O'Hare Airport Parking

Which Terminal?

There are currently four terminals at ORD International Airport, which are divided into a further nine lettered concourses. These are organized by international flights arriving at Terminal 5 and departing from Terminals 1 and 3, whilst all domestic flights are spread around the central Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

O'Hare Airport hotel and parking

Many hotels within a 10-mile radius of Chicago O'Hare offer the option to combine airport parking with a hotel stay.

Whilst packages vary from hotel to hotel, many offer up to two weeks of free parking so long as you stay at least one night in the hotel. What’s more, they all provide a regular shuttle bus service to the airport with journey times varying from a few minutes to half an hour; some are less than two miles away, while others are just over 10 miles from the airport.

There are several options ranging from budget motels to luxury hotels at O’Hare, so there’s something for each type of traveler. It's a perfect combination if you don't want a long journey to the airport on the same day you have a long flight.

Useful tips

Beware the Chicago weather

Chicago Airport flight delays are one of the most common causes of complaints about overcrowding in the terminals and customer service. Unfortunately, due to Chicago's unpredictable weather, delays will always be a problem at O'Hare, even with the substantial investment into reducing them with added space.

Whilst there is plenty to do at the airport and, indeed, mere minutes away in the center of Chicago, be prepared for a wait by bringing along books, tablets and other time-passers, especially if you're traveling with children. Make sure you check ahead for weather and traffic problems when working out your journey to the airport. When the weather's good, most passengers report the airport running exceptionally well, so you might be lucky.

Get around the airport quickly and for free

The quickest way to get around the airport from terminal to terminal is usually via the Airport Transit System (ATS), which is a 24-hour rail system that makes the whole airport more accessible without costing passengers another dime.

Look out for short check-in lines

Many regular travelers note that the security check-ins at the ends of the terminals (especially the far-right checkpoints in each terminal) are almost always the least crowded and, moreover, are generally at their longest in the mornings. However, evening flights are more likely to suffer delays than morning flights largely due to the unpredictable weather.

Relax in the airport lounges

Few travelers realize that many of the airline and airport lounges offer a day membership fee, so if you have an unexpected delay or you want to wind down with a range of complimentary snacks, drinks and amenities like showers, it's worth checking them out.

Ask if you're lost

A lot of people complain that customer service at O'Hare can be surly and rude, but this tends to be a result of delays and overcrowding. Passengers traveling through at quieter times report that whilst the customer service approach could use a little polishing, staff almost always give out accurate and helpful information.

Research your connection details

As with some other major international airports, connecting flights, even with the same carrier, can arrive and depart from different terminals, which may be some distance from each other. The ATS and various walkways and tunnels will get you around quickly, but make sure you leave plenty of time between landing and take-off times if you are connecting through O'Hare because it’s a very busy airport.

Directions to O'Hare airport by Car

Chicago O'Hare Airport is at 10000 W O'Hare Avenue, 60666, with the I-190 connecting it directly to the I-90 and I-294.

The I-90 connects the airport by road to the Chicago Loop and city center, though the I-94 is the crucial linking road that passes nearby the airport from Milwaukee in the north and snakes around Lake Michigan to head for Detroit. The Interstate road also connects to the I-65 from Indianapolis and the I-55 from St Louis.

A full range of car rentals, taxis, limos and shared-ride vans offer road transport in addition to the extensive ORD Airport parking garages and lots for your own vehicle.

Directions to O'Hare airport by Bus

A bus and shuttle center can be found right next to the central terminal buildings and Hilton Hotel, offering a good range of services throughout the city and local region.

Airport Express shuttle services run between O'Hare and Chicago Midway Airport, as well as into the city itself and many of the main neighborhoods, which makes it one of the most affordable and direct regular routes in and out of the O'Hare property.

A series of independent bus service operators provide regional routes throughout the Chicago airports and to cities across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin, which are typically slower but very economical options for reaching or traveling beyond the airport itself.

Directions to O'Hare airport by Train

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line trains are the easiest and most affordable way to get to the airport, with a 24-hour service and connections to the rest of the CTA train and bus network. The station is found on the lower level of Terminal 2 – you’ll likely experience minimal waiting times due to the regular services operating out of it.

The Metra North Central Service is another rail option on weekdays, running across the north and central suburbs including Chicago Union Station. The station is on the north-east side of the airport and can be reached via the shuttle buses from Economy Parking Lot E to the O'Hare Transfer Station.

With over 160,000 square feet (14,860 square meters) of space dedicated to concessions, services and facilities, including over 120 food and drink options and more than 80 retail spaces, there's plenty to eat, buy and enjoy at ORD.

Chicago often experiences bad weather conditions that have a knock-on effect on the performance of the airport in terms of traffic, but upgrades to its runways and facilities endeavor to improve this for all passengers. Here are the current facilities available at O’Hare International:

• Short-term parking

• Long-term parking

• Covered parking garages

• Economy parking lot

• Cell phone lot

• Airport transit system

• Hotels

• Hotel shuttles

• On-site Hilton hotel and health club

• Shopping

  • Duty free

  • Designer fashion and apparel

  • Technology and entertainment

  • Books and newsstands

  • Gifts and souvenirs

• Beverages

  • Coffee shops

  • Smoothie bars

  • Bars

  • Wine bars

• Food

  • Restaurants

  • Fast food

  • Snacks, delis and sandwich bars

  • Food markets

  • Seafood

  • Local food

  • American, Italian, Asian and European cuisine

• USO and Airline lounges

• Art exhibitions

• Yoga room and spas

• Aeroponic garden

• Inter-faith chapel

• Children's play area

• Information desks

• Currency exchange, banks and ATMs

• Toilets

• Business Center

• Medical clinic

• Disabled access

• Nursing rooms

• Pet relief areas

Relax at Hilton Health Club

The on-site Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport Hotel, based immediately opposite domestic Terminals 1, 2 and 3, offers day memberships even if you're not a guest at the hotel, which provide a wonderful opportunity to relax and unwind during a layover or delay.

You can enjoy a well-equipped gym, steam room, sauna and lap pool with jacuzzi, whilst the hotel also offers conference and meeting rooms for business travelers, a barbers shop and several bars and restaurants that provide high-quality American and World cuisine for those of us who are adventurous with our food.

Learn at the Aeroponic Garden

The first of its kind to be installed at an airport anywhere in the world, Chicago O'Hare's aeroponic garden was opened in 2011 at The Rotunda Building in Terminal 3. The soil-free vertical farming system provides a relaxing space to pass time or enjoy some of the airport food, much of which includes ingredients grown in the garden itself. You can also learn about aeroponic systems that have been designed to reduce the space needed for agriculture and run more economically and sustainably than traditional soil farming.

Sample real Chicago cuisine

There are plenty of ORD Airport restaurants that you'll recognize, but there are also many local names that offer a more authentic taste of classic Chicago food like Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago dogs and deep-dish pizza. Look out for The Publican Tavern in Terminal 3, a spin-off from the Loop-based meatery with a farmhouse-style to its food, the Billy Goat Tavern offering infamously tasty cheeseburgers and rib-eye steak sandwiches, or Tortas Frontera in Terminals 1, 3 and 5, which creates Mexican food from the best local ingredients.

Dabble in an arts program

The city of Chicago has an internationally famous public arts program that spreads into O'Hare Airport to provide an ideal space for artworks reflecting global interest, as well as showcasing local talent to a wider international audience. Dozens of sculptures, paintings, murals and exhibits can be found across the various concourses and terminals with both permanent and temporary displays and special events throughout the year.

Kids on the Fly

An exhibit created by Chicago Children's Museum specifically for the airport, this interactive play area has become a highly-rated tourist attraction amongst parents for tiring kids out before long flights. With an aviation theme, the play area has plenty of space for playing, a pedal-powered helicopter, an air traffic control tower, a cargo crate tunnel and a two-storey airplane complete with removable luggage. It's an entire play-airport surrounded by benches where parents can finally relax whilst the kids charge around for an hour.

The Art Institute of Chicago

With a truly incredible diversity of art curated by 11 expert departments, The Art Institute houses iconic pieces from Picasso, Seurat, Edward Hopper and Grant Wood, along with art from Africa, India, Asia, Europe and America suitable for all tastes. It boasts contemporary pieces, photography, sculpture, ancient art, architecture and around 30 special exhibitions of works outside of the Institute's collection every year. It is the second-largest art museum in the USA and only around 30 minutes from O'Hare Airport in the city center.

Millennium Park

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the Midwest, Millennium Park replaced a collection of parkland, rail yards and parking lots and won a number of awards for its design in the process. It features attractions like the Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, a range of outstanding public art including the world-famous Cloud Gate and the centerpiece of the whole site, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, which stages a range of music and dance performances throughout the year. Other highlights include the McCormick Tribune Plaza restaurant and winter-time ice-rink, the Frank Gehry-designed BP pedestrian bridge over Columbus Drive and the annual 10-week classical music concert series, the Grant Park Music Festival. Centrally set in the city, it is only around 30 minutes from ORD International.

Wrigley Field

Chicago is widely considered one of the best cities in the world for sports and Wrigley Field, home to Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, has become one of the most popular tourist attractions for that reason. Acclaimed by baseball fans as one of the few places you can still enjoy an authentic and classic baseball experience, it is currently undergoing a very carefully planned renovation to expand the facilities whilst retaining the atmosphere so loved by fans across the world. The field also hosts several concerts a year by major pop and rock musicians such as Lady Gaga, Pearl Jam and Paul McCartney and is less than 30 minutes from the airport.

The Magnificent Mile

Another central attraction around 30 minutes from Chicago International Airport, The Magnificent Mile is a shopper’s idea of heaven with almost every designer fashion brand in the world lining the street and filling the four shopping malls. Five-star hotels and fine-dining restaurants sit alongside iconic landmark buildings including the Old Chicago Water Tower, Drake Hotel and Tribune Tower, so whether you want to shop, eat or simply wander around and gawp at the architecture, this bustling district is a great place for it.

Museum of Science and Industry

Located just south of Chicago's city center, the Museum of Science and Industry is one of the most highly-rated cultural attractions in the region. It offers a diverse range of exhibits in a beautiful setting, including a full-size replica coal mine, a German U-Boat captured during World War II, a vast model railroad and the Apollo 8 spacecraft. With every display and exhibit designed around interactivity, it's an incredible place for children and adults to learn together in the most enjoyable way possible.