Originally Posted by
PIONEER
That is really a tough decision. Personally, I would not try to go downtown. What with the travel time plus the possibility of delays, you really wouldn't have that much time in the city.....
Don't get me wrong. Chicago is a wonderful town, and you should find a chance to spend at least a few days there sometime. But for a 5 hour layover, dealing with security and luggage, as well as transpotation, I would just chill out at ORD.
I agree - even without the luggage issue, with all of the variables (for example, the walk from the gate to the CTA station takes time), the "five hours" evaporates quickly. My personal minimum for ORD to Chicigo would be six hours.
If it were me, I'd make my way to the Tortas Frontera outlet in the B Concourse of T1 (a second location, in T3, is opening in a few months), then return to the SC to enjoy the rest of your layover (you can walk airside between T1-T2-T3):
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tortas-frontera-chicago
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.c...-at-ohare.html