ISSS Shuttle Service

The first shuttle will depart O’Hare International Airport at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Friday, August 14, 2026, and the last shuttle will depart at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 17, 2026.

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 & Saturday, August 16

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

Sunday, August 17 & Monday, August 18

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

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

Illini Union – 1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801

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 ride share from that stop.

Nugent Hall – 301 E Gregory Dr, Champaign, IL 61820

Presby Hall – 805 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820

ISR (Illinois Street Residence) – 1010 W Illinois St, Urbana, IL 61801

FAR/PAR (Florida Avenue/Pennsylvania Avenue Residences) – College Ct, Urbana, IL 61801

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 first-time transfer students.

The shuttle costs 48 USD per person.

All major credit and debit cards are accepted, including American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Cash 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 item, 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 ticket table and must be made by credit card. Cash payments will not be accepted.

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.

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. If you are arriving to O’Hare on a domestic flight, you will need to make your way to Terminal 5 from the other terminals. The bus will only pick up/depart from Terminal 5.

Once you arrive at the Terminal 5, you will need to pick up your shuttle ticket from university staff. Look for the table with an Illinois-branded table cover under the Welcome to Chicago sign and arrival information screens. We will be wearing brightly colored tie-dye shirts!

The buses will be provided by Peoria Charter. The buses specifically designated 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.

While ISSS cannot be held responsible for shuttles missed due to flight delays, we will do our best to get you on the next available shuttle. There may be long wait times between shuttles.

Cancellations can be made using the Shuttle Reservation Change/Cancellation. While cancellations may be made at any time, we are unable to offer refunds after 5:00 p.m. CDT on August 13, even if you miss your shuttle.

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 ISSS will be at the Terminal 5 ticket table to greet you and your family members. ISSS staff will also escort you and your family to the chartered buses departure spot from the ticket table.

We generally recommend that students choose a shuttle time that is three 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.

Before you travel, ensure you have confirmed arrival arrangements with your housing provider, particularly if arriving late at night.

For university residence halls, review arrival information on the University Housing website and refer to the list below for the best shuttle stops near specific residence halls.

If you are living in a privately owned residence or apartment, contact them directly to confirm key pickup and arrival.

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.