Yes, you can smoke at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) — at the designated outdoor areas outside the terminals, with marked spots and ash receptacles at the entrance of every terminal (1, 2, 3, and 5) on both the departures and arrivals levels. These areas sit landside, before the TSA checkpoint, so a smoke break during a layover means exiting security and re-screening. Indoors, O’Hare is smoke-free throughout, a major United and American hub where every concourse, gate area, and airline lounge is covered by the ban.
Chicago O’Hare is a big connecting hub — if you are continuing on, see smoking areas at Atlanta Airport or where to smoke during a Denver layover.
Smoking Policy at Chicago O’Hare Airport
O’Hare operates under the Smoke-free Illinois Act, which bans smoking in all indoor public places statewide. This covers every square foot of indoor space at the airport, including terminals, concourses, gate areas, restaurants, shops, airline lounges, and restrooms. E-cigarettes and vaping devices fall under the same restrictions.
You must be at least 15 feet from any doorway, window, or air intake vent when smoking outdoors. There are designated areas with ash receptacles and signage outside each terminal.
How ORD Is Laid Out
O’Hare has four terminals. There is no Terminal 4 — it was demolished years ago, so the numbering jumps from 3 to 5.
Terminal 1 is the main United Airlines hub, with Concourses B and C. Terminal 2 handles United Express regional flights and several other domestic and Canadian carriers across Concourses E and F. Terminal 3 is American Airlines territory, spread across Concourses G, H, K, and L, and hosts several oneworld international carriers. Terminal 5 is the international terminal, Concourse M, located separately from the other three; Delta moved its entire O’Hare operation there from Terminal 2 in October 2022, so Delta passengers should ignore older Terminal 2 directions.
Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are joined by pedestrian walkways on the secure side, so a domestic connection never needs re-screening — follow the overhead signage rather than the people mover. Terminal 5 has no secure-side walkway: the Airport Transit System (ATS) links it to the other terminals landside, and a secure airside Terminal Transfer Bus runs between Terminals 1, 3 and 5 for connecting passengers, roughly 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Outside those hours, a Terminal 5 connection means exiting security and re-screening.
Construction is a constant here: under the O’Hare 21 program, Terminal 2 is due to be replaced by the new O’Hare Global Terminal and a satellite concourse is being built, so curbside and walking routes shift between phases.
Every concourse is smoke-free, so all smoking happens at the outdoor areas outside the terminals, before the checkpoint.
Terminal 1 (United Airlines — Concourses B and C)
Terminal 1 is United’s main hub at O’Hare and handles a massive volume of domestic and international flights.
Outdoor Smoking: Designated areas are outside the terminal entrance on both the departures (upper) level and arrivals (lower) level. Look for the ash receptacle stations set back from the doors. The upper level curbside near the ticketing drop-off area tends to be less crowded than arrivals.
After Security: Concourses B and C are smoke-free, United Club lounges, gate areas and the connecting walkways included, so plan your smoke break before the TSA checkpoint or after you exit.
Terminal 2 (United Express and other domestic carriers — Concourses E and F)
Terminal 2 is the smallest of the main terminals, handling United Express regional flights along with several other domestic and Canadian carriers. Delta left for Terminal 5 in October 2022.
Outdoor Smoking: Step outside the main entrance on either level. Designated smoking spots with receptacles are located along the curbside at both departures and arrivals. Terminal 2’s entrance is between Terminals 1 and 3, so it can feel a bit tucked away; the smoking areas are clearly marked.
After Security: Concourses E and F are smoke-free, gate areas and lounges included — the outdoor areas at the entrance are the place to smoke.
Terminal 3 (American Airlines — Concourses G, H, K, L)
Terminal 3 is American Airlines’ hub and the largest terminal by concourse count, with four concourses.
Outdoor Smoking: Outdoor designated areas are at the terminal entrance, both upper and lower levels. American’s check-in area stretches a long way, so depending on which end you exit, the distance to the smoking area may vary. The areas near the center of the terminal entrance tend to have the most receptacles.
After Security: All four concourses are smoke-free, Admirals Club lounges included. Concourse L is the farthest from the terminal entrance, so a smoke break from there means the longest walk back out and in again.
Terminal 5 (International and Delta — Concourse M)
Terminal 5 handles most international arrivals and departures, plus Delta’s full O’Hare operation since its 2022 move from Terminal 2. It sits apart from the other terminals, connected by the ATS people mover on the landside and by the airside Terminal Transfer Bus during its daytime hours.
Outdoor Smoking: Designated areas outside the Terminal 5 entrance on both levels. Since Terminal 5 is physically separate, the outdoor area here is quieter than the main terminal complex. Ash receptacles are placed near the curbside.
After Security: Concourse M is smoke-free throughout, including the international lounges and the Delta Sky Club. If you’re clearing customs after an international arrival, the outdoor areas are right there once you exit the building.
Terminal-by-Terminal Summary
| Terminal | Airlines | Concourses | Indoor Smoking | Outdoor Smoking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | United | B, C | None | Designated areas at entrance, both levels |
| Terminal 2 | United Express, other domestic carriers | E, F | None | Designated areas at entrance, both levels |
| Terminal 3 | American, oneworld partners | G, H, K, L | None | Designated areas at entrance, both levels |
| Terminal 5 | International carriers, Delta | M | None | Designated areas at entrance, both levels |
Re-Screening After Smoking
Every smoking area at O’Hare is outside security. If you leave to smoke during a layover, you’ll need to go through TSA screening again. Depending on the terminal and time of day, expect the round trip to take 30 to 60 minutes. Holiday weekends and Monday mornings are especially slow. TSA PreCheck and Clear lanes cut the wait; even so, plan for at least 30 minutes total.
Don’t attempt a smoke break unless you have at least 90 minutes before your flight boards.
Cannabis at O’Hare
The outdoor designated areas at O’Hare cover tobacco and e-cigarettes. Illinois legalized recreational cannabis, and O’Hare sits on federal property where federal law still classifies marijuana as a controlled substance, so cannabis use is banned across ORD — the outdoor smoking areas, parking garages and ride-share areas included, in every form from smoking to vaping to edibles. Airport police enforce this actively.
Summary
| Location | Smoking Allowed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 entrance (outside) | Yes, outdoor only | 15 feet from doors; both levels |
| Terminal 2 entrance (outside) | Yes, outdoor only | 15 feet from doors; both levels |
| Terminal 3 entrance (outside) | Yes, outdoor only | 15 feet from doors; both levels |
| Terminal 5 entrance (outside) | Yes, outdoor only | 15 feet from doors; both levels |
| Concourses B, C (Terminal 1) | No | Fully smoke-free past security |
| Concourses E, F (Terminal 2) | No | Fully smoke-free past security |
| Concourses G, H, K, L (Terminal 3) | No | Fully smoke-free past security |
| Concourse M (Terminal 5) | No | Fully smoke-free past security |
| Airline lounges (all terminals) | No | United Club, Admirals Club, Sky Club all smoke-free |
| Parking garages and lots | Outdoors only | Same 15-foot clearance from any entrance |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.