Honestly, landing at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is a lot. You’ve just spent hours in a pressurized metal tube, your ears are popping, and now you’re staring at a sea of neon signs trying to figure out where the heck your Uber is. If you think you can just walk out the nearest door and hit "request," you’re in for a very long, very annoying walk.
Getting an Uber at Chicago O’Hare airport isn't like getting one at a hotel or your house. The city of Chicago has some pretty specific, and frankly, kind of strict rules about where these cars can actually stop. If you're at Terminal 5 (the international one), things get even weirder.
The Terminal 2 "Black Hole" for Pickups
Here is the thing most people miss: all standard Uber pickups (UberX, UberXL, Comfort) happen at Terminal 2. It doesn't matter if you landed at Terminal 1 or Terminal 3. You have to hoof it. If you’re at Terminal 1, you need to walk toward Terminal 2. If you’re at Terminal 3, same deal—walk toward Terminal 2.
Look for the "Ride App Pickup" signs. You’ll be heading to the Upper Level (Departures). Specifically, most drivers will meet you between Doors 2A and 2E.
Why the departures level? Because the arrivals level is a mosh pit of taxis, buses, and angry people in minivans. By moving Ubers upstairs, the airport tries to keep traffic moving, though "moving" is a generous term for O’Hare on a Friday afternoon.
The Terminal 5 Situation (It’s a Trek)
If you just got off a 10-hour flight from London or Tokyo and landed at Terminal 5, do not—I repeat, do not—try to call an UberX to your door. They literally cannot pick you up there.
Since February 2023, the City of Chicago basically banned standard rideshare pickups from Terminal 5 to "reduce congestion." To get a normal Uber, you have to:
✨ Don't miss: Atlanta Weather: What Most People Get Wrong About the Hotlanta Chill
- Follow signs for the ATS (Airport Transit System).
- Hop on that little automated train.
- Ride it to Terminal 2.
- Go to the Upper Level.
It adds about 15 to 20 minutes to your trip. If you have five suitcases and a tired toddler, this is basically a nightmare scenario.
The "Black Car" Loophole
Now, if you’re feeling fancy—or just desperate—there is a way to avoid the Terminal 2 migration. Uber Black and Uber Black SUV drivers are treated differently. Because they have commercial livery plates (those "LY" plates you see in Illinois), they are allowed to pick you up at the lower level (Arrivals) of any terminal, including Terminal 5.
You pay a premium for it. Usually double or triple the price of an UberX. But you get picked up right outside your baggage claim. Honestly, sometimes that $60 extra is worth your sanity.
Pricing: Expect the O'Hare Tax
You’re going to pay more. It’s not just the mileage. Chicago tacks on a $5.00 airport surcharge for every single rideshare trip starting or ending at O'Hare.
- To Downtown (The Loop): Expect to pay anywhere from $45 to $75 for an UberX.
- During a snowstorm or rush hour: I’ve seen those prices spike to $120.
- To the suburbs: If you're heading to Naperville or Schaumburg, you might be looking at $60+, and that's on a good day.
Uber vs. The "Taxi Line" vs. The Blue Line
Is Uber actually the best way? Not always.
👉 See also: Weather for Salida CO Explained: Why the Banana Belt Actually Matters
If you see a massive surge price on your app, walk downstairs to the taxi line. Taxis at O’Hare use a meter, and while they have their own fees, they don't do "surge pricing." Sometimes a cab to the city is $45 while the Uber is sitting at $90. Plus, taxis are parked right there. No waiting 10 minutes for a driver to circle around from the staging lot.
Then there's the Blue Line. For $5, you can jump on the "L" train. It’s located on the lower level of the main terminal (Terminals 1, 2, 3). If it’s 5:00 PM on a Tuesday, the train will beat a car to the city every single time. Traffic on I-90 is a special kind of hell that no Uber driver can fix.
Pro-Tips for a Smoother Pickup
- Wait to Request: Don't hit "request" until you are actually standing at the curb with your bags. Drivers wait in a "staging lot" nearby. Once they accept, they usually arrive in 3-5 minutes. If you aren't there, they'll circle or cancel, and you'll get hit with a fee.
- Check the Door Number: The app will ask you which door you are at. Look up. There are big green signs. Tell the driver exactly which one.
- Identify the Plate: Chicago has thousands of black Toyota Camrys and Honda CR-Vs. Don't be the person trying to open the door of a random stranger’s car. Check the plate.
What to do next
Before you even leave the plane, open your app and just "ghost" a ride request. Don't book it—just see what the current price is. If you see a price over $80 for a trip to the Loop, skip the Uber. Instead, follow the signs for "Taxi" or "Trains to City" to save yourself a significant amount of money and a potentially long wait in the Terminal 2 cold. If the price looks good, start making your way to the Terminal 2 Upper Level before you officially hit that request button.