O’Hare long-term parking

Parking your car at ORD for many days or weeks can rapidly drive up your travel expenses if you don’t pre-plan. Finding your perfect O’Hare Airport long-term parking spot is all about balancing convenience, shuttle transfers, and protection for your car from the severe Chicago weather with the budget you have.

While onsite parking lots offer quicker access to the terminals, secure offsite lots near the airport offer free shuttles to the terminals at a fraction of the cost you pay at onsite garages/lots. Here is everything you must know about long-term parking at O’Hare Airport for your next trip.

If you are looking for the most economical ORD Airport long-term parking options, you can park your car in any of the Economy Lots. Your best onsite options can be the open-air Economy Lots G and H. These lots are located along Bessie Coleman Drive and use free shuttle buses to take passengers to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF); from there, you can catch the Airport Transit System (ATS) train to the terminals.

For covered O’Hare Airport parking, you can park your car in Economy Lot F. There is direct walk-in access to the ATS train from this lot, so you don’t require a bus transfer. If you prefer to park close to the terminals and skip the transit, you can park your car in the Main Garage (Daily) or the adjacent open-air Daily Lot. Premier Parking offers you parking near Terminals 1 and 3.

If you are flying out from ORD Terminal 5, the best onsite parking option can be the Terminal 5 Garage or the nearby outdoor Lot D. For the cheapest O’Hare Airport long-term parking spot, it is always best that you reserve at a nearby offsite parking lot. Reserving via Way ensures you save up to 60% on parking rates.

For long-term parking at O’Hare Airport, you can park in the Economy Lots, Main Garage (Daily), Daily Lot, Terminal 5 Garage and Lot D, and Premier Parking. The ORD Airport long-term parking rates start at $16 a day and go up to a maximum of $63 a day in these lots/garages.

Choosing an offsite parking lot near ORD is the best way to keep the parking rates down on long trips. The onsite ORD Airport long-term parking garages and lots fill up quickly during peak travel periods, leaving drive-up travelers searching for a parking spot at the last minute.

Pre-booking an offsite parking spot via Way ensures you have a guaranteed parking spot on the day of travel at a much cheaper rate. It also offers you full flexibility with free cancellation and the option to modify your parking reservation before the scheduled check-in time. Most offsite parking lots also have 24/7 camera surveillance, gated perimeters, and free shuttle service straight to your terminal curb.

When reserving an offsite parking spot near O’Hare, you will be primarily looking at the total parking cost. Always look for multi-day or weekly parking discounts, as many lots offer discounted rates the longer you park. Then, be sure to check the shuttle timings and frequency if you are flying out early in the morning. An on-demand shuttle service can be stressful. Shuttles operating every 10-15 minutes to the ORD terminals can save you time. Always factor in the weather when you are reserving your long-term parking at O’Hare Airport. A covered parking spot can always safeguard your car from the summer heat, ice, or heavy snow during winter.

If you are parking in any of the ORD Airport parking garages/lots for more than 30 days, you must contact the Parking Garage Office in advance at 773-686-7530. Any car parked at any of the onsite lots/garages for more than 30 days without prior notice will be considered “abandoned” and will be ticketed and towed at your expense.

The Economy Lots aren’t located directly next to the ORD terminals, so using them requires a quick transit transfer on both ends of your trip. If you park in Economy Lot F, you can directly board the ATS train and reach your terminal. For Lots G and H, you have to board the shuttle bus first and reach the MMF, then take the ATS train to reach any of the terminals. Both the ATS train and shuttle buses operate 24/7 every 5-10 minutes.

ORD gets very busy during spring break, holidays, and summer. The O’Hare Economy Lots and garages fill up quickly during these peak travel periods, leaving you with few or no options if you book at the last minute. Reserving your ORD long-term parking spot in advance locks in the best rates and guarantees you a parking spot on departure day.

Offsite lots are the safest bet when traveling during peak travel periods. You can reserve your parking spot weeks or months in advance. Most offsite lots even offer free cancellation if your travel plans change. As road traffic can be severe during peak periods, plan to arrive 30-45 minutes earlier than usual to get ample time for parking and terminal transfers.