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.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| The Loop / downtown | USD 50-70 | 30-40 min |
| Magnificent Mile / River North | USD 50-70 | 30-45 min |
| Near North / Gold Coast | USD 55-75 | 35-45 min |
| Rosemont / near-airport hotels | USD 15-25 | 10-15 min |
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.
Other ways to the city
O'Hare is one of the best-connected airports in North America, and a taxi is rarely your only option.
- CTA Blue Line (train): The cheapest and most reliable route downtown. The station sits under the main parking garage, reachable on foot from Terminals 1-3 and via the free ATS people mover from Terminal 5. Trains run 24 hours a day, cost about $5 from O'Hare, and reach the Loop in roughly 45 minutes.
- Airport Transit System (ATS): A free automated people mover linking all terminals, the parking garages and the Multi-Modal Facility where rental cars and regional buses are based.
- Metra North Central Service (commuter rail): The O'Hare Transfer station serves suburbs to the northwest and Chicago Union Station, though it runs on a limited weekday-only schedule.
- Pace suburban buses: Routes such as the 250 and 330 depart from the Multi-Modal Facility and serve the northwest suburbs including Des Plaines, Evanston and Schaumburg, for around $2.
- Hotel and shuttle vans: Free hotel shuttles and shared-ride vans collect passengers from the lower-level curb outside each terminal.
Chicago — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.