You've just landed at Chicago O’Hare. Your ears are popping, you’re probably starving for something better than airport pretzels, and honestly, the last thing you want to do is play a guessing game with a shuttle bus. If you booked an o'hare hertz rental car, you might think you just walk out the front door and hop into a sedan.
Not quite.
Chicago does things a little differently. If you haven't been here in a few years, the old system of "wait at the curb for a yellow bus" is basically dead. Now, everything runs through the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF). It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s just a massive, $800 million building where all the rental cars live. If you don't know the train schedule or the "Gold Member" shortcuts, you’re going to spend an hour just trying to find your keys.
The Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) Maze
Getting to the Hertz counter isn't hard, but it is a process. You have to take the Airport Transit System (ATS). It’s a 24-hour automated train that connects Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5 directly to the MMF at 10255 West Zemke Blvd.
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If you’re in Terminal 1, 2, or 3, head to the upper level. Look for the signs that say "ATS" or "Rental Cars." You’ll walk across a skybridge, probably dodging a few people in a rush, and then hop on the train. It’s about a 10-minute ride from Terminal 1. If you’re coming from Terminal 5 (the international terminal), it’s even faster since it’s the last stop before the rental center.
Don't Wait for a Shuttle
I see people standing at the curb all the time, looking confused. While there are some shuttle buses for off-site lots, the o'hare hertz rental car experience is entirely train-based now. Don't be that person waiting outside in a Chicago blizzard for a bus that isn't coming. Get on the ATS. It’s heated, it’s free, and it drops you right inside the building where the Hertz desk is located.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: The Only Way to Fly
If you aren't a member of Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, you're doing O'Hare wrong. I'm serious. The lines at the main counter can be legendary—and not in a good way. On a busy Friday afternoon, you could be looking at a 45-minute wait just to talk to a human.
When you're a Gold member, you basically skip the lobby.
- Check the Board: Walk off the ATS and look for the big electronic sign with your name on it.
- Find Your Zone: It’ll give you a stall number or a "Zone" (like Five Star or President’s Circle).
- Grab and Go: You go straight to the garage, find a car you like in your assigned zone, and drive to the exit gate.
They’ve got this "Ultimate Choice" setup at ORD. It means if you booked a midsize car, you don't have to take the specific one they assigned you. You just walk down the row of midsize cars, find the one with the fewest miles or the best color, and jump in. It feels a bit like stealing, but it’s totally legal. Just make sure the keys are in it before you get too excited.
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What it Costs (The Real Numbers)
Renting in Chicago is never "cheap" because the taxes are aggressive. You’ll see a base rate of maybe $60 a day, but by the time the City of Chicago and the airport take their cut, that number jumps.
Usually, an intermediate car sits around $79 per day on average, though I've seen "Mystery Car" deals as low as $30 if you're lucky. Just a heads up: that "Mystery Car" is almost always a compact that smells slightly of old french fries. If you need space, just pay the extra ten bucks for the SUV.
Watch Out for These Charges
- Additional Drivers: Unless it’s your spouse or you have a specific AAA/corporate code, they’ll hit you with a daily fee.
- PlatePass: Chicago is the land of tolls. If you drive through an I-PASS lane without your own transponder, Hertz will charge you a daily convenience fee plus the toll. It’s convenient, but it adds up fast.
- Fuel: There’s a BP gas station right near the MMF on Zemke Blvd. Use it. Do not let Hertz refill the tank for you unless you enjoy paying double the market rate for 87 octane.
The Good, The Bad, and The "Chicago"
Let’s be real—ORD is a high-volume location. The staff there deals with thousands of stressed-out travelers every day. Sometimes they are incredibly efficient; other times, they look like they’ve seen too much.
Recent reviews from early 2026 suggest that vehicle cleanliness is actually pretty high right now (around a 9.3/10 according to some metrics), but the "bait and switch" complaints still pop up. This usually happens when people book through third-party sites like Expedia or Priceline. If the lot is empty, Hertz has to prioritize their direct bookings.
Pro Tip: Always book directly on the Hertz website or app. It makes it much easier to fight a charge later, and you're less likely to be told "we're out of cars" when you show up at midnight.
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Driving Out of O'Hare
Once you have your car, you have to get out of the airport. The MMF exits onto Mannheim Road. If you’re heading to the Loop (Downtown), you’ll want to follow signs for I-190 East, which eventually merges into I-90 East (The Kennedy Expressway).
Expect traffic. Even at 2:00 PM on a Tuesday, the Kennedy is a parking lot. It’s about 18 miles to downtown, but that can take anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour and a half. If you see "Red" on Google Maps, just accept your fate and find a good podcast.
Dropping Off the Car
Returning your o'hare hertz rental car is actually easier than picking it up. Just follow the "Rental Car Return" signs as you approach the airport. They lead you straight back to the MMF.
The return lanes are usually well-staffed. You pull in, a guy with a tablet scans your window, and you’re done. From there, you just take the elevator up to the ATS train and head to your terminal. Give yourself at least 30 minutes for this process—20 for the return/train and 10 just in case the train is being moody.
Actionable Steps for a Smooth Rental
If you want to survive Hertz at O’Hare without losing your mind, do these three things:
- Sign up for Gold Plus Rewards at least 48 hours before you fly. It’s free. If you don't do this, you are choosing to stand in a line. Don't choose the line.
- Download the Hertz App. It’ll ping you with your car’s location the second you land. You can skip the board entirely and walk straight to the stall.
- Check your I-PASS/Toll settings. If you have your own transponder from home (like E-ZPass), bring it. It works in Illinois and saves you the "convenience fees" that rental companies love to tack on.
Chicago is a great city, but the airport can be a beast. Navigating the MMF and knowing how to bypass the counter at Hertz makes the difference between starting your trip with a smile or starting it with a headache. Just get on the train, find your zone, and get out of the airport as fast as you can.