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.
O’Hare’s pages publish no snow rule, winter arrival time or delay policy, and parking is the choice they leave to you. The Blue Line runs 24 hours a day, so it’s your second way to the airport.
Ask your airline about delays
The airport’s flight search lists arrivals and departures by terminal and has a Current Average Delays label, but the airport assumes no responsibility for relying on that data. Contact your airline to verify flight status. The flights page shows which terminal your airline uses.
The Blue Line is the second way in
The CTA’s Blue Line runs 24 hours a day, every day, between O’Hare and Forest Park through the downtown subway. The O’Hare station is on the lower level of the parking garage. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, follow the Trains to City signs through the tunnels on the basement level. From Terminal 5, ride the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 or 3 first.
Riding to O’Hare costs $2.50. Boarding at O’Hare costs $5, unless you hold a pass: a 1-day CTA and Pace pass at $5 covers boarding there with nothing extra.
The CTA’s alerts page shows system status for the L, for bus service and for rail station elevators. CTA Updates sends texts or emails for the routes and times you pick. Sign up for the Blue Line before your trip so planned work and disruptions reach your phone.
Parking: covered or outdoor
The airport calls Lot F, Premier Parking and Reserved Parking covered, and Lots B, C and D outdoor. Lots G and H are outdoor lots too. The airport doesn’t say how it clears snow from any lot.
| Option | Where it is | Up to 24 hours | Cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Garage, daily levels | Levels 2 to 6, next to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 | $43 | Garage |
| Terminal 5 Garage | Joined to Terminal 5 by an enclosed bridge | $43 | Garage |
| Economy Lot F | Floors 4 and 5 of the Multi-Modal Facility, then the free Airport Transit System | $30 | Covered |
| Economy Lots G and H | Bessie Coleman Drive, then a shuttle and the Airport Transit System | $16 | Outdoor |
| Lots B and C | Beside the Main Garage | $43 | Outdoor |
Premier costs $63 a day with no booking, and Reserved adds a $10 fee per space per day and holds the space even when the garage is full. Our parking page has every rate band.
A dead battery or a flat tire is a call to the Parking Garage Office on (773) 686-7530.
Security hours can move
The airport’s checkpoint table has the earliest opening at 3:15 a.m., at Checkpoint 5 in Terminal 2. Terminal 5’s Checkpoint 10 is open 24 hours. The table says checkpoints are generally open as listed and that day-to-day airport activity can change the hours. It also tells you to check with your airline about operations on the date of your flight.
The same page gives no arrival-time advice for winter or any other season, and our security page lists every checkpoint’s hours.
Sources
- This site: Flights, CTA Blue Line, Parking, Security checkpoints
- Chicago Department of Aviation: “Flight Search,” “Public Transit,” “Parking” and “TSA and checkpoint hours”
- Chicago Transit Authority: Blue Line, System Status and Alerts and Fares