Are you at Chicago Airport wondering what to do or looking for something? No worries, we have got you. From airport restaurants and lounges to transportation and security, explore everything you need to know about the ORD Airport.
About Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, owned by the Chicago Department of Aviation, is a public airport that serves the Chicago metropolitan area. ORD Airport is the hub of American Airlines and United Airlines, as well as the operating base for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. It is one of the busiest airports in the world. It has five terminals and eight runways.
ORD Airport History
Opened in Feb 1944, O’Hare International Airport started as a manufacturing base for WWII and went through a major change after the war. The farmland known as Orchard Place was transformed into the manufacturing facility for Douglas C-54 Skymasters with railroad connections and an airfield known as Douglas Airport. During the war days, over 600 C-54s were built there and transported to different deployments from there.
The Chicago Midway Airport opened in 1926. The airport needed further expansion, but the plans hit a pause towards the end of the 1930s due to the war. In 1945, after the war, the city of Chicago considered options to expand the airport. Since the war was over, Douglas left Orchard Place. However, the military was still operating there. The city of Chicago took over the site in 1946, and still, the military had a portion of the site until the 1990s.
The airport was renamed in 1949 as Chicago O’Hare Airport to honor Edward “Butch” O’Hare. He was a WWII US Navy Ace and the recipient of the Medal of Honor. In regard to the original name of Orchard, the airport was given ORD as its IATA code.
Where is ORD Airport?
The O’Hare Airport address is 10000 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60666. It serves Chicago, Illinois. Its location is at the city’s Northwest Side, approximately 17 miles northwest, Loop business district, and covers 7,627 acres.
ORD Airport Map
You can easily find the terminals and gates from the O’Hare Airport map.
ORD Parking & Transportation
You can park at the onsite parking at O’Hare. There are different parking options for you to choose from. Additionally, there is offsite parking near the airport that offers affordable parking. Global Airport Parking is a service that provides OHARE Airport parking at lower rates.
When it comes to transportation, there are public transportation such as CTA Blue Line, Metra, and Pace. Taxi, limo, rideshare, shuttle, regional bus, rental car services are also available.
Public Transportation Services
You can take public transportation services to reach the airport ORD or get to other places in the city. CTA Blue Line, Metra, and Pace operate at the airport.
CTA Blue Line: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers train and bus service through the City of Chicago and nearby areas. The trains are known as “L.” Blue Line transit provides the easiest and most affordable way to reach O’Hare. The station’s location is on the lower level of the parking garage.
Metra: The weekday service of Metra’s North Central Service train line connects Union Station of downtown Chicago to the North Central suburbs and ends in Antioch. You can use the O’Hare Transfer Station to access Metra’s North Central Service trains to downtown/suburbs. The location is on the northeast side of O’Hare at Zemke and Mannheim Roads
Pace: The bus drop and pick up are at the Multi Modal Facility, Bus bays #8 and #9. You can take the Airport Transit System (ATS) to get to the terminals from the Multi Modla Facility. Pace Route 250 is the daily service from Multi-Modal Facility to Des Plaines Metra station. Pace Route 330 is the weekday and Saturday service from O’Hare to Archer Ave/Harlem Ave in Summit.
Shuttle/Buses
Shuttles and bus service are other ways to get to or from the airport.
Regional buses are best if you are traveling from or to places outside of the Chicagoland area. Some of the regional bus services are Coach USA/ Van Galder, Lafayette Limo Inc., PCC/Peoria Charter Coach, Reindeer Shuttle
Shuttle: Most of the hotels and offsite parking services offer a shuttle to and from the airport. You should contact the shuttle beforehand to know the exact pick-up/drop-off location
Taxi, Limo, Rideshare
You can take a taxi, limo, or rideshare from ORD Airport.
Each terminal has taxi stands located at the lower-level curb front (outside of baggage claim). The taxi fare depends on the meter charge, which calculates the fare based on time and mileage. You can also prearrange taxis before you reach ORD Airport arrivals.
Limousines: You can take the limousines that are available for the City of Chicago and suburban destinations.
Rideshare: Uber and Lyft services are also available here. You can prearrange them. The loading zone locations are on Terminal 2, in the waiting area on the Upper Level between Door 2A and Door 2E. You must wait in the specific color zone, and the driver should match the specific color zone. If it’s a black car, they can pick it up at the lower level or all the terminals.
It is recommended that you don’t accept rides from drivers outside the cab stand or from the ORD Airport departure level.
Car Rental Services
On top of all that, car rental services are also available at ORD Airport. These are the ones that operate at the airport:
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Dollar
- Enterprise
- Fox
- Hertz
- National
- Payless
- Sixt
- Thrifty
Hotels Near ORD Airport
Take a break at the hotels near ORD Airport if your flight is delayed or you are on a layover. These are some of the hotels near the airport ORD.
Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare Airport
Address: 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, IL 60018
Distance from the airport: Approximately 2 miles.
Courtyard by Marriott Wood Dale/Itasca
Address: 900 N. Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale, Illinois 60191
Distance from the airport: Approximately 8 miles
Extended Stay America Select Suites
Address: 1201 E. Touhy Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018
Distance from the airport: Approximately 2.2 miles
Address: 1925 Higgins Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Distance from the airport: Approximately 6.8 miles
Address: 933 S. Riverside Dr, Elmhurst, Illinois
Distance from the airport: Approximately 13.7 miles
Address: 121 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Distance from the airport: Approximately 8.6 miles
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Address: 2350 Mannheim Road, Des Plaines, Illinois, 60018
Distance from the airport: Approximately 3.7 miles
Address: 551 North Swift Road, Addison, Illinois, 60101
Distance from the airport: Approximately 15 miles
Four Points by Sheraton Mt Prospect
Address: 2200 South Elmhurst Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois, 60056
Distance from the airport: Approximately 6 miles
Address: 600 E Lake St, Addison, Illinois 60101
Distance from the airport: Approximately 9.3 miles
ORD Airport Lounges
There are several lounges at the airport, which can make your boring time at the airport much more comfortable and happier. Each terminal has lounges, and the locations are below.
| Terminal | Lounge | Location |
| T-1 | United Club | Near Gate B6 |
| United Club | Near Gate B18 | |
| United Club | Near Gate C16 | |
| United Polaris Lounge | Near Gate C18 | |
| T-2 | United Club | Concourse F, Near Gate F9 |
| USO Lounge | Mezzanine (Pre-Security) | |
| T-3 | American Airlines Admirals Club | Near Gate G8 |
| American Airlines Admirals Club | Near Gate L1 | |
| American Airlines Admirals Club | Near Gate H6/K6 | |
| American Airlines Flagship Lounge | Between Gates H6 and K6 | |
| USO Lounge | Concourse G, Mezzanine Level | |
| T-5 | British Airways First Lounge | Near Gate M12 |
| British Airways Terraces Lounge | Near Gate M12 | |
| Delta Sky Club | Concourse M, between M14 and M11 | |
| LOT Polish Business Class Lounge | TBD | |
| SAS Lounge | Near Gate M19-20 | |
| Swissport Lounge | Near Gate M7 |
O’Hare Airport Food and Dining
Are you at the airport and hungry? Don’t worry — the food and dining options at ORD O’Hare Airport will satisfy all your hunger needs. Some of the food options at each terminal are given below, along with their locations.
| Terminal | Restaurant | Location |
| T-1 | America’s Dog | Gate C17, Concourse C |
| Auntie Anne’s | Gate C18, Concourse C | |
| Brioche Doree | Gate C21 and Near Exit door 1F, Concourse C | |
| Dunkin’ Express | Gate B14, Concourse B | |
| Manchu Wok | Gate C19, Concourse C | |
| T-2 | Chili’s Too | Gate B14, Concourse B |
| Home Run Inn Pizza | Gate E5, Concourse E | |
| La Tapenade Mediterranean Cafe | Gate E9, Concourse E | |
| Sky Bridge Bar & Grill | Gate F15, Concourse F | |
| Starbucks | Gate E2, Concourse E | |
| T-3 | Bubbles Wine Bar | Gate H4, Concourse H |
| Burger Federation | Gate L20, Concourse L | |
| Café Descartes | Baggage Claim | |
| Fulton Street Cafe | Gate H14, Concourse H | |
| Half Moon Empanada | Rotunda, Halsted Food Court | |
| T-5 | Bar Siena | Near Gate M34 |
| Burger King | Gate M11, Concourse M | |
| Metropolis Coffee | Near Gate M30 | |
| R.J. Grunts Burgers & Fries | Gate M16, Concourse M | |
| Urban Olive | Gate M16, Concourse M |
O’Hare Airport Amenities
ORD Airport has several amenities to make your travel experience smooth and easy. These are some of them:
- Onsite hotel
- Charging Stations
- Business Center
- USO
- Chapel
- Spa
- Banking Service
- Wi-Fi
- Yoga Room
- Mother’s Rooms
- Art Exhibits and more.
ORD Airport Art & Sculptures
You can find art throughout ORD O’Hare Airport. It’s part of Chicago’s Public Art Program. There are paintings and sculptures among them. The Sky’s the Limit is a neon light walkway that is one of the iconic experiences in ORD. The art is funded by the Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA). The ORD airport has artworks of over 20 Chicago artists, some of them and their locations are below:
- On the Wings of Water by Ginny Sykes
- REACH by Hank Willis Thomas and Coby Kennedy
- …a murmuration by Jina Valentine.
- Untitled (A window of the Alberti window) by Assaf Evron
- Close to You by Jenny Kendler
- We Walk Together by Selina Trepp
- Buffalo Chart by Bernard Williams
- Connection Lookup by Leonard Suryajaya
- Pilgrimage to the Isle of Pink by Yvette Mayorga
- Shinsekai Yori by Mayumi Lake
ORD Airport Fun Areas for Kids
Traveling with kids can be hard, but Chicago ORD Airport offers some interesting things to make your kids happy.
- O’Hare’s restored plane: If you have an older kid, especially if they are into history, you might want to take them here. The restored F4F-3 Wildcat is displayed at the west end of Terminal 2, behind the security checkpoint. It is promising to take a picture with the backdrop of this historical element and learn all about the World War II hero, Lt. Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare.
- Brachiosaurus: This is one of the largest mounted dinosaurs in the world and a loaned piece from the Field Museum. The location of this replica of Brachiosaurus is at Concourse B, the upper level of the terminal.
- The Sky’s The Limit: This mesmerizing light sculpture walk-through with neon lights and sound is another must-visit place at O’Hare Airport for your kids. This dazzling walk-through is in Terminal 1, the underground walkway between Concourses B and C.
- Play Area: In Terminal 5 near Gate M12, you can find the play area. There is also an educational exhibit sponsored by the Chicago Fire Department called Play It Safe. This exhibit teaches kids the importance of safety and how to respond to emergencies.
Accessible ORD Airport Facilities
O’Hare Airport offers the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program as additional support to travelers with disabilities like autism, PTSD, or hearing loss. The Sunflower Lanyards are available at Terminals 1, 2, 3, 5, and the Multi-Modal Facility.
Prior to arriving at the airport, it is recommended to contact your airline for ADA accommodations such as medical accommodations, wheelchair assistance, and pet service arrangements.
Airport Transit System (ATS) platforms and train cars are fully ADA-compliant. TSA offers assistance to travelers with disabilities. The airport also has restrooms, showers, and other facilities available for people who need extra care. The elevator buttons are equipped with Braille and raised numerals. Service pet relief areas are also available.
Security at ORD Airport
The security checkpoints at various ORD Airport terminals and their timings are below:
| Terminal | Checkpoint | Operating Hour |
| T-1 | CP1 | 4:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| CP2 | 4:15 am to 8:30 pm | |
| CP3 | 4:00 am to 6:00 pm | |
| T-2 | CP5 | 4:00 am to 8:30 pm |
| T-3 | CP6 | 3:45 am to 8:00 pm |
| CP7 | 3:30 am to 9:00 pm | |
| CP7A | 3:15 am to 10:00 pm | |
| CP8 | 5:00 am to 7:00 pm | |
| CP9 | 5:00 am to 8:00 pm | |
| T-5 | CP10 | 24 hours |
| CP11 | 12:30 pm to 8:30 pm |
TSA PreCheck
You can find TSA PreCheck lanes at each terminal. You can find the lanes in Checkpoint CP2 in Terminal 1, CP5 in Terminal 2, CP7A and CP8 in Terminal 3, and one at Terminal 5. The TSA Pre-Check Enrollment Center is in Terminal 1 Baggage Claim, near Door 1G. It’s open Monday-Friday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and 12 pm to 4 pm. Saturdays and Sundays are closed.
Global Entry
Expedited clearance is arranged at the Global Entry kiosk for international passengers arriving at the airport. After applying, the applicant has to arrange an interview at the enrollment center. The enrollment center is in Terminal 5 and is open Mon to Fri from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm.
Mobile Passport
You can submit your passport details and customs declaration to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) using the app. Once you arrive at the airport, you can present an instant receipt and passport to the agent.
CLEAR
Expedited security clearance can be done through CLEAR by clearing the eye and fingerprint scanner instead of showing an I.D. at the security checkpoint. CLEAR lanes are located at Terminals 1, 2, and 5 and operate from 4:30 am to 8:00 pm.
Wi-Fi and Charging Stations at ORD
Wi-Fi is available free of charge at the airport. You can select the “_Free_ORD _Wi-Fi” or “Boingo Hotspot” network and launch your browser.
Charging station locations in Terminal 1 can be found at Gates B5, B11, B12, B14, B19, C5, C15, C21, and C28, Terminal 2 Gates E8, F2, and F5, Terminal 3 Gates G13, G17, H12, K9, K12, L10B, and Terminal 5 Gate M13.
O’Hare Airport FAQs
What airport is ORD?
ORD is the IATA code of Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Where is O Hare Airport?
O’Hare Airport is in O’Hare, Chicago, Illinois. The location is on the Northwest Side of the city, 17 miles approximately northwest of the Loop business district.
How big is O’Hare Airport?
The O’Hare Airport is one the biggest airports in the world. It has over 73 million passengers as of 2023 and covers 7,627 acres of land.
How far is Chicago O’Hare Airport from Downtown Chicago?
Downtown Chicago is about 22 miles to 26 miles from the airport.
How many runways does Chicago O’Hare have?
There are eight runways in Chicago O’Hare Airport.
What city is ORD airport?
The Chicago O’Hare Airport, AKA ORD, is in Chicago, Illinois.
Who runs ORD airport?
The City of Chicago Department of Aviation runs the ORD Airport
What is the name of the main airport in Chicago?
The main airport in Chicago is the Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Are there two airports in Chicago?
There are two major airports in Chicago: the Chicago O’Hare International Airport and the Chicago Midway International Airport.
