In today’s hectic world, flying is often the fastest way to get to your destination. Whether it’s for a layover or your next trip, your flight is taking you to ORD — officially known as the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Understandably, you’re concerned. This massive airport is known for its hustle and bustle and multiple terminals, and you want to know where to go next.
The good news about the airport’s popularity is that the millions of people there before you have streamlined the process for everything from making connecting flights to getting an ORD car rental. We’ve used years of input to put together this handy guide for first-time visitors to the Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
1. Navigating the Five Terminals
Many large airports have two or three terminals, but ORD has five (sort of). Unless you’re traveling internationally, you’ll likely only deal with the first three. However, you may land in one terminal and have a connecting flight in another, so it’s extremely important that you know where your connection is.
If you’re booking a flight with an ORD layover, allow plenty of time to get across the airport. Don’t assume your connection will be in the same terminal. Although 1, 2, and 3 are connected and you can walk between all of them, it can take 15-30 minutes, depending on which terminals you’re using and your walking speed.
Terminal 4 is no longer in use. It was a temporary stopgap while Terminal 5 was under construction. Now that it’s completed, Terminal 5 is predominantly used for international flights, although some airlines use 1-3 for their non-domestic traveling. This terminal is not connected to the others, so you’ll need to use the Airport Transit System, which we’ll explain next.
2. Using the Airport Transit System (ATS)
When you need to get to and from Terminal 5, you’ll take the ATS. If you’re one of the many who find taking extra trains nerve-wracking, we get it. However, the ATS is designed to be user-friendly. The only downside is that you have to leave the main terminals and re-enter through security again, which can add precious minutes to a tight layover schedule.
3. Leaving ORD
We’ve covered connecting flights for layovers, but for those of you who plan on making Chicago your destination for a while, how do you leave the airport?
Located in O’Hare, ORD is less than 20 miles from the heart of Chicago. But 20 miles is rarely 20 minutes in Chicago driving time. Consider your traveling time and factor in rush hour on the expressway.
Grabbing a rental car means heading to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF), accessible by the ATS. The train brings you to the rental car facility, where you can choose from over ten companies. Because ORD can have a heavy rental car volume, booking your car ahead is wise.
You can also get to the economy parking in Lot F from the MMF. This long-term parking option is the most expensive of the remote lots, so if your budget is an issue, consider using Lots G and H. They’re cheaper, but you’ll need to take the shuttle to MMF and then ride the ATS to Ticketing.
Short-term parking is available at hourly rates. This parking takes you from the main garage to the daily parking lot, but daily rates are at a premium. If you can navigate pickup or dropoff from another location, it will be much cheaper.
For those who prefer to use rideshares instead of rentals, you’ll head to the Departures area in Terminal 2. There, you’ll find directions to the rideshare pickup area, the only section of the airport where these companies are allowed to collect their passengers.
Finally, there’s the Blue Line Access, which is Chicago’s “L” transit system. This public transportation takes you from O’Hare to Downtown Chicago, stopping at various destinations. It’s a budget-friendly way to leave ORD and get to the city and could be ideal if you aren’t planning on driving/riding much during your stay.
Next Time, Stay a While
As a first-timer to ORD, this guide is enough to get you to and from the places you need to go. But Chicago O’Hare International Airport is an impressive destination on its own. The next time you come, consider extending your layover and exploring the shops, cuisine, and history that abound in this magnificent and massive site!
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