Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) serves as the main gateway for Chicago and a major hub for both United and American Airlines. The airport, along with Midway, connects the Chicago area with more than 260 direct destinations worldwide.
During peak periods, American and United alone schedule over 1,000 daily flights from O’Hare, with total daily flights well exceeding that number, handling nearly 74 million passengers each year. As you might expect from those numbers, O’Hare is large, crowded and a popular layover spot for international travellers.
Terminals at O'Hare
O’Hare has four terminals: Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5. Most connections happen within the same terminal or adjacent terminals.
Terminals 1, 2, and 3 connect airside so you can walk between them, though distances can be great – it can take 30 minutes or more to get from the end of one terminal to the end of another.
If you need to transfer between Terminals 1, 2, or 3 and Terminal 5, you’ll have to take the Terminal Transfer Bus, which is airside, or you’ll have to leave the secure area and take the Airport Transit System (ATS) train.
The bus only runs between 11:30 am and 9:30 pm, while the ATS runs 24 hours a day. I’d recommend taking the Terminal Transfer Bus so you don’t have to go through security again.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is United's hub, and it's split into two concourses, B and C, which are separated by a long tunnel with moving walkways. There's a fun light installation here that makes this passageway something of a photo or video opportunity. Or at the very least, it's pleasant to walk through! The concourses are long, so it could take up to 20 minutes to walk between the farthest gates.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is home to Alaska Airlines, JetBlue and Air Canada. It's a smaller terminal than the others, split into Concourses E and F. The concourses form a Y shape, and it's only about a 10-minute walk between any gates here. But if you need to connect between Terminals 1 and 2, it can be a lengthy walk: anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes or so.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 is the hub for American Airlines and Spirit, as well as a handful of international airline departures and smaller regional airlines. It's a large terminal with four concourses: G, H, K and L. It can easily take 20 minutes to walk from end to end. Fortunately, if you're arriving in Terminal 3, you'll likely be connecting in the same terminal, unless you're traveling internationally and need to get to Terminal 5.
Terminal 5
Though international flights can depart from any terminal, most international airlines, including WestJet, fly out of Terminal 5. And all international flights will arrive at Terminal 5. It's also the main terminal for Delta, flying both domestically and internationally. It has just one concourse, Concourse M, but it's a very long concourse, taking about 10 to 15 minutes to walk from end to end.
Since Terminal 5 is not connected by walkways to Terminals 1, 2 and 3, it can take 30 to 45 minutes to transfer between them if you wait for the Terminal Transfer Bus. It can take longer if you take the ATS, as you'll have to wait in the security line again.
The best way to get to downtown Chicago from O'Hare
O'Hare is about 15 miles from downtown Chicago, and while that doesn't sound far, it's not as quick of a commute as you might expect. Driving, in particular, can take a long time due to traffic. That's why I recommend taking the train; it runs 24 hours per day, and it's not impacted by traffic! Here's what you need to know about public transportation and driving between O'Hare and downtown Chicago.
Train
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line train connects O'Hare with downtown Chicago in about 45 minutes. More specifically, it takes you to the Loop, where you can connect to just about any other CTA train line. Transfers to up to two lines (or buses) are free.
Car
If there's absolutely no traffic, it'll take about 25 minutes to drive from O'Hare to downtown Chicago. Unfortunately there's often heavy traffic in Chicago that can triple the drive time. Try to avoid driving during the morning and evening rush hours to skip the worst traffic.
It's worth noting that Chicago has excellent public transportation, so it's not necessary to rent a car if you're staying in the area. If you'd prefer to take a taxi or a rideshare, there are plenty available at O'Hare. I'd recommend checking the traffic before hopping in a car, though, as the train might ultimately be faster. And far cheaper!
TSA Security Wait Times
O’Hare is a very busy airport. During peak travel times, security waiting times can exceed the TSA standard benchmark of 30 minutes for regular lanes. Check the MyTSA app for current conditions before you arrive.
Pre-clearance lanes are available for expedited security screening for those enrolled in the relevant programs.
Lounges at O'Hare
O’Hare has numerous lounges throughout its terminals. Most are affiliated with airlines – United, American, and Delta all have lounges here, with Delta’s Sky Club confirmed in Terminal 5. Check with United and American for their premium lounge offerings and access requirements.
Priority Pass members should check current participating lounges at O’Hare through the Priority Pass website.
Things to do during a layover at O'Hare
O'Hare is a major layover city, so there's a good chance you might find yourself with a few hours to spend here. In many cases, it's better to stay at the airport, as getting around Chicago takes some time, and the airport's security lines can get long. But if you have an extended layover, leaving the airport is definitely possible.
Less than four hours
With a short layover of just a few hours, stay put at O'Hare. There's plenty to do here, from visiting airport lounges to doing a little shopping to trying out some local eats. I'm a fan of Bar Siena in Terminal 5, Tortas Frontera in Terminals 1 and 2 and Publican Tavern in Terminal 3.
Four to six hours
With a little more time, it's possible to leave the airport, but I wouldn't go very far. Just outside the airport in Rosemont is an entertainment district with a bowling alley, movie theatre, outlet mall and several restaurants, including Dave and Buster's. If you're itching to get out of the airport, this is a good place to spend some time without having to travel too far.
Six or more hours
With six hours, it's possible to go all the way to downtown Chicago to pop into a museum like the Art Institute of Chicago, view the famous Cloud Gate sculpture (also known as "The Bean") or even take a short architecture cruise. Just remember that you need to be back to the airport at least two hours before your flight.
If you have an overnight layover, or you just want to get some rest, you can book a stay at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare. If you don't need a room, you can also purchase a guest pass to its health club, which has a pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna and gym.
Alternative airports in Chicago
There's one main alternative airport to O'Hare: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). While it's a smaller airport than O'Hare, it's a hub for Southwest Airlines, and numerous budget airlines also fly out of Midway, including Allegiant, Avelo, Frontier and Volaris.
Many travellers have a love-hate relationship with Midway. Some love it because it's a smaller airport and therefore typically has smaller crowds than O'Hare. Some hate it because it has far fewer amenities, like lounges, restaurants and shops. I find Midway to be pretty crowded for a major city's secondary airport, but I do find security lines to be shorter here than at O'Hare. Plus, the airport is smaller and easier to navigate.
How to get from O'Hare (ORD) to Midway (MDW)
Transfers between O'Hare and Midway are fairly easy, but not necessarily fast. The most affordable option is taking the train: Take the Blue Line train from O'Hare to Clark/Lake Station downtown, then transfer to the Orange Line. The Orange Line terminates at Midway. But this option takes about 90 minutes to two hours. Taxis or rideshares can be faster, as it takes about 30 minutes without traffic. If traffic is bad, though, it could take an hour or more.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
