Where would I be able to watch planes land/takeoff at Chicago's Ohare airport?

Question

Is there any roads nearby? When I was young, my Dad and I used to watch them from a fence next the runway, but sine 9 11 im not sure if they would allow that or not???

Answer 1

You're not allowed pass the security screeners at O'Hare unless if you have a ticket and you definitely can't step on the airport ramp. You can try Palwaukee airport up in Wheeling, IL and see private planes take off and land. http://www.palwaukee.org/ There's also Illinois Aviation Academy http://www.illinoisaviation.com/ in West Chicago, IL. You can also drive down to Rantoul, IL (it's near Urbana-Champaign) and visit Chanute Aerospace Museum to check out some of the old military planes there. http://www.aeromuseum.org/

Answer 2

the airport should have an observation deck.  you can go into the airport even if you're not flying.  you just can't go some places inside.

Answer 3

try O'Hare's website

Answer 4

Your Dad probably took you on Irving Park Road which semi-winds around the southern edge of O'Hare......the road is still there but you are not allowed to stop anymore, lots of signs stating such......not sure exactly when this began but probably after Sept. 11th.

When planes are coming in from the South, usually when there is a wind out of the North,  you could go on I 294 on the southbound side about a half mile from the oasis near O'Hare and  pull off onto the side and watch the planes come in, they are rather low, but you wouldn't seem them acutally land.    Likewise about a half mile North of that same O'Hare oasis you can see them land as they fly probably only a couple of hundred feet above the tollway.   The planes are coming in from an Easterly direction.

Really don't advise you do the above as parked on the side of the tollway is dangerous and probably could also get you a ticket.

If you go to the Allstate Arena you can watch planes fly directly overheard......it seems like they are only 50 feet above the arena.  Again, as with all of these suggestions you will just seem them fly overhead, with the Allstate Arena having them the closest to you.  This place would also be the safest to view as you would not be parked on the side of the tollway.



The earlier writer was correct, no point in going to O'Hare as without a ticket you can't get to the concourses, and even at the boarding gate areas your view of the runways is very limited.  The same would be in effect at Midway.  Try smaller regional airports for smaller planes, or check into Rockford or Milwaukee's Mitchell Field, perhaps they let you get closer.  BUT probably every major airport no longer allows any close up viewing due to Sept. 11th type fears.