Car Rental
Chicago Airport

If you’re mostly staying in the Loop, River North, or near major attractions, a car often becomes more hassle than help because traffic and parking are costly and time-consuming. Public transit and rideshare usually cover city-only trips well. For a downtown-focused stay, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

Renting is most useful when you plan to leave the city for suburbs, business visits, or Midwest road trips where transit is inconvenient. It’s also helpful if you’ll do multiple stops with luggage or need flexibility outside CTA coverage. For trips beyond central Chicago, renting a car is beneficial.

Driving can feel challenging due to frequent congestion, complex interchanges, and pressure around downtown. It’s manageable if you plan routes and timing, but it’s not a relaxed city-driving experience. For city-only sightseeing, renting a car is usually optional at best.

Parking is often expensive and hard to find, and traffic can turn short trips into long delays. You may pay to park at your hotel and again at attractions. If you’re staying downtown, a rental car is usually unnecessary.

Picking up at ORD is convenient right after landing, but airport fees and the extra time to reach the rental center can add friction. City locations can be cheaper, especially if you’ll use transit for a day or two first. If you’re staying downtown before road-tripping, renting in the city is usually the better move.

At ORD, rental cars are accessed through the airport’s consolidated rental facility, reached via the Airport Transit System (ATS) from the terminals. Build in extra time for the train ride and the rental counter process. If you need to hit the road right away, renting at ORD is convenient.

During busy periods, the combined time for the ATS ride and rental pickup lines can be significant, with late afternoon/early evening often slower. If you land during peak times, your pickup can take noticeably longer than expected. If timing is tight, renting at ORD is still workable but plan a buffer.

Rush hours on weekdays and especially Friday afternoons can make the drive away from the airport much slower. The expressways around ORD can back up quickly, turning an easy trip into a frustrating one. If you must drive, renting is fine, but schedule your departure to avoid peak congestion.

Driving time can vary widely with traffic, but it commonly falls in the roughly 30–60 minute range and can be longer during rush hour. The Kennedy Expressway (I-90) is the usual direct route, and it’s often congested. If you’re going straight downtown at peak times, renting a car is usually not worth it.

In heavy rush-hour traffic, the Blue Line can be faster and more predictable than driving, especially when parking is added to the equation. Driving may still win late at night or off-peak, but congestion can erase that advantage. For a downtown stay, skipping the rental is usually the better choice.

For a typical weekend focused on downtown neighborhoods, museums, restaurants, and events, you’ll likely spend more time dealing with parking than enjoying the city. Transit and rideshare generally fit better for short urban stays. For a city-only weekend, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

If your hotel is near ORD and you’ll visit suburban offices, Schaumburg-area spots, or multiple locations outside the core, a car can save time and simplify logistics. Suburban destinations often aren’t as seamless by transit. For an O’Hare-area base with suburban plans, renting a car is beneficial.

Driving into the Loop during commuter peaks is usually slow, stressful, and expensive once you factor in parking. If you have meetings downtown, transit or rideshare can be simpler than navigating garages and traffic. For Loop-heavy weekday plans, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

In central areas, parking is often scarce and pricey, and you may rely on paid garages or metered street parking with restrictions. Planning ahead—sometimes even reserving parking—can reduce the hassle. If your trip is mostly central Chicago, a rental car is usually optional at best.

Street parking exists but can be difficult to find in popular neighborhoods and often comes with strict time limits and payment rules. It’s not a reliable plan for visitors who don’t want to hunt for a spot. If you’ll depend on street parking, renting a car is usually not recommended.

Parking can be less expensive and more available outside the core, but popular areas can still fill up during peak dining and event times. You’ll still want a plan so you’re not circling blocks. For neighborhood-hopping outside downtown, renting a car is optional.

Yes—major routes in and around the metro area often involve cashless tolling, especially on expressways used for suburban and regional trips. Decide ahead of time how you’ll handle tolls so you don’t get surprised later. If you’re doing suburban or regional driving, renting a car is beneficial.

For a one-time transfer, transit or rideshare usually beats paying for a multi-day rental plus downtown parking. The added cost and hassle rarely pay off if you won’t drive much afterward. For a simple airport-to-downtown transfer, renting a car is unnecessary.

Yes—if your plan includes places beyond the city where public transit is limited, a car offers the most direct and flexible option. It can also be cheaper than stacking multiple rideshares for a full day. For an out-of-town day trip, renting a car is beneficial.

ORD is well-positioned for regional drives into Indiana, Wisconsin, or Michigan, and it’s also a practical starting point for longer, straight stretches of interstate travel. These routes are generally designed for driving and are hard to replicate with local transit. For regional exploration, renting a car is beneficial.

Driving from the Chicago area to West Lafayette is a common approach and is typically faster and more flexible than coordinating shuttles around limited schedules. Traffic and construction can affect timing, but a car keeps you in control of stops and arrival times. For a Purdue/West Lafayette visit, renting a car is beneficial.

Suburban venues and business parks are often easier by car, and parking is generally more available than in the Loop. You’ll also avoid the complexity of multi-transfer transit routes. For suburban-focused travel, renting a car is beneficial.

It can be, especially if you arrive during commute hours when expressways clog and lane changes feel intense. If you’re not comfortable with dense urban driving, transit from ORD is usually simpler. For first-time visitors staying downtown, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

Many travelers do a “split plan”: use transit and walking for the downtown portion, then rent a car right before heading to suburbs or taking a road trip. This reduces parking costs and avoids city driving when you don’t need it. For mixed itineraries, renting a car is beneficial only for the road-trip segment.

For city driving, an SUV can make parking harder and may not provide much benefit unless you need cargo space or winter traction. A smaller car is often easier to maneuver and park. For city-only use, renting a larger vehicle is usually unnecessary.

A compact or midsize car is generally the easiest balance for tight parking, urban traffic, and highway comfort. Bigger vehicles can add stress in garages and dense neighborhoods. For most Chicago trips, a smaller car is the most practical choice.

AWD can help in heavier snow, but most rentals use all-season tires and Chicago streets are typically plowed, so AWD isn’t a must for typical city driving. It becomes more valuable if you expect storms, will drive early/late, or plan to head to outer suburbs. For winter trips with lots of driving, renting an AWD vehicle is beneficial; otherwise it’s optional.

Black ice is most common on bridges and ramps and often shows up before sunrise and after sunset, so slow down and avoid sudden braking or steering. Give yourself extra time near ORD on return day because snow can slow airport traffic. If you’re visiting in winter and will drive frequently, renting a car is beneficial only if you’re comfortable with winter conditions.

Dedicated snow tires are uncommon in standard U.S. rental fleets, and most vehicles run all-season tires that are fine for normal plowed streets. If you expect heavier snow, choose an AWD class rather than assuming snow tires. For winter travel beyond the city core, renting a car can be beneficial with the right vehicle choice.

Confirm you have a scraper/brush, winter-rated washer fluid, and good wipers so you can handle slush and visibility issues. Clearing snow from the roof and windows before driving helps safety and prevents problems on the highway. For winter driving, renting a car is beneficial if you prepare properly.

An EV can work well if you have reliable charging at your hotel or destinations, but winter cold reduces range and heater use can drain the battery faster. Planning charging stops ahead matters more than in warm months. For winter visitors without guaranteed charging, an EV rental is usually optional at best.

Many Chicago-area toll roads are cashless, so you’ll need a clear plan—either a toll program through the rental or paying by plate online where available. Handling tolls intentionally helps avoid surprise fees later. If you’ll stay within the core and won’t hit toll roads, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

Yes—suburban-to-suburban travel is often inefficient by transit and can require long transfers. A rental car gives you predictable point-to-point travel and flexibility for schedule changes. For multi-suburb business travel, renting a car is beneficial.

Overnight parking in central Chicago is typically paid and can add a significant daily cost, especially at hotels. If your car will sit most of the time, you’re paying for storage more than mobility. For downtown stays without day trips, keeping a rental car overnight is usually unnecessary.

For city-only trips, rideshare and transit often cost less than a rental plus parking and tolls. A rental tends to win when you’re doing multiple long-distance trips, carrying lots of gear, or leaving Chicago for regional driving. For downtown-only itineraries, renting a car is usually not cost-effective.

Many visitor-heavy areas are walkable and well-served by transit, particularly in and near downtown. The challenge is when your plans spread into the suburbs or require multiple cross-town trips. For a central Chicago stay, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

Stay car-free while you’re in the Loop, then pick up a car right before you leave the city to avoid downtown traffic and parking costs. This approach keeps your city time simple and your road-trip time flexible. For combined city + road-trip travel, renting a car is beneficial only for the outbound segment.

Winter weather can slow driving and raise stress, while summer brings heavy travel demand and can increase costs and congestion around popular areas. If you’re mainly doing city attractions, seasonal congestion usually makes a car less appealing. For city-only trips in any season, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

A car can make airport transfers and multiple stops easier when you have car seats, strollers, and heavy bags, especially if you’re not staying right downtown. The tradeoff is parking costs if you’ll spend most days in the city core. For families with suburban plans or lots of driving, renting a car is beneficial.

If your itinerary is mostly downtown Chicago, skip the car and use transit/rideshare; you’ll avoid parking costs and traffic headaches. If you’re heading to suburbs, multiple far-flung stops, or a Midwest road trip, a rental is the most practical option. Overall, renting a car at ORD is beneficial for out-of-city travel and unnecessary for city-only stays.