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Car hire at Chicago Airport - Visiting the Windy City

Named after Edward 'Butch' O'Hare, the American Navy's first World War II flying ace, Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) is a busy international airport located in the north-west of Chicago in the state of Illinois. It is a major hub for dozens of large airlines and operates non-stop flights to over two undred popular destinations worldwide.

ORD is a multi-award-winning airport with an aggressive environmental policy in line with the strictest 21st-century requirements. It comprises four modern terminals (three domestic and one international) and a vast range of on-site services and facilities, including a large number of restaurants, bars, cafés, Duty-free stores and boutiques.

A bustling metropolis idyllically located along the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a first-choice travel destination with an emphasis on sport and the arts, all year round. Tourist highlights in the city include the Adler Planetarium (one of the world's best), the Museum of Science and Industry (famous for its hands-on exhibits) and the Willis Tower (once the world's tallest at 1,453 feet high).

With a car hire from Chicago O'Hare Airport you'll have the very best of the Windy City and its surroundings at your disposal. Illinois is a fantastic holiday destination, particularly in summer, with many of the top sights within striking distance of Chicago, such as the scenic Starved Rock State Park south-west of the city and the wonderful city of Milwaukee just a 90-minute drive away.

Established over 70 years ago, Auto Europe offers the best car hire deals in Chicago and all other popular destinations in the USA. With over 28,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off points in more than 190 destinations to offer, we are one of the world's leading car rental companies with close working relationships with all the most important car hire suppliers.

You can book online now or contact our rental specialists for assistance and they will be happy to find you the lowest rate on the market. For added peace of mind, why not browse through the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's previous customers in the Windy City on our Chicago car hire reviews page.

Airport Information

Chicago O'Hare Airport began as a small airfield original built for the Douglas manufacturing plant which specialised in the construction of military planes during World War II. The US Air Force subsequently used the airfield during the Korean War and it later housed the 62nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron flying North American F-86 Sabres from 1950 to 1959. O'Hare's first international terminal opened in August 1958 and the airport's first scheduled jet arrived from (an American 707) arrived from New York before flying on to San Francisco in March 1959. After many decades of continued post-war development, ORD grew into the world's busiest airport, a status it maintained for 35 years from 1963 until 1998. Today it is a hub for United Airlines and American Airlines.

Chicago Airport (ORD)
Address: 1Chicago International Airport, 10000 W O'Hare Ave, Chicago, IL 60666, USA
Telephone: +1 800 832 6352
Airlines operating at Chicago Airport: The list of the most important airlines operating at Chicago Airport includes Aer Lingus (Dublin), Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air France, Air India, Air New Zealand, Air Serbia, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines (London-Heathrow), American Eagle, Austrian Airlines, British Airways (London–Heathrow), Cape Air, Cathay Pacific, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Denver Air Connection, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, Korean Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Scandinavian Airlines, Southern Airways Express, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines (London-Heathrow), United Express, VivaAerobús and Volaris.

Where to pick up my car hire at Chicago Airport

There is a dedicated car rental area where you will pick up your car rental from Chicago Airport. The O'Hare Multi-Modal Facility building houses all airport rental car operations. You can use the free shuttle service marked 'Rental Cars' from the lower level (baggage claim) to reach the rental car stations. Outside each terminal you will find stops for these buses.

Car hire operating hours

	Avis at Chicago Airport 10255 West Zemke Boulevard, Chicago, USA 60666 +1 773 825 4600	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Budget at Chicago Airport 10255 West Zemke Boulevard, Chicago, USA60666 +1 773 894 1900	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Enterprise at Chicago Airport 10255 West Zemke Boulevard Chicago, USA 60666 +1 833 856 0900	Opening Hours: Daily 6am-10pm
	Hertz at Chicago Airport 10255 West Zemke Boulevard Chicago, USA 60666 +1 773 481 2400	Opening Hours: Daily 5am-midnight
	Sixt at Chicago Airport 10255 West Zemke Boulevard Chicago, USA 60666 +1 888 749 8227	Opening Hours: Daily 6am-10pm

Terminals

There are four terminals at Chicago Airport, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 5, with a total 182 boarding gates. Terminal 1 mainly hosts United Airlines flights, and concourses B and C. Terminal 2 operates services mostly by Air Canada and Delta Air Lines, with concourses E and F. American Airlines operates out of Terminal 3, which has four concourses: G, H, K, and L. Terminal 5, which is located farther away from the other terminals, houses concourse M, and operates most international arrivals. The airport transit system offers a connection between all the terminals. In Terminal 1, you will find check-in, baggage reclaim and security control in concourse B. In the other terminals, these facilities are located in the main hall, prior to entering the concourses that house the boarding gates.

Airport Facilities

As a major international airport, Chicago Airport offers an enormous variety of dining options, shops, and other services. A wide array of restaurants is available both before and after you go through security check, including various fast food eateries, cafes, and even a jazz bar. However, you will not find restaurants in the concourse near the departure gates in Terminal 5. Shoppers can delight in the variety of goods on offer, from electronics, books, and clothing to souvenirs and duty free products. You can find spas in Terminals 1, 3 and 5, and a designated yoga room in Terminal 3. ATMs are dotted all around the airport, and each terminal also has a currency exchange office. In Terminal 2 you can also use the services of the children's play area and medical centre.

How to get to and from Chicago Airport

Once you have collected your car hire at Chicago O'Hare Airport, driving to central Chicago from the airport will take about half an hour, depending on traffic, using the I-90 E. To explore other nearby states, head to Milwaukee, an hour and a half via the I-94 W, or Indianapolis, a three-hour drive along the I-65 S. For more information and advice for driving in the USA, click here. If you require public transportation to get to Chicago, the transportation hub, the Airport Transit Center is in front of terminals 1, 2 and 3, and accessible through pedestrian tunnels from these terminals. From this hub you can take the train or the bus. Chicago's Blue Line "L" train runs to the airport, and takes you to the Loop and on to the West Side. There are multiple buses that take passengers to Chicago or destinations in neighbouring states such as Indiana and Wisconsin.

Parking Tips

With a little planning, parking in Chicago can be made easier than you might think. An online map shows the real-time availability of parking spaces around the city, and some car parks also allow for online booking of spaces. You can also find public car parks around Navi Pier, for example. Most on-street parking meters accept credit cards, and the Chicago parking app - ParkChicago - lets you pay by phone, and often lets you extend the time. There’s metered parking on most downtown Chicago streets but be aware that parking is often limited to just two hour. To save money on high Downtown rates, you can park a little distance away and then walk in or take a cab or bus (for example, Greektown and the West Loop are good spots for cheap parking in Chicago). For those who rent a car at Chicago O'Hare Airport and need to park it there for a while, the international car park (at Lot D) is adjacent to the International Terminal 5 (it’s a short-term car park). There are several other parking options available at ORD airport, including hourly, daily, long-term and valet. The airport's main parking garage is adjacent to the domestic terminals on Level 1.

Useful links

Chicago Airport