Spotting Locations - KORD

Along the west side of this lot works well, there are some power lines in the lot to the south but most aircraft are high enough to avoid them.

Scott St, good for 28 approaches. Use a 50-200mm lens here.

Suggested by a.net user 727LOVER. I have not been here, but I will have to try it.

Have not tried this spot, but may be a good place for 22R and 27R.

On Beeline Drive. You can go down to Thomas and there is an open field for seeing the heavies turn to the North.

This is a good place for Runway 10 arrivals, with a 200-300mm lens they frame very well. It's a bit distant though for RJs and smaller aircraft.

End of Wolf Rd at O'Hare Express. Good for arrivals at rwy 27R , especially summer afternoons. 80-300mm are good. Also good spot for departures from 32R and 14L but with minimum 100mm. (Problem is you are shooting the shadow side of the airplane, so the pics are backlit).

Nice place to see or catch low flying aircrafts. 20-200mm will be good. Arrival on rwy 14R and rwy 32L departures with head-on view. Industrial building parking lot just at railroad.

At the end of Mt Prospect road at truck turning circle just at airport's security gates.
Good place with 50-200 mm. For departures from 32R and arrivals on 14L . Can be asked by airport security.

At Franklin Av. Good spot with 80-200mm lens. Arrivals at 4R especially afternoons.

Bridge over railroad near Rosemont Metra station. Good for arrivals on 22L with 50-200mm. Also good place for morning departures but with 300-400mm. Morning departures from 14L and arrival on 27L with 100-300mm.

Slightly risky, it's the parking lot for a freight forwarding company. The departures off of 22L are usually airborne about 1000 feet past this spot. Some lighter airplanes and CRJs make it off by this point sometimes. A short hike through some grass and weeds will put you up at the fence, but composition is limited.

Sample - 4R arrival

You would think this is a good place, publicly accessible, close to the runways. But a 15' fence separates the lot from airside. Need a tall vehicle to see anything unobscured.

End of Old Higgins Rd at truck turnaround circle. Good place for 32R departures and 14L afternoon arrivals. Best with 100-400 mm.

Top level of USPS parking building. Good for afternoons departures from 22L and 04R arrivals. Need long lens 200-400 mm.

West side hills. Pretty nice view of runway 10 arrivalls. View of whole airport with terminals in the background. Access only by foot through railroad near approaching lights. 80-400mm is good. Be aware of security and police. Also good for rwy 28 departures.

Very nice place for shots from higher point. Good for touch downs on rwy 28 , arrivals on 22L with tower in background , taxiing cargo aicrafts from south cargo terminal to departure from 28 at mornings ,taxiing and departing aircrafts fromrunway 22L..
Located on interstate I-294 southbound direction just below glidepath on emergency line. Two hours limit with risk of State police supervision (you can always add some washer fluid when police arrive ;) and leave the spot). 100-400mm is very good.

O'Hare terminal 5 parking lot. Good location for runway 14L departures but not cheap. 1st hour $2 , two hours $6. Mostly european departures with southwind pattern. Security can ask but cannot kick out. 80-200mm will be ok.

At York Rd at orange fenced parking lot. Good for rwy 14R arrivals and 32L departures at mornings. 50-300mm will work good.

Same place as nearest one. Good for rwy 4L arrivals and rwy 22L departures. Until 2pm with good lighting. Best with 80-200mm.

Good spot for rwy 27L arrivals. Bad thing is place located near US Customs building so little bit risky. 80-200mm is ok.

Aviation World store parking lot. Good place for summer afternoons. Nobody can bother , you can seat , listen to ATC (external speaker from the store) and take shots. Will work with 100-300mm for rwy 10 arrivals and 28 departures.

Good Location for RW10, ONLY! during weekends while around by companies are closed.

This is Economy parking E, a good place for arrivals at RW27L. Been there 2 time, and never been asked by security, as long as you pay-you can stay on the parking. Price: 2$ per hour.

Turnaround circle at the end of Irving Pk Drive. Good spot for approaching on rwy 4R (after 2pm) and departures from 22L. Better that top of USPS parking lot.

At the industrial parking lot just at York Rd . Good location for rwy 10 arrivals.

Small parking lot at Devon and York. Good spot for rwy 32L departures.

Parking lot hidden between buildings. Good choice for side shots of aircrafts arriving on 14R. Only part of glidepath visible but enough time to take a shot.

Turn into limo and taxi staging area and continue all the way to the fence. There should be a small gap in the fence. People in this area are friendly, but composition is...severely limited and I would not recommend staying here long.

Sample - 32R threshold with departure behind.

A short hike from the Metra station, you can get some awesome approach shots. 80-200mm is plenty, but I would not recommend staying here long. Have a plane in sight, shoot it, and move back out.

Bench on grass yard near Cargolux/Jetblue building. Located on small hill and when you climb on the bench runway is clearly visible. Good place to take shots on 4R arrivals. Can catch aircrafts on touchdown. Nice place to take shots during 22L departures just after lift-off. Needs 100-300mm lens.

Sitting on the grass enjoy nice view of arriving aircrafts on 22R. Also can take some pictures at departures from 4L.

Same as nearest point above , but located on Allstate arena parking lot (not good during arena events)

Most known location of spotting places arround ORD. Calling USG parking lot or O'hare aerospace center. Good for arrivals on 28 (and for 32R arrival of Air Force One if you go down the street towards Lawrence). Also good for departures from 10. During winter time plow trucks making a pile of snow - you can get good pictures of taxiing aircraft to rwy 22L departure.

Good location of 32R arrivals - bus stop at Mannheim. Rare pattern but Air Force One usually using this for arrival. Car can be left on Scott St.

Good but little bit dangerous location near new FedEx facility. Good to get close-ups of FDX freighters. Also departures from 28 and landings on 10 visible in the distance.. To get ramp shot (over fence) 17mm to 80mm will be good. To get 10-28 traffic need at least 100mm.

Good location to watch only aircrafts and O'Hare ground traffic. High fence doesn't allow to take good photos. Location between cargo facilities makes this location more attended by security.

Top level of short term parking lot with good view of north cargo ramp and Signature Fligh Support ramp (all charters and bizjets). Also best view of military apron when Air Force One is in town or other goverment aircrafts (including from other countries). Require min 200mm.

Various areas for spotting and photographing aircraft at O'Hare.