Will you be flying through Chicago O’Hare International Airport? Like many large airports, O’Hare can be tricky to navigate if you are not familiar with it. To help you ensure that your journey is a success, we have put together the following 11 quick O’Hare airport tips that include everything from terminal layouts, transportation options, and lounges.
1. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CHICAGO AIRPORT
First, be sure to confirm which Chicago airport you will be traveling through. Chicago has two major airports: O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW). O’Hare is the main international airport for Chicago and once held the title of the world’s busiest airport. Midway was actually the main airport for the Windy City until O’Hare was built. However, Midway today serves primarily Southwest Airlines, which makes up nearly all of its flights. The two airports are about 25-30 miles apart depending on which route you drive, so it’s important to show up to the right one for your flight!
2. DISTANCE TO DOWNTOWN
O’Hare is located about 18 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. So you definitely want to factor that in when traveling to and from the city. The expressways are known for heavy traffic, especially during rush hour when this drive can easily take over an hour. You don’t want to be late for your flight, so if you are coming from downtown, we encourage checking out traffic reports and leaving with plenty of time. (For reference, Midway is located about 11 miles southwest of downtown.)
3. TERMINALS 1, 2 & 3
ORD has four terminals, with 1, 2 and 3 serving primarily domestic flights. You will want to carefully check your airline app/boarding pass/etc. to make sure you go to the correct terminal and concourse. These 3 terminals are all attached, and you can walk to them without exiting security, which is very convenient if you need to make a connecting flight. They are arranged in numerical order, with Terminal 2 in between 1 and 3.
4. TERMINAL 5
You may be asking: “What about Terminal 4?” One of the quirks about O’Hare is that the terminals are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 5. There used to be a Terminal 4, which served as a temporary international terminal, until the completion of what is now known as Terminal 5. What makes it more confusing is that 5 is no longer strictly the international terminal. While it does serve the bulk of international flights at ORD, it also houses Delta, Southwest, and Frontier Airlines, including their domestic destinations.
One important note about Terminal 5 is it is not physically connected to the other 3 terminals. So instead of walking between them, you will need to take another form of transportation, which brings us to…
5. ATS: AIRPORT TRANSIT SYSTEM
The ATS (Airport Transit System) is an automated train that takes passengers between all the terminals and the Multi-Modal Facility (more on that later). So if you came in through Terminal 1 and need to catch a departure from Terminal 5, you can take the ATS to get from 1 to 5. However, the ATS is only accessible outside of security. So if you are switching terminals through this method, you will need to factor in some extra time.
The order of stops in one direction is Terminal 1, 2, 3, 5 and the Multi-Modal Facility. The train also operates in the opposite direction.
While the ATS normally runs on a 24/7 schedule, there are times where it may be down for maintenance or other reasons. If you are planning to utilize this service, check the website to see if there are any disruptions to be aware of. If the ATS is down, there will be buses made available for your convenience.
6. RENTAL CARS
The Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) mentioned above is a facility that houses the rental cars. There are over 10 rental car companies available at O’Hare, so you’ll be sure to find your rental car of choice. The MMF is at one end of the ATS line, which gets you quick access to any terminal.
7. ECONOMY PARKING
The MMF also houses Economy Lot F, one of the long-term parking options available at O’Hare. This lot offers covered parking and quick access to the ATS. However, it is slightly more expensive than the other two remote parking options: Economy Lots G and H. The reasons G and H are a bit cheaper is that they are uncovered and you must take a shuttle bus to the MMF to ride the ATS. So if you are parking at G and H, get there early enough to have sufficient time to get to your terminal. Click here for the latest parking prices and space availability.
There are also numerous off-site parking options at dedicated lots, garages, and hotels. These may not always be cheaper than the airport options, but typically provide additional services, such as valet or shuttle dropoffs/pickups at the terminal.
8. SHORT-TERM PARKING
If you need short-term parking, there are several hourly options available, from the main garage to the daily lot. These are best for when you need to park for about an hour or so, as daily rates skyrocket and can be triple the cost of economy parking. Click here to compare the short-term options at O’Hare.
If you don’t need to leave your car but get to the airport early for a pickup, there is a free cell phone lot where you can temporarily park your car until your passenger is ready.
9. RIDESHARE PICKUP AREA
We’ll be honest: one of our biggest gripes about O’Hare is the rideshare pickup area. At ORD, when you order an Uber or Lyft, you must go to the Departures area of Terminal 2, regardless of what terminal you arrived in. It’s important to note that the Departures level is above the Arrivals level. So if you have to grab luggage from baggage claim, you will need to head back up to the Departures level.
If you are in Terminal 1 or 3, it is walkable to Terminal 2 since the three terminals are connected. Of course, the ATS train is available as well. However, if you arrive in Terminal 5, you will have to take the ATS to Terminal 2. Once you are in the rideshare pickup area at Terminal 2, there are several signs marking specific pickup zones. You will need to select the right zone in the app so your driver knows where to pick you up. Depending on when you arrive, this area can be incredibly busy with other drivers dropping off passengers at Terminal 2. We hope that one day, there will be a designated rideshare pickup section away from the crowded dropoff area of the terminals.
10. BLUE LINE ACCESS
We’ve covered rental cars, parking, and rideshare. But there is one more transportation option available at O’Hare, and that is to take the Chicago “L” transit system. If you are not familiar with the L, it is a series of elevated and subway train lines which are offered by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). O’Hare is located on one end of the Blue Line, which provides 24/7 access to Downtown Chicago and other stops on the route. If you are looking for the cheapest ride into the city, this may be your best option. Click here to see the full route map.
11. LOUNGES
O’Hare offers several airline lounges, including a United Polaris Club and an American Flagship Lounge. If you are looking for a quiet place to work or relax while enjoying some bites and drinks, click here to view a full list of ORD lounges.
BON VOYAGE!
If you are flying through Chicago, there’s a good chance O’Hare will be your airport. It is a hub or focus city for several airlines, so there won’t be a shortage of flights. While you are there, you can enjoy many dining options from higher-end restaurants to grab-and-go stands, including some local Chicago specialties. You can also enjoy sights around the airport, such as the underground rainbow neon light tunnel that connects Concourses B and C in Terminal 1. If you are a Home Alone fan, then Terminal 3 may look very familiar as the location that the McAllisters run through to catch their flights.
We hope our tips for navigating Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport were helpful! We wish you safe travels and please let us know if you have any questions about ORD! Also, be sure to check out our other travel Trips and Tips.