Events and busy seasons

The times of year when ORD is at its busiest, and the events that fill it: what to expect at security and on the roads, when to arrive and how to get to the venue from the airport. The security page carries the checkpoint facts for any day.

• Lollapalooza weekend at O'Hare

  The Blue Line from O'Hare ($5 to board) runs to downtown at all times. What the festival and the airport publish on Grant Park, hotels and checkpoints.

  • Getting from O’Hare to Grant Park
  • Hotels: downtown or a short walk from the Blue Line
  • Flying out after the festival
  • Parking near Grant Park
  • Sources
• O'Hare at Thanksgiving and Christmas

  O'Hare's pages and TSA's travel tips publish no holiday forecast. They do publish checkpoint hours, a day of parking by lot and rules for food and ID.

  • Busiest days and waits: ask your airline and TSA
  • Checkpoint hours by terminal
  • Parking: reserve a space or pick a lot by price
  • Trains and buses: what runs every day
  • Food and ID at the checkpoint
  • Sources
• O'Hare to a Bears game at Soldier Field

  Blue Line from O'Hare ($5 to board), then a Green or Orange Line train to Roosevelt or the 128 Soldier Field Express. Rideshare, taxi and bags.

  • Four ways to the stadium
  • Blue Line first, then a train to Roosevelt
  • The 128 Soldier Field Express skips the walk
  • Rideshare, taxi and a rental car
  • Luggage and the clear-bag rule
  • Game days: what’s published and what isn’t
  • Sources
• O'Hare to a White Sox game

  Blue Line from O'Hare ($5 to board), change to the Red Line, get off at Sox/35th for Rate Field. Taxi, rideshare and pre-arranged cars compared.

  • Four ways to the park
  • Blue Line first, then a southbound Red Line
  • Taxi, pre-arranged car and rideshare at O’Hare
  • Game days: what’s published and what isn’t
  • Sources
• O'Hare to McCormick Place for a convention

  Blue Line from O'Hare ($5 to board), change at Clark and Lake to the Green Line for McCormick Place. Shared taxi, rideshare and what the airport lists.

  • Five ways to McCormick Place
  • Blue Line to Green Line: the change at Clark and Lake
  • Taxi and the shared ride
  • Rideshare and pre-arranged cars
  • Convention weeks: what’s published and what isn’t
  • Sources
• O'Hare to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game

  Blue Line from O'Hare ($5 to board), change to the Red Line, get off at Addison. Taxi and rideshare compared, with what the CTA, Cubs and Uber publish.

  • Five ways to the ballpark
  • Blue Line first, then the Red Line to Addison
  • Taxi and rideshare: where you start, where you stop
  • Game days: what’s published and what isn’t
  • Getting back to the airport
  • Sources
• The Chicago Marathon and O'Hare: race weekend arrivals and departures

  Landing at O'Hare for the Chicago Marathon: the 24-hour Blue Line ($5 to board), a $30 shared taxi to the Expo, and what no page covers.

  • Land, then go to the Expo
  • Race morning: Grant Park opens early
  • Where to stay when the marathon names no hotels
  • Getting back out to O’Hare
  • Sources
• Winter snow and delays at O'Hare: how to plan

  O'Hare publishes no snow or delay rule. A plan from what it does publish: the 24-hour Blue Line, covered or outdoor parking and checkpoint opening times.

  • Ask your airline about delays
  • The Blue Line is the second way in
  • Parking: covered or outdoor
  • Security hours can move