How To Get Between Terminals at Chicago O’Hare International Airport [ORD]

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is one of the world’s busiest and most well-connected airports. About 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, ORD is a major hub for domestic and international travel.

Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected airside and landside, allowing easy walking transfers between them. To reach Terminal 5, travelers can take the free Airport Transit System (ATS) or the terminal transfer bus.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport Layout

Pre-Security (Landside) Ground Transportation at ORD

Airport Transit System

The Airport Transit System is a light rail system that operates outside the secure area and serves all terminals and the multimodal facility.

Each terminal station is signposted “ATS” with a train icon for easy navigation. Trains run frequently in both directions, allowing you to choose the quickest route to your next terminal.

Train stations are located at:

• Terminals 1, 2, and 3: Across the pedestrian bridge from the terminal, then down the escalator 1 level.
• Terminal 5: Level 1, outside the terminal

Hot Tip:

For more information on ORD’s amenities, ground transportation, nearby hotels, contact numbers, and more, check out our ultimate terminal guide to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Post-Security (Airside) Ground Transportation at ORD

Terminal Transfer Bus

The terminal transfer bus transports passengers arriving on domestic flights to connect between terminals 1, 3, and 5. This service operates inside the secure area without the need to reclear security upon arrival at the onward terminal.

This service is only immediately available to passengers who do not need to collect checked luggage between flights. It is not available for international passengers arriving at Terminal 5 with connections from any of the other terminals, as they must clear immigration and customs to exit the secure area. Once luggage has been rechecked and passengers have recleared security, they can use the terminal transfer bus.

Buses run daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., every 15 minutes from the following locations:

• Terminal 1: Gate B1
• Terminal 3: Gates G17 and K20
• Terminal 5: Gate M13

Walking

Terminals 1 to 3 are connected with pedestrian walkways pre- and post-security. Outside the secure area, passengers can walk via the pedestrian tunnels on the lower level. Within the secure area, walkways connect Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 and Terminal 2 to Terminal 3.

Estimated Walking Times

• Between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2: 10 minutes
• Between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3: 10 minutes
• Between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3: 20 minutes
• Between Concourse B and Concourse C: 3 to 10 minutes
• Between Concourse E and Concourse F: 2 to 7 minutes
• Between Concourse G and Concourse L: 5 to 15 minutes
• Between the Concourse M gates: Up to 15 minutes

ORD Terminal Layout

The terminal road system within ORD forms a hexagon, with terminals 1, 2, and 3 lining the lower 3 sides. The upper half includes the parking lots, the multimodal facility for car rentals, and access to I-190.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is northwest of the hexagonal terminal access road and next to Terminal 2. ANA, Lufthansa, and United operate flights from Terminal 1, which has 3 levels covering departures, arrivals, and pedestrian access to the neighboring terminals.

Level 0 Pedestrian Tunnel

Pedestrian tunnels on the lower level link the terminal to the parking garage, terminals 2 and 3, and to the train station for blue line trains to the city.

Level 1 Baggage Claim

Baggage claim is on level 1, with the lower level roadway running in front of the terminal for immediate passenger pickup. Ground transportation services are also available from this level.

Level 2 Check-in and Departure Gates

Check-in is on level 2. Passengers can be dropped off curbside on the upper-level roadway, and the Airport Transit System (to connect with the other terminals) is accessible via the pedestrian bridge.

Once passengers have cleared security on level 2, they will arrive at the B gates, with 22 gates numbered B1 to B24. There’s a United Club near gate B18, and the terminal transfer bus departs from near gate B1.

Passengers can reach the C gates via an underground pedestrian tunnel located between gates B8 and B9. In this remote concourse, there are 31 gates numbered C1 to C31. Since T1 is the main terminal for United domestic and international flight departures, there’s a United Club near gate C16 and a Polaris Lounge near gate C18.

Passengers can walk from the B gates to the Terminal 2 E gates through the airside pedestrian walkway opposite gate B6.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is next to Terminal 1 and serves flights for Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue.

Level 0 Pedestrian Tunnel

From level 0, passengers can walk through the pedestrian tunnels to Terminal 1 or Terminal 3. This level also provides access to the main parking garage lot A and blue line trains to the city.

Level 1 Ground Transportation

Baggage claim is located on level 1, where you’ll also find the lower-level roadway for passenger pickup. Ground transportation services are available from this level as well.

Level 2 Check-in and Departure Gates

The Airport Transit System is across the bridge from the terminal, where passengers can travel to other terminals outside the secure area. Check-in and the security checkpoint are on level 2. Once processed, passengers will emerge into the E and F gates.

After security, the E gates are to the right, with 17 gates numbered E1 to E17. To the left are gates F1 to F25. Gates F24 and F25 are at the end of the concourse on the lower level. There are United Clubs near gates E7 and F10.

To reach terminals 1 or 3, there are walkways at either end of departures (near gate E1 for Terminal 1 and near gate F1 to reach Terminal 3).

Level 3 Mezzanine

The mezzanine level is accessible via the elevators from the check-in area (outside the secure area). This level has a USO Lounge and a prayer room.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 is next to Terminal 2 and serves domestic and international flights (for departures only). Like the other terminals, it has separate levels for arrivals and departures.

Level 0 Pedestrian Tunnel

This lower level has pedestrian tunnels leading to parking lots A and C, the blue train station, and through to terminals 1 and 2.

Level 1 Baggage Claim

As with the other terminals, baggage claim is on level 1, and taxis, charter buses, and reserved limousines are available outside the terminal.

Hot Tip:

For more information on ground transportation, see our in-depth article on how to get from Chicago O’Hare International Airport into the city.

Level 2 Check-in and Departure Gates

Check-in is on level 2, with the departures roadway in front of the terminal for curbside drop-off. Passengers who have walked through the pedestrian tunnel can take the elevator to level 2, or those who have arrived from ATS can walk across the bridge from the station.

To reach the departure gates, passengers must clear 1 of the 5 security checkpoints on level 2. After clearing the central security checkpoints, Concourse G is to the right. Head down the main central walkway for concourses H and K, with H branching off to the right and K to the left. Concourse L has 2 separate gate areas at the far left end of departures.

Concourse G has 24 gates, with gates G1A to G19A on the same level as security, along with an Admirals Club and USO Lounge. Gates G13 to G17 are on the lower level, as is the terminal transfer bus stop to connect to Terminal 5.

Concourse H has 17 gates, numbered H3 to H18, and Concourse K also has 17 gates, numbered K1 to K20. There’s an Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge in the central area between the 2 concourses and the Terminal 5 transfer bus stop near gate 20.

Hot Tip:

Here’s a Full List of Airport Lounges at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Concourse L has 24 gates, with gates L2A to L12 off the main departures concourse and gates L20 to L27 to the left along a connector bridge. An Admirals Club is just at the entrance of Concourse L.

Once inside the secure area, passengers can walk between all gate areas and to Terminal 2 through the walkway near Concourse G.

Terminal 5

Terminal 5 is approximately a mile from the other terminals and serves international and domestic flights. Although it’s not connected to another terminal, if passengers can remain inside the secure area for flight connections, they can ride the terminal transfer bus from T5. Otherwise, passengers can ride the ATS.

Level 1 Baggage Claim

Baggage claim is on level 1, which also provides access to the lower-level roadway for passenger pickup. Ground transportation options are available from this level, too. Inside the secure area, international flight arrivals will be processed through immigration and customs on this lower level. The ATS station for terminal connections is also available on this level.

Level 2 Check-in and Departure Gates

Check-in is on the upper level, served by the departures roadway for curbside drop-off.

Through the security checkpoint, gates M1 to M15 are to the right, and gates M16 to M40 are to the left. There’s a Delta Sky Club near gate M13, an SAS Lounge near gate M19, and a British Airways Lounge, Swissport Lounge, and LOT Polish Airlines Lounge just after the security checkpoint.

Passengers connecting inside the secure area can ride the transfer bus from near gate M13 to the other terminals.

Flight Connections at ORD

Connecting at ORD can be smooth with a little planning. While terminals 1, 2, and 3 are walkable and connected airside, reaching Terminal 5 requires a short ride on the ATS. Passengers who don’t need to collect luggage between flights can walk between terminals 1, 2, and 3 without needing to reclear security and can ride the terminal transfer bus to Terminal 5.

All international flights arrive at Terminal 5, where passengers must claim their luggage, clear immigration and customs, and recheck their bags before proceeding to their flight connection. This means that passengers must always be processed through security, even if the onward flight connection is from Terminal 5.

Final Thoughts

Chicago O’Hare is a reasonably easy airport to navigate, especially if your inbound and outbound flights are from terminals 1, 2, and 3.

Signage throughout the airport is clear, and there are plenty of amenities to enjoy during layovers. Whether grabbing a bite, browsing shops, or stretching your legs, O’Hare offers plenty to make your connection more comfortable. With its extensive flight network, it remains a key hub for travelers worldwide.