Chicago Airport guide - cheap car rental from Chicago O’Hare Airport

Fly to Chicago, Illinois and take advantage of cheap car hire deals available at O’Hare Airport, US.

Search for cheap car hire in Chicago O’Hare Airport with Cartrawler

Chicago O’Hare International Airport - ORD, is the primary airport to the metropolitan area of Chicago, in the state of Illinois, in the USA. With the large choice of domestic and international routes, O’Hare Airport ranks as the second busiest airports of the United States. 

Due to a steep competition between rent-a-car companies providing services at O’Hare, airport car hire is frequently the most affordable option for traveling to the city centre or driving to the more remote areas of the state of Illinois.

See map of Illinois.

From Chicago O’Hare Airport it is also o short drive (approx. 80 miles) to Milwaukee, in the state of Wisconsin.

Cheap car hire USA: Chrysler 300 - big luxury American with a minimum 3.6 liter petrol engine (in the U.S.) available from Avis, Alamo or Budget, amongst others

Chicago O’Hare Airport - location
The airport grounds spread on a vast area shared between the Cook County and Du Page County, by the Lake Michigan.

See location map of Chicago O’Hare.

The main terminal buildings of O’Hare Airport are located approx. 19 miles northwest from Downtown Chicago and about 17 miles from the central business district of Chicago, known as Chicago Loop.

Please note that car hire is also available at the city’s secondary airport, Chicago Midway  International - MDW, serving mostly low-cost airlines on flights to Chicago.

See both Chicago airports on a map. 

Car hire companies Chicago O’Hare Airport
A broad choice of car hire companies is available for passengers arriving at Chicago O’Hare Airport.

On-site car hire providers at ORD include well-known brands, amongst them: Alamo, Avis Rent A Car, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise Rent A Car, Hertz car Hire and National. Other rent-a-car companies, such as Ace Rent A Car and Advantage Rent A Car are located in a very short distance from the terminals and can be reached by an effective free shuttle service provided.

U.S. sports car rental: Ford Mustang Convertible - now also available to rent in Chicago Airport as Mustang convertible from, for example, Budget

Economy car rentals O’Hare Airport - find cheap car hire online
Generally, car rental from O’Hare Airport is not expensive.

Good deals on vehicle rental at the major Chicago Airport are usually available within all classes. The cheapest offers of economy class hire cars, such as a Chevrolet Aveo, known in the States as Chevrolet Sonic, or similar, often start  from around £130 for a week, a very reasonable price if you consider the fact that unlimited mileage is virtually always included in the rate. For more information about mileage, always refer to 'Rental conditions'.

Cheap car rental Chicago - 5-door Chevrolet Aveo / Chevrolet Sonic, a good choice for 2-3 people and luggage.

When booking well in advance and having compared offers from many suppliers, you will be also able to enjoy very competitive prices of larger and more comfortable vehicles. A full-size Chevrolet Impala, or similar, can frequently be rented from approx. £ 150 for a week of Chicago O’Hare car hire.

Hiring a premium vehicle at Chicago Airport won’t break the bank either: the offers of a one week rental of a Lincoln Towncar, or similar for a rather competitive price rfom approx. £180, are not uncommon at O’Hare Airport.

Compare Chicago O’Hare Airport car hire offers using an internet search engine Cartrawler which displays best car rental deals from many major suppliers and facilitates online booking.

SUV and minivan hire from Chicago O’Hare
If you are looking for an affordable SUV to rent from O’Hare Airport, usually a wide choice of makes and models is available on Cartrawler, including a ‘small’ Ford Escape and larger Chrysler Journey, Nissan Pathfinder or similar. The prices of the cheapest SUV’s often start from around £170 for a 7 days of O’Hare Airport car hire.

Dodge Caravan with sliding door - USA car in Chicago Airport with room for the whole family.

In the segment of larger rental vehicles, minivans and vans with capacity for 7 people and more you will be able to typical 7-seaters, such as Chrysler Voyager (or similar) and unseen in Europe vans with room for 12 people, for example a Ford Clubwagon. Please note that usually no special drivers license is required to drive this large people’s carrier. You can find information about drivers license requirements and a thorough description of rate details by clicking on the ‘Rental conditions’ link available with each offer on Cartrawler.

Driving from O’Hare Airport to Chicago city centre
Travelers hiring a car at O’Hare Airport should not have major difficulty in reaching Chicago city centre. A major motorway, known as Kennedy Expressway connects the airport directly to the Chicago Loop.

It is hard however to predict the time needed for driving from O’Hare to Chicago. Although the distance to cover is only some 17 miles, which in normal conditions should not take more than half an hour, the Kennedy Expressway is known for heavy and slow traffic. Especially when driving back to the airport, make sure to allow extra time to return the car and find your departure gate on time.

See major roads in Chicago O’Hare Airport area. 

Chicago O’Hare Airport - map and terminals
There are 4 terminals at Chicago Airport, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Terminal 5, also known as the International Terminal, handles most of the international flights to Chicago O’Hare.

View map of terminals and gates of Chicago O’Hare Airport (click to enlarge).

Transfer between  terminals 1, 2 and 3 is possible on foot, via a pedestrian tunnel linking  three terminals. Terminal 5 can be reached only on board of an automatically operated people’s mover,  known as ATS (O’Hare Airport Transit System) and operating 24 hours per day. The ATS also allows access to the remote parking areas of Chicago O’Hare Airport.

Chicago O’Hare Airport - New Terminal 5
The ambitious redevelopment project for the ORD Terminal 5, completed in Fall 2013 features innovative design and substantial changes in the layout intended to enhance the passenger experience at Chicago O’Hare Airport.

At the new Terminal 5 you will be able to enjoy a sophisticated retail area and a vast choice of restaurants in the dining court:

View map of Chicago ‘Hare Airport Terminal 5.

Flights to Chicago O’Hare
London Heathrow is the busiest international route from Chicago O’Hare Airport.  Flights between the main airport of the British capital and Chicago are operated by American Airlines, United Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airlines.

American Airlines flies to Chicago O’Hare also from Manchester, in the UK.