K, and L)
• Terminal 5: International terminal, located in a separate building (Concourse M)

Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected both landside and airside via pedestrian tunnels. Terminal 5 is a separate building requiring the ATS (Airport Transit System) or shuttle to reach, and connections involving Terminal 5 require exiting security and re-screening.

Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)

Chicago has two major airports, and connecting between them is common for Southwest passengers.

Midway (MDW) is Southwest Airlines' Chicago hub, located 25 km southwest of O'Hare on Chicago's South Side. It's closer to downtown Chicago than O'Hare (10 miles vs 17 miles).

Airlines at Midway:

• Southwest Airlines (dominant, 95%+ of flights)
• Delta (limited service)
• Volaris, Frontier (seasonal)

When you might connect between ORD and MDW:

• International arrival at O'Hare, domestic connection on Southwest
• Southwest flight landing at Midway, international departure from O'Hare
• Separate ticket bookings on different carriers

Connecting between O'Hare and Midway:

Method	Time	Cost	Notes
CTA Orange + Blue Lines	75-90 min	$5	Transfer downtown at Clark/Lake
Taxi/Uber	45-75 min	$50-80	Traffic dependent
Rideshare during rush hour	90+ min	$60-100	Avoid if possible

Step-by-step CTA route:

1. From O'Hare: Take Blue Line toward Forest Park
2. Transfer at Clark/Lake to Orange Line toward Midway
3. Orange Line terminates at Midway station

Minimum connection time: Allow 3-4 hours between separate bookings. Rush hour (7-9am, 4-7pm) requires 4-5 hours. The CTA is reliable but the transfer downtown adds time.

Pro tip: If connecting between airports, avoid checking bags if possible. With separate tickets, you'll need to collect and re-check luggage.

O'Hare is located approximately 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Travel times vary significantly based on traffic:

• Downtown Chicago (Loop): 35-60 minutes by car, longer during rush hour
• Magnificent Mile/Near North: 30-50 minutes
• Suburbs (Rosemont, Schaumburg): 10-25 minutes

The most reliable option for getting downtown is the CTA Blue Line, which operates 24/7 and avoids traffic entirely. During peak traffic hours (7-9am, 4-7pm weekdays), public transit is often faster than driving.

Uber and Lyft are available at O'Hare. All rideshare pickups are centralized at Terminal 2, Departures Level between Doors 2A and 2D.

To reach the rideshare zone:

• From Terminal 1: Go upstairs, exit Door 1G, turn right and walk to Terminal 2
• From Terminal 3: Go upstairs, exit Door 3A, turn left and walk to Terminal 2
• From Terminal 5: Take the ATS to Terminal 2

Premium services (Uber Black, Lyft Lux) pick up on the Arrivals level at any terminal.

Typical rideshare fares to downtown Chicago: $35-55, varying by demand

Taxis are available at the lower-level curb outside each terminal. Fares to downtown Chicago typically run $45-70 depending on traffic and destination, plus a $2 MPEA airport surcharge and $1 per additional passenger.

The CTA Blue Line connects O'Hare directly to downtown Chicago, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Getting to the CTA Station

• Terminals 1, 2, 3: Follow "Trains to City" signs through the pedestrian tunnels at the basement level
• Terminal 5: Take the ATS to Terminal 2 or 3, then follow signs to the CTA

Fares (as of 2025)

• From O'Hare: $5.00 (premium fare applies at O'Hare station)
• To O'Hare: $2.50 standard fare

Purchase a Ventra card or use contactless payment at the fare gates. Vending machines accept cash and credit cards.

Journey to Downtown

1. Board any Blue Line train at O'Hare (all trains go to downtown)
2. Travel time to Clark/Lake (Loop): 40-45 minutes
3. Continue on Blue Line or transfer to other CTA lines

Unlimited ride passes are available: 1-day ($5), 3-day ($15), 7-day ($20).

O'Hare offers multiple parking options at varying price points (as of 2025):

Economy Lots

Lot	Daily Rate	Location	Notes
Lot G	$15/day	2 miles from terminals	Most economical; shuttle to Lot E, then ATS to terminals
Lot E	$17/day	Connected to ATS	Direct ATS access
Lot F	$22/day	Multi-Modal Facility	Covered parking, ATS access

Garage Parking

Location	Daily Rate	Notes
Main Garage (Lots B, C)	$42/day	Closest to Terminals 1, 2, 3
Terminal 5 Lot	$42/day	Short-term and daily parking for T5

Short-term rates: $3/hour in all lots

Off-site alternatives: Private lots on Mannheim Road offer rates from $7-12/day with shuttle service. Pre-booking is recommended.

O'Hare has significantly expanded its dining options. Highlights by terminal:

Terminal 1 (United):

• Tortas Frontera (near gate B11): Rick Bayless's acclaimed Mexican sandwiches
• The Berghoff Cafe: Classic Chicago German fare
• Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi Bar: Fresh sushi and seafood

Terminal 2:

• Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi Bar
• Reggio's Chicago Style Pizzeria: Deep dish pizza
• Dunkin': 24-hour locations for late-night options

Terminal 3 (American):

• Tortas Frontera (near gate K4): Same quality as Terminal 1 location
• Publican Tavern: Chicago institution known for beer and pork
• Bubbles Wine Bar: Wine selection with small plates
• Half Moon Empanadas: Authentic Argentinian empanadas (opened 2024)

Terminal 5 (International):

• Options more limited; most dining is pre-security
• Dunkin' for quick service

Late-night dining: Dunkin' has 24/7 locations. Most other restaurants close between 9-10pm.

Free unlimited WiFi is available throughout all terminals at O'Hare.

Network name: _Free_ORD_Wi-Fi

To connect:

1. Select _Free_ORD_Wi-Fi from your device's network settings
2. Open a browser and select "Watch Ad to Connect"
3. Accept terms and conditions

The service is provided by Boingo Wireless. Average speeds are around 20 Mbps—adequate for browsing and email, but streaming may buffer during peak hours. Faster WiFi is available in airline lounges.

SIM cards and mobile services are available at several locations throughout the airport:

• InMotion Entertainment stores (multiple terminals)
• Best Buy Express kiosks (various terminals)
• Carrier stores in arrivals areas

Major US carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon) offer prepaid SIM options starting around $30-50 for basic plans. Consider pre-ordering a SIM for pickup or using an eSIM for faster activation.

ATMs are located throughout all terminals, typically near security checkpoints, food courts, and gate areas. Major banks represented include:

• Chase
• Bank of America
• Citibank
• BMO Harris (regional)

Out-of-network withdrawal fees are typically $3-5.

Currency exchange: Travelex and other exchange services operate in Terminals 1, 3, and 5. As with most airports, exchange rates include significant markups. Using your bank's ATM or a service like Wise is usually more economical.

Duty-free shopping is available for international departures:

• Terminal 5 (near Gate M20): Main duty-free location with fragrances, spirits, cosmetics, and confections
• Terminal 1 (Concourse C): Duty-free shop
• Terminal 3 (Concourse K): Duty-free shop

General retail in all terminals includes:

• Hudson News: Books, magazines, travel essentials
• InMotion Entertainment: Electronics and accessories
• Local Chicago souvenirs: Available in multiple shops

Duty-free prices on liquor are competitive, but other items are often cheaper outside the airport. The Reserve & Collect service allows pre-ordering online for Terminal 5 pickup.

O'Hare has numerous lounge options depending on your airline status and credit card benefits.

Priority Pass Lounges

• Swissport Lounge (Terminal 5, near Gate M15): Basic amenities. Note: Access restricted 3pm-8:30pm during peak international departures due to capacity.
• Air France Lounge (Terminal 5): Opened October 2025. Priority Pass access available outside 12pm-5pm (during those hours, SkyTeam passengers only). 105 seats, open 5am-11:30pm daily.

Airline Lounges

Terminal 1:

• United Club (multiple locations): United status or paid membership
• United Polaris Lounge: Business/First class on long-haul international United flights

Terminal 3:

• Admirals Club (multiple locations): American Airlines status or membership
• Flagship Lounge: First/Business class on premium American flights

Terminal 5:

• Delta Sky Club: Delta status or membership
• LOT Polish Airlines Lounge: Opened 2024
• Air France Lounge: SkyTeam and Priority Pass (see hours above)

Credit Card Access

• Amex Platinum and Capital One Venture X cardholders get Priority Pass access for Terminal 5 lounges
• Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass membership

On-airport:

• Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport: The only hotel inside the airport, connected to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 via underground walkways. Also connected to the CTA Blue Line. Rooms feature soundproof windows and blackout curtains. Rates typically $150-350/night.

Near airport (with shuttle service):

• Hyatt Regency O'Hare: Full-service hotel in Rosemont
• Marriott Chicago O'Hare: Convention hotel near entertainment district
• Hampton Inn O'Hare: Budget-friendly option with free shuttle
• Holiday Inn Chicago O'Hare Area: Affordable with 24-hour shuttle

For budget options, hotels along Mannheim Road offer rates from $80-120/night with airport shuttles.

Chicago offers world-class attractions accessible from O'Hare:

• Downtown Loop & Millennium Park: 45-50 minutes via Blue Line
• Magnificent Mile (shopping): 40-45 minutes via Blue Line to Grand
• Wrigley Field (Cubs): 35-40 minutes via Blue Line to Addison
• Navy Pier: 50-55 minutes via Blue Line + bus or walk
• Museum Campus (Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium): 55-60 minutes

Getting around Chicago: The CTA train and bus system covers the city well. A 1-day unlimited pass ($5) is worthwhile for exploring. Rideshare is widely available.

Weather note: Chicago winters are harsh. From November through March, dress warmly and allow extra time for transportation due to potential snow and ice delays.

Chicago classics to try: Deep-dish pizza (Lou Malnati's, Giordano's), Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches.