ORDAirport Guide

Sleeping at O'Hare overnight

O'Hare publishes no overnight rule. Only Terminal 5's Checkpoint 10 stays open 24 hours, while two trains and some hotel shuttles run all night.

Empty blue gate seats beside the glass passenger corridor under the oval-lit ceiling of Concourse M in O'Hare's Terminal 5, late in the evening.
Gate area, Terminal 5

Open 24 hours at ORD

Open 24 hours 8

Everything open at ORD right now

From each place's published hours, in ORD local time. Hours change on holidays and at short notice; 208 of 219 listed places publish hours we can read exactly.

No published rule covers sleeping in O’Hare’s terminals overnight. The airport’s checkpoint, hotel and transit pages say nothing on it, so there is no policy to quote. What it does publish is hours: Terminal 5 is the only terminal whose checkpoint never closes, and two trains run all night, so you can leave for a bed at any hour.

Which checkpoint is open all night?

Terminal Checkpoint open longest Hours
Terminal 1 Checkpoint 1 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Terminal 2 Checkpoint 5 3:15 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Terminal 3 Checkpoint 7A 3:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Terminal 5 Checkpoint 10 Open 24 hours

The airport adds that checkpoint hours are general and day-to-day activity can change them. Our security page lists the hours of every checkpoint.

What is open past security at night

Terminal 5’s Concourse M has an EVOLVE by Hudson at Gate M14 that lists 24 hours, and a power station at Gate M13 with seats and outlets. In Terminals 1, 2 and 3, these list 24 hours:

  • Starbucks at Gates B5 and B9 in Terminal 1
  • Starbucks at Gate E2 in Terminal 2
  • Starbucks at Gate K4 and the Dunkin’ at Gate H5 in Terminal 3

Terminal 2’s Family Lounge, in the Main Hall near Gate F1, is listed as open 24 hours on the airport’s map. It’s a children’s play space with colorful seating, device charging and stroller parking, and the airport publishes no overnight rule for it. Before security, Baskin Robbins & Dunkin’ at Terminal 5 baggage claim lists 24 hours, and the Hilton’s Caffe Mercato lists 6 a.m. to midnight.

A 24-hour listing doesn’t say who may stay after a checkpoint closes. O’Hare also publishes no lockers or left-luggage service, and Travelers Aid says it can’t store luggage, so you’ll carry everything if you leave for a bed.

Trains and rides that run through the night

The Airport Transit System is free and runs 24 hours a day. The CTA Blue Line serves O’Hare at all times, every day, and it costs $5 to board at O’Hare.

Taxi stands sit at the lower-level curb outside baggage claim at every terminal. The city adds a $1.00 overnight surcharge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and the airport puts the average fare to downtown at $50. Our taxi page lists the full meter rates.

Hotel shuttles and which run at night

The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport sits across from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and joins them by underground walkways. From Terminal 5, ride the train to the terminal core and pick up the same walkway. An indoor route then carries on to the Blue Line platform.

Other hotels send shuttles to the Terminal 2 arrivals curb, and Virtual Concierge Kiosks by baggage claim will call one at no charge.

Hotel Shuttle hours How to get it
Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel 24 hours, every 15 minutes No booking, lower level at Terminal 2 near door 2C
Staybridge Suites Chicago O’Hare Airport 24 hours, every half hour Book ahead with the hotel, lower level at Terminal 2 door 2E
Sonesta Simply Suites Chicago O’Hare Airport 24 hours, on request Call the hotel once you have your luggage
Hilton Rosemont/Chicago O’Hare 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, to 10 p.m. at weekends Terminal 2 arrivals curb
Super 8 by Wyndham Chicago O’Hare Airport Early morning until midnight Phone the hotel. Nothing runs in the small hours, so budget for a taxi

Our hotels page lists each hotel with how you reach it.

Sources