O'Hare Parking (ORD - Chicago)

Airport facilities

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.

Top things to do in O'Hare Airport

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.

Top things to do near O'Hare Airport

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.

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.

How to get to O'Hare Airport

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.

O'Hare Airport FAQs

How far is O’Hare from downtown Chicago?

Just over 15 miles (24 kilometers) from The Loop and Downtown area of Chicago, O'Hare sits to the north west of the city, close to Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Arlington Heights, Skokie, Franklin Park and Elmhurst at an intersection between the I-90 and I-294. The closest major city to Chicago is Milwaukee in Wisconsin, while Indianapolis and St Louis are both reachable well within five hours each by road.

What time does O'Hare Airport open?

Chicago O'Hare is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, however as with most 24-hour airports, most concessions, services and restaurants are closed overnight as there are very few flights or passengers moving around. It is quite possible to sleep at the airport overnight if you suffer a delay or have a long layover, but many of those who have tried it recommend staying at one of the nearby hotels and utilizing a shuttle bus service instead.

Does O'Hare Airport have free WiFi?

Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the terminals; you are asked to view an advert to receive 30 minutes of free Internet access and you can repeat this process as many times as you like. There are also high-speed premium options available, whilst several of the airline lounges have their own WiFi networks, which are less crowded and faster than the general airport service.

Who is O'Hare Airport named after?

The airport is named after Butch O'Hare, who was a World War II fighter pilot in the US Navy, considered an Ace for shooting down five bombers in 15 minutes and saving aircraft carrier, The Lexington almost single-handedly in the process. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics.

Why is ORD the IATA airport code for O'Hare?

The Chicago International Airport code ‘ORD’ designated by the IATA dates back to the earliest days of the airport when it was used by the Douglas Company to manufacture aircraft for World War II. At that time, it was known as Orchard Field Airport after the nearby farming community of Orchard Place and the ORD abbreviation was thus taken from the word Orchard.

How big is O'Hare Airport?

Although it is one of the busiest international airports around, the actual land area of O'Hare is smaller in comparison to other major airports, with just over 2,600 hectares (26 square kilometers) making it the eighth-biggest airport in the world.