As the nation prepares to celebrate its 249th birthday, O'Hare and Midway International Airports are gearing up to greet travelers this Fourth of July weekend, with 1.86 million passengers expected to make their way through both airports between today, Wednesday, July 2 and Monday, July 7, according to airline projections.

 

The Independence Day travel surge builds on early summer momentum, as visitors are already arriving at Chicago's airports to take part in major events and activities across the city.

 

“Whether it is our world-renowned festivals, our beautiful parks and beaches, or the many cultural and sporting events taking place, no city compares to what Chicago has to offer in the summertime," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From the moment travelers step off of a plane at O'Hare or Midway, we are ready to make them feel at home. For all who are coming here during the Fourth of July season, we can't wait to welcome them to the greatest city in the world."

 

O'Hare is expected to welcome approximately 1.54 million passengers over the six-day period — an 11% increase compared to last year's Fourth of July weekend, and a 9.2% increase over 2019, the airport's busiest year on record. O'Hare's busiest day is expected to be Sunday, July 6, when more than 300,000 travelers are projected to pass through the airport — a surge nearly 40% above the daily average at the world's second-busiest airport for aircraft movements.

 

Midway will see a surge in travel as well, with approximately 320,000 passengers expected between today and Monday — on par with 2024 levels. Its busiest day is also projected to be Sunday, July 6, when nearly 59,000 people will pass through the busiest square mile in aviation.“

 

When folks come to Chicago during the busy summer season, the hard-working employees at our airports are always ready to provide first-class service, ensuring that the experience for customers is second to none," said Michael McMurray, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA).  “We expect nothing less from one of the best and busiest aviation systems in the world, and we are again ready this Fourth of July weekend to assist and serve all who will be coming to O'Hare and Midway."

 

Visitors and residents traveling through Chicago's airports are reminded of the following:

 

Preventing Traffic Congestion

Cell Phone Lots are free at both airports. Avoid circling the terminals — use the designated waiting areas until arriving passengers are ready for pickup. The O’Hare Cell Phone Lot is at 560 N. Bessie Coleman Drive, and Midway’s is at West 61st Street and South Cicero Avenue.  

Kiss n’ Fly drop-offs allow for quicker curbside access. At Midway, drop-off is at West 59th Street and South Kilpatrick Avenue, a short walk from the terminals. O’Hare passengers can be dropped at the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) at 10255 W. Zemke Blvd., and board the Airport Transit System (ATS) for a quick ride to all terminals.  

Public transit is also a hassle-free alternative:

• The CTA Blue Line offers 24/7 service to O’Hare, while the CTA Orange Line services Midway starting at 4 a.m. Both offer frequent and fast service, helping passengers avoid curbside crowds and reducing congestion in the process.
• Metra’s North Central Service offers weekday service between Union Station in downtown Chicago and the O’Hare Transfer station adjacent to the MMF, with access to the ATS.
• Pace’s Pulse Dempster Line offers direct service to O’Hare from Evanston, Skokie, Niles, Park Ridge and other suburbs.

Kennedy Expressway Construction

The Illinois Department of Transportation is completing the final phase of the Kennedy Expressway reconstruction project, set to conclude by late 2025. Drivers should be aware of the following:

• Outbound express lanes are now open to O’Hare, and can provide a quicker ride for O’Hare motorists traveling between the Loop and the airport.
• Expect significant delays, especially during peak hours. Travel time from downtown Chicago to O’Hare frequently exceed an hour.
• To reduce congestion, passengers are strongly encouraged to use public transportation options, such as the CTA Blue Line and Metra

Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) is a biometric screening process that was recently introduced at select airports for U.S. citizens returning from international destinations. EPP is administered by the CBP at O'Hare, which uses the CBP's Traveler Verification Service to identify travelers, confirm citizenship and screen for any enforcement concerns. By using a touchless process of biometrics, a traveler's arrival is automatically confirmed without officer interaction.

 

EPP works in the following ways:

• U.S. citizens flying through O'Hare will walk up to a kiosk, which will take a photo of the passenger.
• The kiosk uses the CBP’s Travel Verification System to compare live facial images with photos from the passengers’ travel documents. 
• If there is no enforcement concern, the kiosk light will turn green and the passenger will be directed into the baggage claim area. If the light turns blue, an officer directs the passenger to an additional screening area.

 

Benefits to O’Hare passengers also include:

• Processing time for U.S. citizens being reduced from 60 seconds to 10 seconds
• More CBP resources being made available for passengers who need additional processing time, such as non-U.S. citizens and passengers referred for additional screening 
• A reduction of more than 70% in both passenger wait times and misconnections with United and American Airlines flights (based on CBP observations after three weeks of EPP implementation)

 

Real ID

All travelers 18 and older who are flying domestically are now required by the TSA to have a Real ID, which is part of a driver’s license or state-issued identification. A Real ID is denoted by a gold star located on the upper right-hand corner of a license or state identification. The following alternatives to a Real ID are also accepted, according to the TSA’s website:

• State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• Department of Homeland Security-trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally-recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

 

For more information about applying for a Real ID in Illinois, go to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office’s website at realid.ilsos.gov.

Passengers without a Real ID or other acceptable form of identification could be directed to a separate line or face additional screening.

O'Hare Rideshares, Taxis and Limousines   

Pickups at O'Hare for rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are centrally located outside in the upper-level departures section of Terminal 2, between doors 2A and 2F. Additionally, as of June 30, passengers can access rideshares outside in the upper-level departures section of Terminal 3, between doors 3G and 3K. Passengers arriving into Terminals 1 or 5 must transfer to Terminals 2 or 3 aboard the ATS for rideshare pickups. Terminal wayfinding signage will direct passengers to designated pick-up areas, and ride-share apps will direct users to their closest pick-up zone. 

All rideshare providers can drop off passengers at all terminals, which offer Black car pickups — including Black cars offered through the Uber and Lyft apps. Loading zones for rideshares can be found at the following locations:

• Zone A (Black) – Outside north of vestibule 2A
• Zone B (Blue) – Outside vestibule 2A
• Zone C (Orange) – Outside vestibule 2B
• Zone D (Green) – Outside vestibule 2E

Taxis to Chicago and the suburbs are available outside the baggage claim areas at the Lower Level curb front at each terminal. All travelers are advised to use the designated taxi stands to ensure they have a licensed driver. Travelers are also advised not to accept rides from drivers outside the cab stand or on the departure level of the terminal roadways.

Additionally, limousines are available for city and suburban destinations. Contact your company of choice near the ride boards to make reservations.

For more information about rideshares, taxis and limousines, visit FlyChicago.com.

Concessions Highlights

O'Hare expanded its dining options in Terminal 1 in March with the openings of Hinsdale-based Pronto Sandwiches and The Bronze Pizza, as well as a new airport location for Home Run Inn Pizza (which also operates a concession in Terminal 2). Passengers can additionally take advantage of mobile ordering through orderORD.com for a seamless dining experience throughout all four terminals.
 

Live Entertainment

Travelers making their way through O'Hare and Midway during the holiday weekend will be treated to the following entertainment:

O'Hare

• July 3: Uncle Sam (patriotic-themed entertainment) – at various core terminals, 9 a.m. to noon.
• July 7: Son Monarcas (Latin folk) – Terminal 5/Gate M32, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Midway

• July 2: Uncle Sam (patriotic-themed entertainment) – at various concourses, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Traveling Safely with Families

O'Hare offers a Family Lounge, which is a designated play area for toddlers and young children. The space also features charging outlets and stroller parking.

Parents will find several locations at both airports to care for, or nurse, their young children safely and privately. O'Hare provides more than a dozen Mother's Room and Lactation Pod locations — a complete list of locations is available at FlyChicago.com.

At Midway, a Mother's Room can be found in Concourse C near the airport's Yoga Room, and a Lactation Pod is available near Gate A5 in Concourse A.


General Information
 
Travelers bound for Chicago's airports can make the most informed decisions about how to access any of the previously mentioned airport services by visiting FlyChicago.com. The website contains real-time information about flights, parking updates, taxicab wait times, available concession businesses and other special alerts for the traveling public. The “My Flight" search page shows specific flight updates, amenities near the flight gate, as well as other travel resources. 

Note that access to airport terminals at O'Hare and Midway is restricted at all times to ticketed passengers, those assisting passengers, badged employees and others with legitimate airport business.