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ORD · Chicago, IL · Major Hub

O'Hare International Airport Guide

Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for O'Hare International Airport (ORD), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.

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On this page
  1. Map
  2. Terminals & connections
  3. Layover helper
  4. Security & TSA
  5. Lounges
  6. Amenities
  7. Ground transport
  8. Parking
  9. Can I leave?
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 4 terminals, not all airside-connected
  • Minimum connection time: 30 min domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
  • Arrive: 2 hr before domestic, 3 hr before international (TSA advice)
  • To Chicago: about 45 min one-way
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap

Terminals & connections

O'Hare International Airport has 4 terminals. Not all terminals are airside-connected, so changing terminals can mean exiting security and re-clearing TSA. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected via departures-level pedestrian walkways. Terminal 5 has no secure-side walkway; the secure Terminal Transfer Bus (TTB) links T5 with T1 and T3 every 15 minutes from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm for connecting passengers with a same-day boarding pass. Between 9:30 pm and 11:30 am, a T5 connection means exiting security, taking the ATS people mover, and being rescreened at a TSA checkpoint. International arrivals clear customs and recheck bags before connecting. Concourses at ORD can be very long; budget 25-30 min between distant gates.

Terminal 1

3 airlines: United Airlines, Lufthansa, ANA All Nippon Airways

United Airlines hub, Concourses B and C. Lufthansa and ANA arrive at Terminal 5.

Terminal 2

6 airlines: United Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Denver Air Connection, Southern Airways Express

Concourses E and F; United Express, Air Canada, Alaska, JetBlue, Denver Air Connection, and Southern Airways Express.

Terminal 3

6 airlines: American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Contour Airlines

American Airlines hub, Concourses G, H, K, L. British Airways, Japan Airlines, and Iberia arrive at Terminal 5.

Terminal 5

32 airlines: Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and more

Delta, Frontier, Sun Country, and Avelo operate domestic flights from Terminal 5, alongside international arrivals and most non-US international departures (United, Lufthansa, and ANA depart from Terminal 1; American, British Airways, Iberia, and Japan Airlines depart from Terminal 3; all arrive at Terminal 5 on international flights). Concourse M. Per the official flychicago.com airline directory.

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
30 min
Domestic to international
1 hr
International to domestic
1 hr 30 min
International to international
1 hr 30 min
Transfer system
Secure-side walkways link Terminals 1, 2 and 3; Terminal 5 by the secure Terminal Transfer Bus (11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) or the landside ATS people mover
Airside connected
No
Check your connection time at ORD

Layover helper

Find how long to plan for a connection at ORD: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.

Minimum connection at ORD

30min

Comfortable

60+ min

The shortest connection airlines usually sell here. Includes the walk between gates. Source: OAG

Comfortable is our guidance, not a rule.

Flying United both ways?United is a hub carrier here, with its own same-airline minimums
Both flights on United?
ConnectionUnitedAirportvs airport
Domestic → Domestic35'30'+5'
Domestic → International40'60'-20'
International → Domestic85'90'-5'
International → International85'90'-5'

United's same-airline minimums (OAG). Mixed-airline connections use the airport standard.

Flying American both ways?American is a hub carrier here, with its own same-airline minimums
Both flights on American?
ConnectionAmericanAirportvs airport
Domestic → Domestic35'30'+5'
Domestic → International35'60'-25'
International → Domestic80'90'-10'
International → International80'90'-10'

American's same-airline minimums (OAG). Mixed-airline connections use the airport standard.

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline.Powered by Travel VientTerms

Writing about ORD? Embed this connection time calculator on your site

Security & TSA

Security waits at ORD vary by time of day and checkpoint. The TSA advises arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight, as O'Hare International Airport's website notes.

TSA PreCheck
Available
CLEAR
Available
Global Entry
Available

T1 and T3 have the highest volume.

Lounges

2 notable lounges at ORD, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.

United Polaris Lounge

Terminal 1, Concourse C

United / Star Alliance

Access: Polaris Business Class on same-day intl flight

Amenities: Showers, Sit-down dining, Bar

American Airlines Flagship Lounge

Terminal 3, Concourse G/H

American / OneWorld

Access: Flagship First/Business same-day intl, ConciergeKey

Amenities: Showers, Buffet

Amenities

5 of 7 core amenities available at ORD: showers, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 2 terminals.

Showers

Available

Polaris, Flagship, Admirals Clubs

Sleep pods

Not available

WiFi

Free (good)

Free WiFi with no time limit.

Nursing rooms

Available

All terminals

Chapel

Available

Rotunda between T1 and T2

Pet relief areas

Available

Pet relief areas in all terminals

Dining highlights

Terminal 3: Tortas Frontera (Rick Bayless), Publican Tavern

Terminal 1: Chicago Dog House, Tuscany

Ground transport to Chicago

ORD is about 45 min from downtown Chicago by the fastest transit option.

OptionCostTime
CTA Blue Line
Subway
24/7 rapid transit to downtown Chicago ($5 airport fare).
$540-45 min
Uber/Lyft
Rideshare
Rush hour can easily double the time.
VariesVaries
Taxi metered
Taxi
Metered fare from the lower-level taxi stands. Traffic changes the price.
$50Varies

Parking

ORD parking ranges from $16/day economy to $43/day short-term. Official posted rates: Daily garage and Terminal 5 Lot D $43/day, Economy Lot F $30/day, Economy Lots G and H $16/day, hourly from $3 for the first hour. O'Hare states economy daily rates range $16 to $30, with Lot G the most economical on-airport option. Free Airport Transit System to all terminals. O'Hare does not post a valet daily rate on its parking pages.

Short-term
$43/day
Long-term
$30/day
Economy
$16/day
Valet
Not published

Can I leave ORD during a layover?

With a 3-hour layover, stay inside ORD. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of Chicago. Round-trip to the city center is about 1 hr 30 min plus re-screening on return.

5+ hour layovers can take the CTA Blue Line to downtown Chicago (40-45 min, $5) and reach Millennium Park or the Loop. Budget 3 hours round trip including re-screening.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Hilton Chicago O'Hare
    On-airport, walkable
    $$$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at ORD?

The TSA advises arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight, as O'Hare International Airport's website notes. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.

What is the minimum connection time at ORD?

ORD requires at least 30 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. ORD terminals are not all airside-connected, so changing terminals can mean re-clearing security. Transfer system: Secure-side walkways link Terminals 1, 2 and 3; Terminal 5 by the secure Terminal Transfer Bus (11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) or the landside ATS people mover.

How long does it take to get between terminals at ORD?

We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for ORD, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.

Can I leave ORD during a 6-hour layover?

With 3 hours you should stay inside ORD. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 90 minutes plus re-screening. 5+ hour layovers can take the CTA Blue Line to downtown Chicago (40-45 min, $5) and reach Millennium Park or the Loop. Budget 3 hours round trip including re-screening.

Does ORD have showers?

Yes, ORD has showers at Polaris, Flagship, Admirals Clubs.

Does ORD have sleep pods?

ORD does not have dedicated sleep pods. Check premium airline lounges for quiet rooms.

Is WiFi free at ORD?

Yes. ORD offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free WiFi with no time limit.

What is the cheapest way to get from ORD to Chicago?

The cheapest option is typically CTA Blue Line at $5, taking 40-45 minutes. 24/7 rapid transit to downtown Chicago ($5 airport fare).

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at ORD?

ORD supports TSA PreCheck and has CLEAR lanes. Global Entry kiosks are available for returning international travelers. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint. T1 and T3 have the highest volume.

Where should I eat at ORD during a layover?

Notable dining at ORD includes Tortas Frontera (Rick Bayless) (Terminal 3), Publican Tavern (Terminal 3), Chicago Dog House (Terminal 1), Tuscany (Terminal 1). Dining is spread across 2 terminals or concourses, so check your departure gate before committing to a sit-down meal.

How much does parking cost at ORD?

ORD parking rates: $43/day short-term, $30/day long-term, $16/day economy. Official posted rates: Daily garage and Terminal 5 Lot D $43/day, Economy Lot F $30/day, Economy Lots G and H $16/day, hourly from $3 for the first hour. O'Hare states economy daily rates range $16 to $30, with Lot G the most economical on-airport option. Free Airport Transit System to all terminals. O'Hare does not post a valet daily rate on its parking pages.

Is there a hotel at ORD for overnight layovers?

Yes. Hilton Chicago O'Hare is on-airport (On-airport, walkable) in the $$$ price band. This is the easiest option for overnight layovers or early-morning departures since you can reach the terminal on foot without a shuttle or rideshare.

Which terminal does my airline use at ORD?

ORD has 4 terminals. Major airline assignments: Terminal 1: United Airlines, Lufthansa, ANA All Nippon Airways; Terminal 2: United Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines; Terminal 3: American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines; Terminal 5: Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.

Are there pet relief areas at ORD?

Yes. Pet relief areas in all terminals.

Is there a chapel or prayer room at ORD?

Yes. Rotunda between T1 and T2. Interfaith chapel and prayer rooms.

Compare ORD to other airports

See how ORD ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.

Best for layoversORD is workable for 6h+ layoversWith sleep podsSee which airports offer capsule hotels and nap roomsShortest MCTORD dom-to-dom: 30 min · intl-to-dom: 1 hr 30 min

More on Chicago and ORD

Go deeper on connecting through ORD and on visiting Chicago.

Airlines operating at ORD

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of ORD.

Pack for your Chicago trip

Destination packing lists for cities served by ORD.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Connection times, security, ground transport and parking verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with O'Hare International Airport before flying.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.