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ORD

Airport guide

O'Hare International Airport

Chicago, IL

Guide coverageCheckpoint access mappedPlanning notes included
Source-linked airport guide with official references.Back to airport directory

Live wait snapshot

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Official airport source

Trust and planning

How to read ORD wait coverage

Live minutes

When the source publishes minute values, treat them as the current snapshot, not a guarantee for your future arrival.

Missing or stale data

If live waits are missing, suspended, or outside the freshness window, use posted hours, airport advisories, and peak-window context instead.

Checkpoint counts

Counts reflect what the official source returns for tracked checkpoints; they may not equal every physical lane or every checkpoint serving your gate.

At a glance

ORD terminal and checkpoint facts

Terminals
4

Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5 (Terminal 4 is a placeholder; Global Terminal planned).

Checkpoints
Checkpoints per terminal

Terminals 1-3 are connected post-security; Terminal 5 is separate but offers terminal transfer for eligible connections.

Operating hours
Typical 3:30 AM opening; closing after last international departure.
Peak hours (local)
5:30-9:00 AM and 3:00-7:00 PM local time (United and American banks).
TSA PreCheck
Available

PreCheck in Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5.

CLEAR Plus
Available
Source: official ORD reference

Planning bullets

How locals actually plan ORD

O'Hare is one connected airport only for Terminals 1 through 3.

Terminal 5 is separate, so international and some airline moves still need transfer planning.

Inside Terminals 1-3, choose the fastest practical checkpoint because post-security connections are possible.

If you are leaving from Terminal 5, add more time than the board alone suggests.

Checkpoint access

Which checkpoint reaches your gate?

At O'Hare, Terminals 1-3 are connected post-security, while Terminal 5 is separate and uses terminal transfer service for eligible same-day connections.

Official checkpoint and terminal access source

Official ORD resources

Every authoritative link for ORD

Every resource below is a first-party airport, Massport, Port Authority, or TSA page. Use them when you need the canonical answer for ORD rather than an aggregator interpretation.

TSA program references

National TSA and CLEAR references worth checking

Nearby airports

Straight-line distance to other covered airports

Distances are great-circle miles from ORD coordinates; use them as a regional comparison floor, not a drive estimate. Real drive time varies with traffic and metro layout.

Traveler intent

Keep planning ORD on TravelTSA

ORD TSA wait times today

Live checkpoint status, line coverage, and official airport updates for Chicago, IL.

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How early to get to ORD

Use live waits, bags, and terminal friction to choose a safer airport arrival window.

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When to leave for ORD

Turn drive time, terminal access, and security conditions into a practical leave-now decision.

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ORD TSA PreCheck wait times

See how TravelTSA handles published PreCheck coverage, lane availability, and checkpoint context for ORD.

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Frequently asked questions

ORD answers from the facts above

How many terminals does ORD have?

O'Hare International Airport operates 4 terminals: Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5 (Terminal 4 is a placeholder; Global Terminal planned).

Does ORD have TSA PreCheck and CLEAR?

TSA PreCheck is available at ORD (precheck in terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5.). CLEAR Plus is available.

When is ORD busiest?

Peak departure windows are typically 5:30-9:00 AM and 3:00-7:00 PM local time (United and American banks). Build extra buffer during those windows and for holiday travel periods.

How often does TravelTSA refresh ORD?

TravelTSA refreshes the source airport wait-time page every 3 minutes and surfaces new checkpoint data as the airport publishes it.