How quick is it to travel between O’Hare terminals?

Question

Hans Steiner · Accepted Answer

What the O’Hare Terminal Transfer question implies

One of the travel-planning questions asks how long it takes to get from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at Chicago O’Hare. However, the story provided doesn’t include the actual transit time or the route you’d use (for example, whether you’d rely on an inter-terminal shuttle/train, walking paths, or a connection through security).

What matters for travelers

When transferring between far-apart terminals at large airports, the deciding factors are typically:

Whether you’re airside (already past security) or need to re-clear security
The time needed for walking and wayfinding across the terminal complex
Connection options such as automated transit or shuttles (if available)

Without those specifics, it’s not possible to give a factual minute-by-minute estimate from the provided text.

Practical next step

If you’re booking a tight connection, the safest planning approach is to use buffer time based on:

The minimum expected terminal transfer time plus extra for signage and crowding
Whether your itinerary requires moving landside and going through checkpoints again

If you want, tell me your exact itinerary (are both flights on the same ticket, and do you stay airside?), and I can help you plan a conservative transfer window.