How do you get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 at OHare?

How do you get from terminal 3 to terminal 5 at ohare? Route guide

Navigating airport connections smoothly prevents stressful delays and missed flights. Understanding how do you get from terminal 3 to terminal 5 at ohare ensures a seamless journey.
Choosing the right transit option protects your schedule. Explore the layout to avoid getting lost and save precious time.

How do you get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 at O'Hare?

Moving between Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 at Chicago OHare International Airport can feel stressful because Terminal 5 sits completely separate from the domestic core. Depending on your schedule, luggage situation, and whether you want to stay airside, you have two primary methods to make this transfer.

Planning ahead saves you from missing tight connections when navigating between domestic gates and the international hub.

Option 1: The Airside Terminal Transfer Bus (Fastest Without Re-screening)

If you are already inside security with a valid same-day boarding pass for an onward flight out of Terminal 5, you can skip exiting to the public roadway by utilizing the ohare terminal transfer bus gate locations.
This shuttle drives directly across the tarmac, bypassing TSA security checkpoints entirely.

Inside Terminal 3, you can catch this bus near designated pickup points around Gate G17 or Gate K20, which drops passengers off right next to Gate M13 in Terminal 5.

This service typically operates during peak connecting windows from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. If your transfer falls outside these hours, you will need to take the landside train route instead.

Option 2: The Airport Transit System and Landside Route

When the terminal transfer bus is closed, or if you need to collect checked bags or change airlines on separate tickets, you must exit security and use the Airport Transit System (ATS).
Follow the overhead airport signs pointing toward the ATS train stations.

The ATS is a free automated train that runs 24 hours a day, connecting all terminal buildings and the Multi-Modal Facility.

Board the train from the station near Terminal 3, ride it to Terminal 5, exit, and proceed to the TSA security checkpoint to re-enter the secure zone.

Factor in an extra 30 to 50 minutes for this route due to re-screening lines.

Timing Your Terminal Transfer Safely

Transferring between these specific terminals usually takes anywhere from 20 minutes using the airside bus to over an hour if you have to clear security twice during peak afternoon rushes.

Lets be honest - OHare is massive, and long security queues at Terminal 5 can easily catch you off guard.

Give yourself at least how long to get from terminal 3 to 5 at ohare buffers to account for unexpected delays.

Comparing Transfer Methods from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5

Terminal Transfer Bus (Airside)

Gate G17 or Gate K20 in Terminal 3

Bypasses TSA completely; stays inside secure airside zone

Runs daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Must have a same-day boarding pass for a Terminal 5 departing flight

Airport Transit System (Landside)

Terminal 3 ATS station via multi-terminal pedestrian walk paths

Requires exiting security and re-clearing TSA at Terminal 5

Operates 24 hours a day, year-round

Open to everyone, including passengers with checked baggage or separate tickets

Lan's Tight International Connection

Lan landed at Terminal 3 on a domestic flight from Dallas with only an hour and forty minutes before her international flight out of Terminal 5. She panicked when she realized Terminal 5 required a separate building.

She initially thought about running out to catch the train, but the thought of re-clearing security with long afternoon lines made her hesitate.

She spotted an airport employee near Gate K20 who pointed her toward the airside Terminal Transfer Bus pickup zone.

The bus drove her directly across the tarmac straight to Gate M13 in Terminal 5 in under 15 minutes, allowing her to board her flight comfortably without ever touching the public terminal areas.