Smoking at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Airport Rating

Before Security Smoking

Smoking is only permitted in designated areas outside the terminals.

After Security Smoking

There are no smoking facilities inside the terminal.

2025, October, top tip from Geoff.: Yes - there’s nothing for smokers “airside” but, especially if you are on a US domestic to International Flight connecting passenger here’s the thing. Smoking outside of the Terminals is OK - as long as 8/10/15 ish metres (can’t remember which!) from the entrance doors - ashtrays are actually quite well provided where you can smoke, but (especially if you’ve got checked through bags) - make your way to the big Hilton Hotel through the underground pedestrian walkway system. Leaving any terminal and re-entering if you have a boarding pass is OK and simple enough as long as you get that you have to do the security check again, but O’Hare is one of the easier ones to do. It’s a bit tricky to navigate to the hotel BUT - the hotel bar/restaurant/coffee lounge is open to non-residents (expensive BTW to buy drinks/food - but that’s airport hotels!) But it has a couple of OK terraces where you can smoke, is actually not far from any of the terminals (except 5 but there’s a transit system that does that.)

For connecting flights you must enter the United States and smoke outside terminal then go through Security again for your flight.

Further Information

Official Website