Chicago O'Hare Airport Guide (ORD)

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

PO Box 66142 Chicago, Illinois 60666, USA

ORD

1

(773) 686 2200 or 1 800 832 6352 (customer service hotline)

None

aviation@flychicago.com

4

GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October)

The airport is situated 29km (18 miles) northwest of Chicago.

O'Hare is currently in the process of a long term US$6.6 billion modernisation scheme which is planned to reduce delays and generally improve operational efficiency at the airport. Work involves realigning the runways and numerous related projects.

The airport has its own automated 24-hour ATS train system connecting all four terminals, the Metra station, PACE stop and the long-term car park (Lot E). It is free of charge to use.

The airport lies on I-190. To reach I-190 from central Chicago, take I-90; from the north and south suburbs, take I-294; from the west suburbs, take I-88, then I-294.

A multi-level parking garage and additional ground level car parks (Lots B and C) service Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Hourly, daily and valet parking is available. Lot D has hourly and daily parking for the International Terminal. There are also two car parks available for long-term parking (Lots E and G). Lot E is connected to the ATS rail system connecting all terminals; shuttle buses to the terminals are also available. A third long-term car park, Lot F, is closed until further notice. General parking information is available 24 hours a day (tel: (773) 686 7530).

All major car hire companies are represented, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Companies are located on the lower level near baggage reclaim in Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Many companies at the airport run free shuttle buses to pick-up and drop-off areas. There are no car hire companies in Terminal 5, although courtesy telephones are available on the lower level of the terminal and can be used to book a car.

Rail: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) (tel: 1 888 968 7282; website: www.transitchicago.com) runs the 24-hour Metra service to downtown Chicago. The CTA station is located on the lowest level of the main parking garage at Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (accessible from Terminal 5 on the ATS system). Metra North Central commuter trains serves destinations in Lake and northern Cook counties, with five daily inbound and outbound trains between Antioch and Chicago Union Station. The station at the airport is situated near the remote long-term car parks and is on the ATS system.
Road: Bus: Continental Airport Express shuttle buses (tel: (773) 247 1200; website: www.airportexpress.com) depart from all terminals for central Chicago and northern destinations. There is also an hourly shuttle and coach services to Midway Airport. There are a number of regional services available from the airport. The Bus and Shuttle Centre is located on the ground level of Terminal 5 car park. This is the pick-up point for most bus, shuttle and regional services, including hotel courtesy buses. Public transport services are available for disabled travellers.
Taxi: There are taxi ranks outside the Arrivals area of each terminal (journey time: 30-45 minutes to central Chicago).

Information desks (tel: (773) 686 2200) are available in Terminals 1, 3 and 5. Multi-lingual staff are on hand to provide information and assist passengers with directions, 24 hours a day. Two Travelers Aid booths are located in Terminal 2.

Money and communications: There is a full service bank, ATMs, bureau de change facilities in a number of locations and a post office. Wireless Internet is available at various locations throughout the airport.
Eating and drinking: There is a variety of restaurants, bars, fast-food outlets and cafés.
Shopping: There are numerous shops, including duty-free shops in each terminal.
Luggage: Trolleys are available at all terminals. There are lost property desks staffed by the Chicago Police Department on the upper levels of all terminals.
Other facilities: There is a medical centre, AED units (defibrillators), baby-change facilities, a play area and a 24-hour interfaith chapel.

There is a business centre located beneath the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport in Terminal 2. The Hilton Business Center (tel: (773) 601 1743; website: www.hiltonfamilychicago.com) provides a full service, including fax, photocopying, and packing and shipping. There is also a Laptop Lane facility (tel: (773) 894 3100) in Terminal 1, providing workstations with computers, Internet, fax, printing, IDD telephones and laptop connections. Individual airlines also have dedicated lounges which can be used by business travellers with loyalty cards.

Information representatives provide assistance to hearing- and visually-impaired travellers. Disabled passengers are requested to confirm any special needs with their airline four days in advance. Facilities include ramps and lifts, escorted wheelchair services, TTY telephones, visual paging for hearing-impaired passengers and Braille buttons in lifts. The ATS system is fully accessible, with elevators provided at each of the five stops. Assistance within the airport can be arranged in advance for Terminals 1 and parts of Terminal 2 (tel: (773) 601 3398), Terminal 2 (tel: (773) 985 0059) and Terminals 3 and 5 (tel: (773) 686 7561). Adapted hire cars for drivers with disabilities can be provided with two or three days’ notice. Disabled car parking facilities are provided for badge holders. Disabled toilets are located throughout the airport.

The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport (tel: (773) 686 8000; website: www.hiltonfamilychicago.com) is the only hotel on the airport grounds, and is situated in Terminal 2. There are numerous other hotels which can be reached by phoning for a courtesy shuttle bus; these include the Best Western O’Hare (tel: (847) 296 4471; website: www.bestwestern.com), Comfort Inn O’Hare (tel: (847) 233 9292; website: www.choicehotels.com), Courtyard by Marriott (tel: (847) 824 7000; website: www.marriott.com), DoubleTree Hotel O’Hare-Rosemont (tel: (847) 292 9100; website: www.doubletree.com), Four Points Hotel by Sheraton (tel: (847) 671 6000; website: www.starwoodhotels.com), Holiday Inn Select Chicago O’Hare (tel: (847) 954 8600; website: www.ichotelsgroup.com), Hotel Sofitel Chicago O'Hare (tel: (847) 678 4488; website: www.sofitel.com), Hyatt Regency O’Hare (tel: (847) 696 1234; website: http://ohare.hyatt.com), Hyatt Rosemont (tel: (847) 518 1234; website: http://rosemont.hyatt.com), O’Hare Marriott Hotel (tel: (773) 693 4444; website: www.marriott.com), Radisson Hotel Chicago O’Hare (tel: (847) 296 8866; website: www.radisson.com), Ramada Plaza Hotel Chicago O’Hare Airport (tel: (773) 693 5800; website: www.ramada.com), and the Westin O’Hare (tel: (847) 698 6000; website: www.westinohare.com).