ORD — Chicago (O'Hare) — Taxi Fare Guide

Licensed taxis are dispatched from the lower-level curb outside baggage claim in Terminals 1-3 and at Terminal 5, using an official taxi queue. All Chicago cabs are metered; there is no citywide flat fare, though some companies offer a downtown package priced as the straight metered fare plus one-half again, plus a USD 4 airport departure tax. O'Hare is about 29 km from the Loop.

A typical metered ride to downtown Chicago totals roughly USD 50-70 including the USD 4 departure tax, with the flag drop at USD 3.25 and time-and-distance charges from there. A small USD 1 surcharge applies late at night (roughly 20:00-06:00), and extra passengers or bags can add a little. Tolls are generally not incurred on the standard I-90 route into the Loop.

Ride-hailing (Uber and Lyft) is heavily used at O'Hare and is often cheaper than a metered taxi off-peak, but surge pricing at busy times can exceed the cab fare. App pickups are from designated areas, and both apps add an airport fee.

Practical tips: The USD 4 airport departure tax is standard and added to the meter. Tip 15-20%. Allow extra time on the Kennedy Expressway during rush hour, when downtown trips can exceed 60 minutes. Cards are accepted in all Chicago medallion taxis.

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