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Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago, United States
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
One of the world's busiest and most connected airports.
- ›Named after U.S. Navy aviator and Medal of Honor recipient Edward 'Butch' O'Hare.
- ›The IATA code ORD derives from the airport's former name, Orchard Field.
- ›O'Hare held the record for world's busiest airport by aircraft movements for many years.
- ›The O'Hare 21 modernization program includes a new global terminal and satellite concourse.
- ›The airport covers approximately 7,200 acres, making it one of the largest in the U.S. by land area.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, opened in 1944 as a wartime manufacturing facility and converted to a commercial airport in 1955, ranks consistently among the busiest airports in the world by total operations. Named after World War II naval aviator Edward 'Butch' O'Hare, it serves as a major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines, connecting Chicago to hundreds of destinations across six continents. O'Hare's vast campus and ongoing multi-billion-dollar modernization program reflect its enduring role as a backbone of North American and global air travel.
- Terminal 1 — United Airlines' primary hub terminal, featuring the iconic neon-lit underground pedestrian tunnel connecting Concourses B and C.
- Terminal 2 — Hosts United Airlines regional operations and select international partner airlines arriving on connecting itineraries.
- Terminal 3 — American Airlines' main terminal at O'Hare, with extensive domestic and international departure gates across multiple concourses.
- Terminal 5 — The dedicated international terminal handling non-U.S. flag carriers, international arrivals, customs, and immigration processing.
- CTA Blue Line train — direct service to downtown Chicago (The Loop) in approximately 45 minutes
- Metra North Central Service — commuter rail to the northern suburbs
- Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus routes serving surrounding neighborhoods
- Taxi and rideshare pickup zones on the lower level of each terminal
- Car rental center accessible via the Airport Transit System (ATS) people mover
- Hotel and off-site parking shuttles from designated curbside areas
- Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport (connected to Terminal 2 via skybridge)
- Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago
- Marriott Chicago O'Hare
- Aloft Chicago O'Hare
- Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel
Inside the terminals, travelers will find a broad mix of local Chicago concepts — including deep-dish pizza outlets and Chicago-style hot dog stands — alongside national chains spread across all four terminals. The international Terminal 5 offers 24-hour dining options to accommodate varied arrival and departure times. Outside the airport in the Rosemont and Schiller Park areas, a dense cluster of restaurants, sports bars, and casual dining chains cater to layover travelers and airport workers alike.
- Allow extra connection time — O'Hare is large and inter-terminal transfers via the ATS people mover can take 15–20 minutes.
- The CTA Blue Line is the most cost-effective and often fastest way into downtown Chicago, running 24 hours a day.
- Check your terminal in advance; United uses Terminals 1 and 2, American uses Terminal 3, and all international carriers use Terminal 5.
- O'Hare is prone to weather-related delays, especially in winter — monitor your flight status and build buffer time into connections.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD): A global aviation hub. One of the world's busiest airports, offering extensive domestic and international connections. With multiple terminals and runways, ORD handles massive traffic. Connected to Chicago via the 'L' train, it's a key Midwest gateway.
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Airlines serving this airport
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Official airport contacts
Official contacts sourced from the airport authority. Verified 2026-08-11.
Stay, Eat & Explore: Chicago
The city of big shoulders
- •Millennium Park & The Bean — Cloud Gate selfies and free summer concerts.
- •Art Institute of Chicago — American Gothic and a world-class Impressionist wing.
- •Architecture River Cruise — Skyscraper history from the Chicago River.
- •Willis Tower Skydeck — Glass ledges 412 m above the Loop.
- •Navy Pier — Ferris wheel, boats and lakefront fireworks.
Getting around: The 'L' trains (Blue from O'Hare, Orange from Midway) plus buses cover the grid; Divvy bikes ride the Lakefront Trail.
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Passport, Visa & Immigration
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Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately 17 miles (27 km) northwest of downtown. The airport is operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation and covers 7,627 acres. It is the airport with the most runways in the world, with eight.
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