Terminals at ORD
Getting to Chicago O'Hare
Parking at ORD
Lounges at ORD
Top destinations from ORD
Airlines at ORD
5 things you didn't know about Chicago O'Hare
Verified by the CompareFlights team- 1The 'ORD' code stands for 'Orchard Field' — the airport's original 1942 name, before it was renamed in 1949 for Lieutenant Commander Edward 'Butch' O'Hare, the first US Naval aviator to receive the Medal of Honor in WWII.
- 2ORD has its own US Postal Service ZIP code (60666) and an internal helmsman crew of dedicated USPS workers who sort mail directly inside the airport.
- 3The walkway between Concourses B and C inside Terminal 1 features Helmut Jahn's 'Sky's the Limit' — a 744-foot neon kinetic art installation that's been delighting connecting passengers since 1987.
- 4ORD's air traffic control tower is the busiest in the FAA system by aircraft movements — handling roughly 2,500 takeoffs and landings on a normal weekday, more than two per minute around the clock.
- 5ORD is one of only two US airports (with PHL) where the CTA Blue Line train runs 24 hours a day — you can catch a train at 3 AM and be downtown in 45 minutes for the price of a coffee.
Frequently asked about ORD
Which terminal does United use at ORD?
United mainline operates from Terminal 1 (Concourses B and C) for both domestic and international flights, with some United Express regional service from Terminal 2. Through-passengers can transit airside between Terminals 1, 2 and 3 without re-clearing security. Terminal 5 is used only for selected United international arrivals.
How early should I arrive at ORD for an international flight?
Plan three hours ahead for international departures, especially out of Terminal 5 where security and immigration queues can be long during evening peak banks. For domestic departures, two hours is enough except during winter weather disruption when security throughput slows.
Is the CTA Blue Line safe at night from O'Hare?
The Blue Line runs 24 hours but is noticeably quieter overnight. Most travellers find it comfortable during the day; at night, exercise the same caution you would on any urban subway, sit near the operator's car, and avoid empty platforms at the city-end stops.
What's the cheapest way from ORD to downtown Chicago?
The CTA Blue Line at $5 one-way is the cheapest option and takes about 45 minutes to the Loop. By comparison, taxis and rideshare run $30-65 plus surge. The train station is in the basement under Terminal 2, reached by walkway from Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Does ORD have a hotel inside the airport?
Yes — the Hilton Chicago O'Hare is connected by underground tunnel directly to Terminals 1, 2 and 3, putting you a short indoor walk from your gate. Several other hotels are a short Airport Transit System ride away in Rosemont.