Search
Expert advice
Flight Status
Arrivals & Departures
Deals
Nearby airports
FAQs
Top Destinations
Airlines
Airport information

ORD

Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) Flights & Flight Status

1 adult
0 bags
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 46,479,581 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

Save 22% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport: Expert advice and recommendations

Expert travel writer Stefanie Waldek shares all you need to know before booking a flight to or from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport.
Stefanie Waldek
October 25, 2024

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is Chicago's main airport, connecting the city with more than 200 destinations around the world via almost 1,000 daily flights. Each year, it handles more than 40 million passengers. As you might expect, O'Hare is a large and crowded airport, and it's a very popular layover spot for international travelers. It's also a hub for both United and American Airlines.

Terminals at O'Hare

O'Hare has four terminals: Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are connected airside and you can walk between them, but the distances can be great. It can take 30 minutes or more to get from the end of one terminal to the end of another. Fortunately, most connections are within the same terminal or adjacent terminals, so most connections will take less than 20 minutes.

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 constantly. 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 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, and during peak travel times, security lines can be 30 minutes long or longer. But on an average day at an off hour, the lines do move much more quickly. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes provide expedited security screening for those who are part of the paid membership programs.

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 travelers 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.

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 theater, 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.

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.

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. United also has a Polaris Lounge and American has a Flagship Lounge for business-class passengers only (plus some elite status flyers with American or the Oneworld alliance). If you have Priority Pass, you can access the Swissport lounge in Terminal 5.

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.

Flight Status - Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport

Use our flight tracker to find the flight status for all flights to and from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport
or
Sat 11/2
6:00 pm

Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport arrivals

Sat 11/2
6:00 pm

Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport departures

Sat 11/2
6:00 pm

Latest Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport flights

Recent round-trip flight deals

11/20Wed
1 stopSpirit Airlines
13h 29mLAX-ORD
12/4Wed
1 stopSpirit Airlines
14h 44mORD-LAX
$74
11/9Sat
nonstopFrontier
2h 34mDEN-ORD
11/11Mon
nonstopFrontier
2h 49mORD-DEN
$75
11/17Sun
nonstopFrontier
2h 31mDEN-ORD
11/18Mon
nonstopFrontier
2h 49mORD-DEN
$76
11/14Thu
nonstopFrontier
2h 29mDEN-ORD
11/21Thu
nonstopFrontier
2h 45mORD-DEN
$77
11/17Sun
nonstopFrontier
2h 31mDEN-ORD
11/17Sun
nonstopFrontier
2h 53mORD-DEN
$78
11/21Thu
nonstopFrontier
2h 35mDEN-ORD
11/24Sun
nonstopFrontier
2h 56mORD-DEN
$81
11/7Thu
nonstopSpirit Airlines
3h 37mLAS-ORD
11/11Mon
nonstopSpirit Airlines
4h 08mORD-LAS
$82
11/18Mon
1 stopSpirit Airlines
18h 21mLAX-ORD
11/19Tue
nonstopSpirit Airlines
4h 41mORD-LAX
$85
12/4Wed
nonstopSpirit Airlines
3h 29mMIA-ORD
12/11Wed
nonstopSpirit Airlines
3h 18mORD-MIA
$87
11/16Sat
1 stopFrontier
12h 41mBOS-ORD
11/18Mon
1 stopFrontier
9h 54mORD-BOS
$108

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Flight Tracker

Sat 11/2
6:00 pm

FAQs about Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport

  • What is the busiest day to depart from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

    The day with the most flights departing from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport is generally Wednesday, with an average of 15 flights leaving the airport.

Airport information - Chicago O'Hare Intl

IATA CodeORD
ServesChicago
Terminals1, 2, 3, 5
Hub forLOT, Delta, United Airlines