Chicago O’Hare Named America’s 2nd Most Stressful Airport

I love to travel; I really do, but this part of the travel almost makes it seem like I don't actually like to travel.

Going to the airport is stressful for me, at least, and the stress compounds when you have to go to a busy airport.

READ MORE: What The Heck Is Going On With Plane Tires At O’Hare?

Why I Avoid Flying Out of Chicago O'Hare

That's part of why I'm a big proponent of flying out of smaller airports. I've flown out of Rockford, the Quad Cities, and even Milwaukee just to avoid Chicago O'Hare. Those three airports don't always go where I'm going, so sometimes I have to fly out of O'Hare.

I know I'm not the only one who uses O'Hare as a last resort, too, because a new study called O'Hare one of the most stressful airports in America.

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O'Hare Ranked America's Second Most Stressful Airport

Rightway Parking ranked the 44 busiest airports from most to least stressful, and O'Hare ranked second.

Right behind Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the study found that nearly 25% of flights are delayed, and delays have increased by almost 43% since 2021.

READ MORE: Two of America’s ‘Most Reliable’ Airports are in Wisconsin

Flight Delays Aren't O'Hare's Only Stress Factor

The study from Righway Parking also says it takes about 50 minutes to reach O'Hare from downtown Chicago, another factor that hurt their overall score.

For folks in the Rockford area, we get to skip that downtown trek, but the drive from Rockford to O'Hare isn't simple either, which also adds to the stress. Don't even get me started with the parking, trains, and walking you'll need to do before reaching your gate.

If you're flying out of O'Hare in Chicago, bring your patience and probably some headache medication.