Approach the airport traveling south on Manheimm Road, from Higgins Road. Although Manheimm is a large north-south route, the approach from Higgins, north of the airport, is suggested because Manheimm isn't very 'bicycle friendly' and this approach minimizes the time spent riding on Manheimm.

Just a few blocks south of Higgins is Zemke Blvd (the 2nd stop light from Higgins), on your right or west. This goes a very short distance, to Bessie Coleman Drive. Turn left on Bessie Coleman Drive.  On this road, on the right, you see an entrance to a "Commercial Vehicle Staging Area" which is where the taxis enter, and wait, to be allowed into the airport. Go into this area.

The sign on Manheimm as your going south to the road that leads you to Betsy Coleman Drive.	Betsy Coleman drive is now a wide, two lane road, but no shoulder.  It's a big improvement, though.	Before the 2nd light, a "Taxi Only" lane starts, and the sign indicates where you're going to turn right and enter the lot.

You'll need to ride through a gatekeeping system which allows the cabs through. You get a lot of strange stares and comments, but nobody will stop you.  You'll be on a very wide one-lane ramp, reserved for the taxis. There is a low speed limit, mostly ignored but not by much. Riding on the right, on the wide shoulder, there is plenty of room.  This road will take you to the lower level of O'Hare, right by the United Terminal.

Part of the gate through which the taxi must pass.  Stay to the right, there are some cement barriers which you can easily ride through.	The taxi ramp is a very wide road, with a very wide shoulder.  Since the gatekeeper allows the taxi one at a time there is little traffic and a low speed limit.	At the end of this ramp, past the United Package Area, you'll enter the lower lever or departure area.  At this point it would be wise to walk on the sidewalk.

 

This is somewhat more difficult.

Follow the road or sidewalk all the way around to the end of the last terminal. At this point the cars are directed to re-enter the expressway system to Chicago. You could take this and ride the shoulder, but somewhat safer is a road to your right at this junction, through a small parking lot, that leads to the heating and air conditioning plant for O'Hare. Take this road, and follow it until it ends at another street, directly across from a Chicago Firehouse. Turn left, go a short distance to a stop sign for the expressway.

Just past the last terminal traffic will re-enter the expressway going left.  You go right, following the small service road past the power plant.	Following the service road, you'll come to the Fire Station.  Turn left, then right again entering the expressway, riding on the shoulder for a short distance.

You will need to ride on what amounts to the expressway shoulder for a 1/2-mile, until you come to a ramp that says "Terminal 5" and "Long Term Parking Area." Take this ramp.

This will lead you onto a wide two lane (but no shoulder) road and eventually you will come to a traffic light. This is Bessie Coleman Drive. You will need to make a left-turn at the light. Stay on this road, past the long-term lots, and eventually you'll be back on Manheimm Road again.

Taking a left on Manheimm will lead you back to Higgins. Again, I'm suggesting this route, even if your eventual start or destination is south. Higgins Road is still busy, but a wide road, and runs diagonal into the city. With any reasonable city map you ought to be able to find the intersection of Higgins and Manheimm and can plan your route to this point accordingly.

I've ridden this a couple of times. It works.

There really isn't any bike racks to secure the bike at O'Hare, however. You may get stopped by security and asked how you got in, and all kinds of questions. Be cooperative - they won't ask you to leave, because if they did you might ask them HOW to leave! (2003 Update: On the way in, I did get stopped by Officer Vulcanski of the Chicago Police Department.  He was very friendly, but needed to check me out.  This was, of course, post-9/11 and his stopping me was, I'm sure, as a result of that.  No problem, he told me to be careful, and let me on my way.)

Update 2003: An alternative would be to take the Chicago Transit Authority, CTA, rail line into and out of O'Hare Field.  The Blue Line runs directly into the terminal and there's an elevator to take you up to the terminal level.  Two bikes per car are allowed anytime, except weekdays 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm.  Most of the Chicago buses now have a rack on the front that will carry two bikes as well.  Information on using Rapid Transit lines is available at:

 Using the CTA to get to O'Hare and Midway Airports

Alternately, go to  CTA Brochures and down this page you'll find a .PDF file on taking bikes on trains and buses.  Other useful brochures as well, which you can call the CTA and get.

As for securing the bike (I took mine on the plane) you might find a well-lit, high-traffic area someplace inside a covered parking area and lock the bike up someplace where it won't be in anybody's way. Or you could lock it up outside the terminal, again out of the way, right along the Arrival Area sidewalk. Lots of people, and unlikely that anyone would tamper with the bike in such an obvious location.

Good luck, and have a safe trip.  Keep the wind at your back.

(A question about Google, if you found this page with a Google Search)