You just landed. Your ears are popping, the O'Hare "neon tunnel" is flickering in your peripheral vision, and honestly, all you want is to be in your hotel bed or at that deep-dish spot you saw on Instagram. But first, you have to deal with the rental car shuffle. If you've booked with Hertz O'Hare Airport, you aren't just walking across the street to a parking lot.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is a beast. It’s one of the busiest airports on the planet, and the logistics reflect that scale.
Navigating the rental process here is a bit of a dance. Most people assume they’ll just follow a sign and find a desk. While that's technically true, the "how" matters more than the "where." You’re heading to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF), a massive, consolidated hub that houses all the rental agencies, including Hertz. It’s a trek. You’ve got to hop on the Airport Transit System (ATS)—that's the automated train—and ride it to the very last stop.
Getting to the Hertz O'Hare Airport Desk Without Losing Your Mind
Let’s get the geography straight. If you are in Terminal 1, 2, or 3, you need to find the ATS station. It’s usually upstairs. Follow the "Rental Cars" signs. They’re purple. Mostly.
The train runs 24/7, which is a lifesaver if your United flight from LaGuardia got delayed three hours. Once you’re on the ATS, you're looking for the MMF at 10255 West Zemke Blvd. This isn't just a parking garage; it’s a three-story logistical engine. Hertz is situated right in the thick of it.
International travelers arriving at Terminal 5 have a slightly different path, though it still ends at the MMF. Don't let the construction signs confuse you; Chicago is perpetually "under renovation." Just keep moving toward the train.
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Here is a pro tip: if the ATS is down—which happens more often than the city likes to admit—there will be shuttle buses. Look for the "Rental Car / MMF" buses at the lower level curb. They’re slower. They’re crowded. But they get you there.
Why the Gold Plus Rewards Matter Here
If you aren't a member of Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, you're basically signing up for a 45-minute wait in line during peak hours. O’Hare isn't a sleepy regional airport. Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons are chaotic.
Gold members usually get to skip the counter entirely. You just look for your name on the big electronic board, find your stall number, and drive away. It’s the difference between starting your trip with a smile and starting it with a migraine.
The Reality of the Chicago Fleet
What kind of car are you actually going to get at Hertz O'Hare Airport?
It varies wildly. Because Chicago is a major business hub, the "Manager's Special" or the mid-size row is often stocked with Chevy Malibus, Nissan Altimas, or the occasional Ford Explorer. If you’re visiting in the dead of winter—and let’s be real, Chicago winter lasts from November to April—you absolutely want to check the tires.
I’ve seen people try to drive a rear-wheel-drive muscle car out of the MMF during a lake-effect snowstorm. Don't be that person. Ask for something with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) if the forecast looks grey. Hertz usually has a decent stock of Subarus or small SUVs like the Nissan Rogue, but you have to be vocal about it.
The "Ultimate Choice" section is a thing here.
This is where you pick any car from a designated zone based on your membership level. It’s sort of a gamble. Sometimes you find a brand-new Volvo with 200 miles on the odometer. Other times, it's a sea of high-mileage base-model sedans. It pays to walk the whole row before you put your luggage in the trunk.
Dealing with the Tolls
You cannot talk about driving in Chicago without talking about the I-90 and I-294.
The tolls are inescapable. Hertz uses a system called PlatePass. It sounds convenient because it lets you drive through the "I-PASS Only" lanes without stopping. However, the convenience comes at a literal price.
Hertz often charges a daily fee for the service plus the cost of the tolls at the highest cash rate. If you’re only going into the city once and staying there, it might be cheaper to just pay via the Illinois Tollway website (within 14 days) using your license plate. But if you’re commuting from Rosemont to Naperville every day, PlatePass saves you the headache of manual tracking.
Returning the Car: The Zemke Blvd Shuffle
Returning your car to Hertz O'Hare Airport requires more time than you think.
The address is 10255 W Zemke Blvd, Chicago, IL 60666.
GPS can be finicky when you get close to the airport because of the overpasses and the proximity to the runways. The signage for "Rental Car Return" is actually pretty good, but you need to be in the correct lane well before the turn-off. If you miss the entrance to the MMF, you’re looking at a 10-minute loop around the airport perimeter.
Once you drop the keys, you still have to get back to the terminals.
That means getting back on the ATS train. If you have a 6:00 AM flight, aim to be at the MMF by 4:15 AM. Between the car inspection, the train ride, and the TSA lines at Terminal 3, time evaporates.
The Fueling Trap
Don't wait until you're on airport property to find gas.
The gas stations immediately surrounding O'Hare—especially the ones on Mannheim Road—often have prices that are $1.00 or $1.50 higher than stations just three miles away. If you’re coming from the city, fill up in a neighborhood like Logan Square or even further out in the suburbs before you hit the airport corridor.
If you return the car empty, Hertz will charge you a refueling rate that feels like a personal insult. Usually, it’s north of $9.00 a gallon. Just spend the ten minutes at a BP or Shell before you hit the MMF.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
People get grumpy at O'Hare. The staff at the Hertz counter deal with hundreds of stressed travelers every hour.
One thing that catches people off guard is the "Hold" on your credit card. Hertz will typically authorize a hold for the estimated rental total plus an additional amount (often $200). If you’re using a debit card, this can be even more restrictive, and they might require proof of a return flight.
Always check the "Damage" before you leave.
Because the MMF garage is covered but can be dimly lit in certain corners, use your phone’s flashlight to check the rims and the front bumper. Chicago curbs are unforgiving. If there’s a scratch and you don’t have it documented, you might get a surprise bill two weeks later. Take a video of the car’s exterior before you pull out of the stall. It takes 30 seconds and provides total peace of mind.
Actionable Steps for a Seamless Experience
To make your Hertz O'Hare Airport experience actually tolerable, follow these specific moves:
- Join the Gold Club: Seriously. It’s free. It’s the only way to avoid the "death by line" scenario at the MMF.
- Download the Hertz App: It’ll tell you exactly which stall your car is in before you even step off the ATS train.
- Check the ATS Status: Check the O’Hare website or Twitter (X) for "ATS Service Alerts." If the train is down, add 30 minutes to your commute for the shuttle bus.
- The 5-Mile Fuel Rule: Find a gas station at least 5 miles away from the airport to avoid the "airport tax" on petrol.
- Photograph Everything: Take a photo of the fuel gauge and the odometer when you drop the car off. If a billing error happens—and they do—you’ll have the meta-data-stamped proof to win the dispute.
- Winter Strategy: If you're renting between December and March, check the trunk for an ice scraper. You’d be surprised how many cars are missing them, and trying to clear a windshield with a credit card in 10-degree weather is a core memory you don't want.
Driving in Chicago is an aggressive sport. The roads are potholed, the drivers are fast, and the layout can be confusing. But having a reliable vehicle from a major hub like Hertz at least gives you a fighting chance. Just keep your eyes on the signs, your I-PASS ready, and your Gold Plus status active.