Chicago O’Hare Airport

The O'Hare International Airport is the primary airport in Chicago, and roughly 70 million people pass through it every year. Thanks to the high number of annual travelers, the Chicago Illinois O'Hare Airport often earns the distinction of being one of the world's busiest airports. Unfortunately, the fact that O'Hare is so busy means that delays can be common, so you should be prepared to deal with them whether you are coming or going. Should you be arriving at the O'Hare International Airport, the fact that the downtown area, or Loop, is relatively easy to get to helps to make up for the possibility of delays. If you're not overly eager to head into town once you arrive at O'Hare, there are plenty of good airport hotels and other lodging options in the surrounding communities.

You can find the Chicago O'Hare Airport on the city's northwest side. While it's not as close to the Loop as the Midway International Airport is, it's still close enough to make the journey into town a fairly easy one. In fact, the Chicago O'Hare terminals are only about twenty miles from the Loop, so you can often make the trip in about 30 minutes. For those who are renting a car at the O'Hare International Airport, traffic can sometimes add another half an hour to the drive into the Loop, so you will want to keep that in mind. Hopping on a shuttle might be the easier way to go, especially if you don't like city driving, and you can also hail a cab if you have room in the budget. For those who are looking to save money on transportation costs once they arrive at the Chicago Illinois O'Hare Airport, taking the metro into town is likely the best choice. The CTA Blue Line train runs all the way to the airport, making this option very easy.

Whether you are coming or going, there will be a healthy array of things to do at the Chicago O'Hare Airport if you have some time to burn. In the baggage claim areas, multilingual touch-screen kiosks offer insight into things such as Chicago hotels and attractions, so you can stop and check them out if you need help getting a handle on this big Midwestern city. Informative employees who can help you with any questions or concerns are also on hand. Wireless internet access is available in the Chicago O'Hare terminals, so you can plan local tours, find a good place to stay, or simply read through your emails if you're equipped with a laptop. Renovations to some of the O'Hare terminals have seen the addition of new services and facilities, and there are plenty of shops and restaurants if you need some help passing the time while you wait for your flight.

Like the Midway International Airport, the O'Hare International Airport offers special services and facilities for disabled travelers or for those who are in need of medical attention. Like Midway, O'Hare features ample parking, and the rates are fair if you need to linger for a while. Since flights are commonly delayed at the Chicago O'Hare Airport, you might need to leave the car in the lot for longer than you anticipated, which might factor into your choice of transportation.

Any delays shouldn't dissuade you from choosing Chicago O'Hare when booking your flight. In fact, the O'Hare International Airport has been judged the Best Airport in North America by several publications on more than one occasion.