Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is among the world’s busiest and best-connected airports. It is a major US hub and also sees a significant international traffic. From ORD, you can reach nearly 250 destinations around the world by direct flight.
The airport is located 17 miles (27 km) northwest of downtown Chicago, covering about 12 square miles, which also makes it one of the largest airports in the world.
In 2024, it handled over just 80 million passengers, placing it as the seventh-busiest airport in the world by passenger volume. ORD is second globally when ranked for aircraft movements and is considered the fifth most connected airport in the world, with direct flights to 48 countries.
Major Airlines - American Airlines, United Airlines
O’Hare serves as a major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines.
United holds about 40% of the market share at the airport, operating more than 16000 flights per month to over 200 destinations, while American follows behind with roughly 23% of passengers served with over 11000 monthly flights to 175+ destinations. Their rivalry is bitterly contested, including in court over gate ownership.
The next largest airlines at ORD are the regional SkyWest Airlines and Envoy Air, as well as another legacy carrier, Delta Air Lines. On the low-cost front, the most popular airlines are Spirit and Frontier.
Chicago O’Hare offers unmatched connectivity to the world at large. It provides non-stop flights to nearly 250 destinations - the most of any U.S. airport.
Some of the world’s largest airlines operate flights to and from ORD. These include Air Canada, JAL, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Avianca, Turkish Airlines, SWISS, TAP Portugal, and others.
Terminals of Chicago O’Hare Airport
ORD has 4 passenger terminals:
Terminal 1 has Concourse B (attached) and C (satellite via underground walkway). It has a total of 52 gates. The only airlines to operate from T1 are United (regional flights), Lufthansa, and ANA.
Terminal 2: Includes Concourses E and F with a total of 41 gates. It is the primary terminal serving United Airlines. Other carriers at T2 include Air Canada, Alaska, JetBlue, and Spirit.
Terminal 3: Chicago’s largest terminal, with 80 gates across Concourses G, H, K, and L. It serves American Airlines and some international carriers such as JAL, Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia.
Terminal 5: The main international terminal. All international flights (unless pre-cleared) land at T5, though not all depart from it. This terminal was built to replace the former Terminal 4, but numbering was kept to avoid confusion. T5 has a single Concourse M with 35 gates. Most foreign carriers use T5, as do Delta, Frontier, and Southwest.
Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected airside, so moving between them does not require clearing security again.
However, Terminal 5 is isolated, and getting to it requires using the Airport Transit System (ATS) or a shuttle.
Connecting Flights and Transit at ORD
Due to being connected airside, Terminals 1, 2, and 3 allow effortless post-security transfers. If you have two flights at any of those three terminals, you can directly proceed to your new gate without extra Security or Immigration checks. The minimum connecting time in this case is 45 minutes.
For journeys involving Terminal 5, including all international flights, allow extra time for the ATS shuttle transit (~10 min). Note that international arrivals (excluding pre-cleared flights) must go through Immigration, pick up and re-check luggage (even if traveling with the same airline), and clear Security before going to the new gate for the next flight.
For connections including T5 (international to domestic or vice versa), allow at least 90 minutes between flights.
WiFi at Chicago O’Hare
Free and unlimited airport Wi-Fi is available across all terminals, both landside and airside. The SSID you can connect to is either “_Free_ORD _Wi-Fi” or “Boingo Hotspot.”
After you connect, your browser should launch automatically and bring you to the Airport Wi-Fi’s splash page (if it doesn’t, launch your browser manually). Once there, you will have to watch a short advertisement to connect to the network.
Lounges and some restaurants provide dedicated Wi-Fi networks for their guests.
Lounges at ORD
As a major hub and one of the best-connected airports in the world, it’s no surprise that Chicago O’Hare Airport has 15 lounges spread throughout its terminals, with new ones opened every year.
United leads with 5 United Clubs - 3 in Terminal 1 and 2 in Terminal 2. They are open from around 5 AM until 9-10 PM and welcome eligible United passengers as well as anyone wishing to pay the day pass worth $59. Note that the United Polaris Lounge in Terminal 1 is temporarily closed.
There are also 3 American Admirals Clubs. All of them are within Terminal 3: near Gate G8, near Gate H6/K6, and in Concourse L. Additionally, the American Flagship Lounge is located in Terminal 3, between gates H6 and K6. All 4 of these lounges are open to eligible American Airlines passengers, but also offer day passes for $79 for the Admiral Clubs or $150 for the Flagship lounge.
Delta Air Lines has its Sky Club lounge in Terminal 5, near Gate M13. It’s open to match the hours of Delta flights and only to eligible passengers.
The only foreign carrier to have a lounge at ORD is LOT Polish Airlines. Its lounge is in Terminal 5, near the dining area.
Two independent lounges offer services to international travelers in Terminal 5: SAS Lounge near Gate M19/20 and Swissport Lounge near Gate M13. Both accept eligible passengers, members of select frequent flyer or credit card programs. If you want to use Priority Pass, go to the Swissport Lounge (it also accepts walk-ins - the 3-hour pass costs $40).
Dining Options at Chicago O’Hare Airport
ORD is full of restaurants, coffee shops, and fast-food outlets across all terminals.
You’ll find many of Chicago’s best restaurants serving a diverse range of local and international food near the gates.
Some standout venues include:
Tortas Frontera: Located in 3 places, near Gate B10 in T1, near Gate K4 in T3, and near Gate M18 in T5, this is one of Chicago’s most famous places to get a tortilla wrap and other Mexican favorites.
Publican Tavern: Find this bar serving an awesome signature pub fare in Terminal 3, near Gate K1.
Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi Bar: With sushi made on-site and a bar making cocktails on demand, this is one of Chicagoans' favorite places. Located near Gate C1 in T1 and in the Main Hall of Terminal 2.
Brown Sugar Bakery: Have a sweet tooth? One of the best bakeries in Chicago is ready to serve cakes, coffee, and other sweets at Terminal 3, near Gate K15.
Beaudevin: A wine bar where you can pair your drink with cheese and charcuterie plates. Located in Terminal 1, near Gate C17.
Butcher & The Burger: If you crave a good burger, customize your own in this awesome new burger place that also serves breakfast sandwiches and cocktails near Gate M26 in T5.
Billy Goat Tavern: One of Chicago’s most recognizable restaurants serves its famous “cheezborger” in Terminal 1, near Gate C19.
National fast food chains you can find at ORD include Auntie Anne’s, Dunkin’, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, and Burger King.
Transport to and from Chicago O’Hare Airport
Chicago’s main international airport (ORD) is incredibly well-connected to the city. The airport is about 17 miles (27 km) away, reachable via the I-90 W if driving.
Public transportation-wise, the best option is the CTA Blue Line. This is a direct train to downtown Chicago that costs just $5. The journey takes 40-45 minutes, while the service operates 24/7. You can catch the train at the lower level of Terminals 1, 2, and 3.
To get to the station from Terminal 5 (or vice versa), use the Airport Transit System (ATS), which runs 24/7 between all terminals and the Multi-Modal Facility (parking and rental cars).
An alternative option, especially if you’re going to one of Chicago’s suburbs, is the commuter Metra Train. This train stops at O’Hare Transfer Station, which is connected to T1/T2/T3/T5 via a shuttle bus.
Pace bus #250 also goes to the central areas of Chicago from ORD. You can take it from the Multi-Modal Facility.
Taxis are readily available curbside with a typical downtown fare ranging between $45 and $60. Rideshare options like Uber and Lyft have their dedicated pick-up locations, with prices to reach the city usually a little bit lower, around $45-$50.
Rental car companies, including big names like Hertz, Sixt, Dollar, and Thrifty, operate from the Multi-Modal Facility. Click here to see deals for renting a car at ORD.
Parking at ORD
Chicago O’Hare features extensive parking capabilities.
The Main Garage is adjacent to the domestic terminals. On Level 1, you will find the short-term hourly parking. The price is $3 per hour for the first 2 hours, then increasing to $4/hour, with a maximum of $77 for the day.
Levels 2 to 6 of Garage A, as well as Garage B and Garage C (uncovered), are for long-term parking. While the hourly rate is unchanged (3-4 USD/hour), the daily rate is capped at $22.
For the budget-conscious, there are also Economy Lots, connected via shuttle. Pre-booking isn’t mandatory but helps during peak seasons. The daily rate there is capped at $15.
Hotels near Chicago O’Hare
An on-site Hilton hotel is located within the airport complex. It has a 4-star rating and offers premium service and top-notch amenities with unprecedented convenience. It also offers a complimentary shuttle to and from the terminals, though walking via the indoor walkway is short and convenient anyway.
Several other hotels are located in Rosemont, some 2 miles away from the airport. Notable names include the Best Western at O’Hare, Sheraton Suites Chicago O’Hare, and The Rose Chicago, Tapestry Collection By Hilton. All of these provide shuttle services.
Chicago, IL, USA
