Chicago O'Hare Airport: Walk Through the Neon Sky Tunnel

Getting there, at a glance

Amenities, at a glance

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the world by total operations and a major dual hub for both United Airlines and American Airlines, handling more than 80 million passengers a year. It sits about 27 km (17 mi) northwest of downtown Chicago.

Overview

ORD is built around four main terminals connected by a free underground train system, the Airport Transit System (ATS). Its best-known feature is the neon-lit pedestrian tunnel between Terminals B and C — a genuine piece of airport art, not just a corridor — that’s become one of the most photographed spots at any US airport. The Chicago Department of Aviation reported 80.07 million passengers for ORD in 2024, up 8.3% on 2023 and ranking it among the world’s ten busiest airports.

Terminals

• Terminal 1: United Airlines’ main terminal, split into Concourses B and C.
• Terminal 2: A mix of domestic carriers including United and other partners.
• Terminal 3: American Airlines’ main terminal.
• Terminal 5: International departures and arrivals for most foreign carriers (there is no Terminal 4).

All terminals are connected by the free Airport Transit System train, which runs continuously and is the fastest way to move between distant terminals.

Airlines

United Airlines and American Airlines both operate major hubs at ORD, making it one of the most heavily connected airports in North America for both domestic and international travel. That dual-hub structure means ORD handles enormous connecting traffic — and correspondingly busy peak periods tied to each airline’s banked arrival and departure waves.

How to Get There

• CTA Blue Line: A flat $5 fare gets you a direct ride on Chicago’s ‘L’ train system to the Loop downtown, running 24 hours a day, about 45 minutes — the most reliable option given Chicago’s notorious road traffic.
• Taxi: Typically $40–55 to downtown, about 30–45 minutes off-peak, but can run significantly longer during Kennedy Expressway congestion.
• Uber / Lyft: Generally $30–50 depending on demand, about 30–45 minutes with the same traffic caveats as taxis.

Prices above are indicative and can change — always check current fares with the CTA or your ride-hailing app.

Getting Through Security and Passport Control

Like other US airports, ORD has no departure passport control — only TSA security screening, for both domestic and international departures:

• Domestic departures (TSA only): Typically 20–30 minutes off-peak, up to 35–50 minutes during United and American’s busy banked departure waves.
• International departures (TSA only): Similar TSA process to domestic, typically 25–35 minutes off-peak, up to 45–65 minutes at peak.
• Arriving internationally? Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing happens on arrival at Terminal 5, separate from departure security — budget extra time if you’re connecting onward.

Parking

All terminals have adjacent parking garages plus more affordable economy lots connected by shuttle. Given Chicago’s unpredictable weather (especially winter snow and summer thunderstorms that can disrupt the whole system), booking online in advance and building in extra buffer time is worth it.

Wifi

Free, unlimited wifi is available across all terminals with no time limit.

Best Times to Arrive

• Domestic flights: Arrive 2 hours before departure — United and American’s connecting bank structure at ORD means security can get unpredictable during peak waves.
• International flights: Arrive 3 hours ahead, especially for evening departures from Terminal 5.
• Chicago’s weather is a real factor for ORD specifically — winter snow and summer storms are common causes of system-wide delays, so build in extra buffer during those seasons regardless of your own local forecast.

Where to Eat

ORD has a solid lineup of genuine Chicago food — deep-dish pizza and local Chicago chains — alongside national brands, spread across all four terminals. Inside the on-site Hilton, Andiamo serves American cuisine all day, and The Gaslight Club does a 1920s-inspired steakhouse with an extensive whiskey list — both open to non-guests.

Airport Hotel

The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport is the only on-property hotel, directly connected to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 — no need to leave the terminal building. Beyond Andiamo and The Gaslight Club, it also has the Sports Edition Bar, showing up to 12 games at once, and Caffè Mercato for grab-and-go Starbucks coffee and pastries.

Lounges

• United Club locations are concentrated in Terminal 1, and American Admirals Club lounges in Terminal 3, reflecting each airline’s hub terminal.
• Several Priority Pass-affiliated lounges are also available, mainly in Terminal 5.

Duty-Free Shopping

ORD’s duty-free selection is fairly standard for a major US gateway — fashion, cosmetics, and electronics — concentrated in Terminal 5’s international departures area.

Airport Map

This is a simplified layout to help you get oriented — for real-time, gate-by-gate wayfinding, use O’Hare’s official resources.

Useful Links

• Official airport site (O’Hare International Airport) — terminal info, services, live flight status.
• CTA — Chicago Transit Authority — Blue Line fares and schedules.
• TSA — security wait times and PreCheck

Long Layover Tips

• With 6+ hours, the CTA Blue Line makes downtown Chicago genuinely reachable in about 45 minutes — the Loop and Magnificent Mile are both walkable from Blue Line stops.
• If staying airside, don’t skip the neon tunnel between Terminals B and C even if you’re not connecting through there — it’s a short detour worth making.
• Given Chicago’s weather-driven delay risk, if you’re on a tight connection, check your flight status before you even land rather than assuming your original itinerary will hold.