How to spend four hours at O'Hare
Four hours at O'Hare: Chicago food by gate, who gets into the lounges, and the few minutes the airport publishes between terminals.
The airport doesn’t give walking times between its terminals, so find your next gate first and spend the rest of the four hours near it.
The minutes the airport does publish
| What | Published time |
|---|---|
| Terminal Transfer Bus between Terminals 1 or 3 and Terminal 5 | Every 15 minutes, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. |
| Airport Transit System (ATS), the airport’s train | Every 3 to 5 minutes at peak hours, 24 hours a day |
| ATS, Terminal 1 to the Multi-Modal Facility | About 10 minutes |
| Walking between Terminals 1, 2 and 3 | Not published |
| Walking to a Terminal Transfer Bus stop | Not published |
Terminals 1, 2 and 3 connect on the secure side. Follow the overhead signs, and you don’t need the train. Terminal 5 doesn’t have that walkway, so the bus carries you across while you stay behind security. Outside the bus hours, the train means leaving security and clearing TSA again. Our terminals page lists each concourse and gate range, and our Terminal Transfer Bus page lists the stops.
The bus doesn’t stop at Terminal 2. From a Terminal 2 gate, walk the secure side to Terminal 1 or 3 first.
Start with the meal
The airport’s map lists some places in Terminals 1 to 3 as Chicago food, and they’re all past security.
- Terminal 1, Concourse C. America’s Dog is at C17 and Billy Goat Tavern and Grill at C19. Reggio’s Chicago Style Pizza has branches at C19 and C22.
- Terminal 1, Concourse B. Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless is at B10. The Terminal 3 branch is at K4, so it sits on both sides of a United-to-American connection.
- Terminal 3. Reggio’s Chicago Style Pizza is at G8 and K4.
- Snacks. Garrett Popcorn Shops are at B8 and H2. Nuts on Clark is at C19, E4 and H8.
The map also lists Goose Island Beer Company at C10 as Chicago food, open 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Our dining page lists every place by terminal with its hours.
For a sit-down meal or a drink at a bar, these are past security too:
| Terminal | Place | Gate | Listed hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galileo Bar & Grill | B19 | 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| 1 | Beaudevin Wine Bar | C17 | 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. |
| 1 | Berghoff Cafe | C26 | 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| 2 | Stanley’s Blackhawks Kitchen & Tap | E5 | 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| 2 | Skybridge Bar & Grill | F15 | 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Chicago Cubs Bar & Grill | G1 | 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Publican Tavern | K1 | 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Macaroni Grill | K2 | 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
Most places in Terminals 1 to 3 list closing times between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Starbucks at B5, B9, E2 and K4 and Dunkin’ at H5 list 24 hours.
Pick one longer stop
Whichever you pick, the walk to another terminal uses part of the four hours.
| Stop | Where | Listed hours | What the airport says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal Getaway Spa | Gate B12 in Terminal 1, Gate H1 in Terminal 3 | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily | Massage and facials listed at H1 |
| Yoga Room | Mezzanine level of the Terminal 3 Rotunda | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily | Shoes come off, food and drink stay outside |
| Field Museum store | Gate B8, Terminal 1 | 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily | Toys, apparel and Chicago souvenirs |
| Hoypoloi, An Uncommon Gallery | Gate B6 in Terminal 1, Gate E5 in Terminal 2 | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily | Gifts, books and Chicago souvenirs |
| Family Lounge | Terminal 2 Main Hall, near Gate F1, past security | 24 hours daily | A play space for children with device charging and stroller parking |
The Yoga Room has a public restroom nearby on the Mezzanine for changing, and the airport’s yoga page asks you to silence your phone.
Where to charge a phone or get online
Free, unlimited Wi-Fi covers all four terminals, before and after security. Join the network named Boingo Hotspot, open a browser and choose Watch Ad to Connect.
The free power stations are seated workstations with outlets, and each has four to eight seats. They sit at these gates:
- Terminal 1. B5, B11, B12, B14, B19, C5, C15, C21 and C28.
- Terminal 2. E8, F2 and F5.
- Terminal 3. G13, G17, H12, K9, K12 and L10B.
- Terminal 5. M13.
Which lounges you can use
The airport says club members get in, and travelers without a membership may buy day passes for most clubs. Its lounge page doesn’t list prices.
In Terminals 1 to 3, the airport lists these lounges:
- United Clubs at B6, B18, C10, E7 and F9. United Club members and eligible United customers get in. B6, C10 and F9 are open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., B18 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and E7 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- American Admirals Clubs at G8, L2A and H6/K6, the last beside the Flagship Lounge. Admirals Club members and eligible American customers get in, plus Japan Airlines and Iberia customers whose fare or status includes lounge access. G8 is open 6:15 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., L2A 5 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. and H6/K6 4:15 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.
- American Flagship Lounge between Gates H6 and K6. It takes American premium cabin and top tier customers on qualifying flights, and American’s page lists it open 4:15 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. The airport’s map shows 10:45 p.m.
- United Polaris Lounge at C18. It takes international first and business class customers only, and it’s open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
These Terminal 5 lounges are on Concourse M, past security.
| Lounge | Where in Concourse M | Listed hours | Who gets in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Sky Club | Gate M13 on the airport’s lounge page, between Gates M11 and M14 on its map | Sunday to Friday 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Delta Sky Club members, Delta One customers, SkyTeam premium cabin customers, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, certain American Express card members, and certain WestJet and LATAM customers |
| Air France Lounge | Near Gate M17 | 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily | Air France Business, Flying Blue Elite Plus, eligible KLM customers, SkyTeam Elite Plus members flying on a SkyTeam airline, and Priority Pass members, though not between noon and 5 p.m. |
| Wingtips Lounge | Near Gate M19 | 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily | Customers of many airlines, including United, Air Canada and Lufthansa, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, and Priority Pass members up to 3 hours before departure |
| LOT Business Lounge | Near Gate M18 | No hours listed | LOT Polish Airlines and Turkish Airlines business class customers, and Star Alliance business class customers and eligible frequent flyer members |
Priority Pass lists the Swissport Lounge on Concourse M as permanently closed. Priority Pass members can use the Air France Lounge outside noon to 5 p.m., or the Wingtips Lounge. Customers of Air India, Emirates, Etihad, Finnair, LOT and Royal Jordanian whose fare listed the Swissport Lounge should ask their airline which Terminal 5 lounge it names now.
The airport’s lounge page doesn’t say which clubs sell day passes. The airport’s map entry for the United Club by Gate B6 offers purchasable access from lounge staff, subject to availability. American says Admirals Club One-Day Pass access may be limited by capacity, and a Flagship Single Visit Pass costs $150 or 15,000 AAdvantage miles per person. Delta no longer sells Sky Club Single Visit Passes, but the club accepts one you already hold.
When the next flight is in Terminal 5
Concourse M has its own food and shops past security, so you don’t have to eat before you ride. The airport’s map tags Tortas Frontera here as a Chicago favorite, where it tags the Terminal 1 and 3 branches as Chicago food.
| Type | Place | Gate | Listed hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago food | CHI Life Market | M4 | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Chicago food | Garrett Popcorn Shops | M18 | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Chicago favorite | Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless | M18 | None listed |
| Sit-down and bars | The Hampton Social | M7 | 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sit-down and bars | The Dearborn | M17 | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Sit-down and bars | Bar Siena | M30 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday and Thursday to Sunday |
| Coffee and quick bites | Publican Quality Bread | M5 | 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Coffee and quick bites | Metropolis Coffee Company | M30 | 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Coffee and quick bites | Dunkin’ | M16 | The map prints 12:00 to 12:00 |
| Coffee and quick bites | Chick-fil-A | M10 | 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday |
| Coffee and quick bites | Burger King | M11 | 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Shops | EVOLVE by Hudson | M14 | 24 hours |
| Shops | Hudson | M18 and M20 | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Shops | Brookstone | M11 | 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
For a quiet place after security, the Interfaith Room is on Concourse M at Gate M25 and open 24 hours. It is open floor space for prayer, meditation or silent contemplation. Our quiet places guide lists the others.
The bus pick-up spots are Gate C18B in Terminal 1, Gates G17 and K20 in Terminal 3 and Gate M13 in Terminal 5. You’ll need a boarding pass for a same-day flight from Terminal 5 to board, so have it before you reach the stop.
Outside the bus hours, Checkpoint 10 in Terminal 5 lists 24 hours, so you won’t reach a closed checkpoint on a ride toward Terminal 5. A ride the other way after 9:30 p.m. depends on the checkpoint at the far end. Terminal 1’s Checkpoint 1 and Terminal 2’s Checkpoint 5 list 11 p.m. closings, and Terminal 3’s Checkpoint 7A lists 10:30 p.m. After 11 p.m., our security page shows no checkpoint open in Terminals 1 to 3 until Checkpoint 5 opens at 3:15 a.m. Our Airport Transit System page lists the stations.
Sources
- ORD Airport Guide: terminals, dining, lounges, amenities, Terminal Transfer Bus and Airport Transit System
- Chicago Department of Aviation: Transportation Between Terminals, Airport Transit System and Airline Lounges
- Chicago Department of Aviation: Yoga Room, Eat and Shop