ISSS Chicago O'Hare Aiport to Urbana-Champaign Shuttle Service

The first shuttle will depart O’Hare at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time on Friday, August 15, 2025, and the last shuttle will depart at 4:00 PM on Monday August 18, 2025.

There will be three stops available on Friday, August 15, and Saturday, August 16. There will be five stops on Sunday, August 17, and Monday, August 18. The stops are as follows:

Friday, August 15, and Saturday, August 16

1. Illini Union
2. Illinois Street Residence Hall (ISR)
3. Presby Hall (Private Certified Housing)

Sunday, August 17, and Monday, August 18

1. Illini Union
2. Illinois Street Residence (ISR)
3. Presby Hall
4. Florida Avenue Residence (FAR)/Pennsylvania Avenue Residence (PAR) Hall
5. Nugent Hall

Yes. Only new international students who are joining the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Fall 2025 may register to use the shuttle service. This includes exchange and transfer students.

The shuttle costs 48 USD per person.

All major credit and debit cards are accepted, including American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Cash of any kind is not accepted.

Storage space on the chartered bus is limited to in-seat, an overhead carry-on compartment, and the luggage bay below the bus. Each passenger ticket includes complimentary space for two pieces of luggage, one carry-on, and one personal item per passenger. An additional 10 USD will be charged for any additional piece of luggage.

We understand that some students might have more than two large pieces of luggage, and we can accommodate a number of reservations that might require extra luggage. Please keep in mind that the luggage must still be standard size and weight for international travel.

There is a 10 USD charge for every extra piece of luggage. This fee will be charged upon arrival to the O’Hare Airport and must be made by credit card at the shuttle check-in table. No cash payments will be accepted.

If you are living in a University Residence Hall, please refer to the Shuttle Drop-Off Points list to view the various Residence Halls, and which shuttle drop-off point services each.

If you will be spending your first few nights in a hotel or other off-campus location, we would recommend to select the Illini Union drop-off point, since it will be easiest to take a taxi or rideshare from that stop.

Yes, please use the Shuttle Reservation Change/Cancellation form in order to make changes to your reservation.

All shuttles will depart from Terminal 5 at O’Hare International Airport.

Terminal 5 is the airport’s international terminal, so your flight will likely land there if you are coming from an international location.

Once you arrive at Terminal 5, you will need to check in at the University of Illinois table. Our staff will be wearing tie-dyed shirts. At the table a staff member will check your reservation and passport and give you a ticket that you will need in order to board the bus. They will also tag your luggage with a colored tape that will correspond to your drop-off point.

The buses will be provided by Peoria Charter. The buses will say “Peoria Charter” on the side and will be either red or white. The buses for the ISSS Shuttle Service will also have signs in the window indicating that they are specifically for this service.

Yes. Unlimited free Wi-Fi is available throughout all terminals at O'Hare and is offereed both before and after security. Simply select “Boingo Hotspot” or _Free_ORD _Wi-Fi from your 'Settings' or 'Network Preference' menu. Additionally, Peoria Charter buses have Wi-Fi, in-seat power outlets, and restrooms available.

ISSS cannot be held responsible for shuttles missed due to flight delays. However, if you do miss your shuttle for any reason, we will do our best to accommodate you on the next shuttle possible. Please keep in mind that there may be a long waiting time between shuttles.

Cancellations can be made using the Shuttle Reservation Change/Cancellation. Please note: While cancellations may be made at any time, we are unable to offer refunds after 5pm Central Standard Time on August 14.

Yes. Each family member’s ticket will cost $48 USD, and each reservation must be made separately through the online system. Students traveling with family members are limited to a maximum of four (4) tickets per student.

Staff from from the university's International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) team will be on hand to greet you and your family members at the airport's Terminal 5. ISSS staff will also escort you and your family to the chartered buses, located immediately outside the terminal entrance.

We generally recommend that students choose a shuttle time that is two hours after their scheduled arrival time, as this generally allows enough time to clear passport control and customs. All dates and times are listed on the registration form.

Please contact University Housing (housing@illinois.edu) for information about your housing assignment.

Please do not email the main ISSS email account! Instead, please contact the ISSS Shuttle staff directly via email at isss-shuttle-group@office365.illinois.edu.