Rockford to O'Hare After Landline: Van Galder Bus, Parking, Drive Time, and When RFD Beats ORD

By Bonnie Nofsinger · October 17, 2026 · Rockford Local · 13 min read

Since American Airlines' Landline motorcoach made its last run on October 4, 2026, there's no longer a way to check in and clear security at RFD for an O'Hare flight. The easiest way to O'Hare without driving is now the Coach USA Van Galder bus from its terminal at 7559 Walton St. in Rockford. Van Galder runs 19 trips a day from Rockford to O'Hare, and the online one-way fare is $28.20 plus fees. Driving takes roughly 75 to 90 minutes on I-90, and a week in O'Hare's cheapest economy lot costs about $112. And for some trips, the best route to O'Hare is not going there at all.

What happened to Landline in Rockford?

American Airlines ended its Landline bus service between Rockford (RFD) and O'Hare on October 4, 2026, less than a year after it launched on October 20, 2025. No replacement has been announced. Rock River Current and Rockford News First both reported it.

Landline was different from a regular bus. You checked your bags and went through TSA at RFD, then rode a coach that dropped you airside at O'Hare, past security. That's the part that's gone.

Want help with this trip? See my family vacation planning service — free, same price as booking direct.

American didn't give a detailed reason. It said only that it "routinely evaluates its regional network" (AirlineGeeks). It is also replacing South Bend's Landline coach with scheduled flights, which ends Landline at O'Hare altogether. Landline continues at Philadelphia. RFD director Zack Oakley said the service "was starting to perform pretty well." He also said there were hurdles at the beginning in getting people to understand what the service was.

About 1,100 people had Landline trips booked after October 4. American is contacting them about refunds or other arrangements under its schedule-change policy. If you booked through a travel agent or an online site, contact them as well. Your reservation may have an RFD segment that needs to be fixed.

If you had a Landline booking: keep a screenshot of your original itinerary and the cancellation notice. You'll need it for the Van Galder offer below.

How do I get from Rockford to O'Hare by bus now?

Take the Coach USA Van Galder bus from the Van Galder Terminal at 7559 Walton St. in Rockford. The terminal is just off Bell School Road, one block south of East State Street. The bus drops you on the upper (departures) level of O'Hare Terminal 1, 2, 3 or 5 (Coach USA stop information).

Here's what to know:

• How often it runs: Van Galder added four daily trips on August 18, 2026, for a total of 19 a day between Rockford and O'Hare (Rock River Current). On the current schedule (effective Aug 18, 2026), the first bus leaves Rockford at 2:20 a.m. and the last at 8:20 p.m., about once an hour. The scheduled ride is 1 hour 10 minutes to Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and 1 hour 25 minutes to Terminal 5.
• Other Stateline stop: South Beloit, at the FasMart/McDonald's travel plaza, 15766 Manchester Rd. near I-39/90 Exit 1. Parking there is $3/day with a permit from the attendant. Janesville and Madison have stops too.
• Where to get off: Tell the driver your terminal when you board, and your bags will be loaded so they come off at that stop.
• Coming home: Van Galder no longer picks up at the terminals. Ride the free Airport Transit System (ATS) train to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF), 10255 W. Zemke Blvd., and board at bus bays 5, 6 or 7 (Coach USA airport information). Buses leave O'Hare from about 6:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. and are scheduled to reach Rockford about 70 minutes later.
• When to arrive: Coach USA says to arrive 15 to 25 minutes before departure, because buses can run a few minutes early or late.
• Terminal hours: The Rockford terminal is staffed from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is open at every scheduled bus time.

How much is the Van Galder bus from Rockford to O'Hare?

The Rockford–O'Hare fare is $28.20 one way or $50.45 round trip when you buy online, and $35 one way at the window. Online fares have a fuel surcharge and service fees added on top (Coach USA fares, base fares effective Jan. 8, 2025).

Buy at govangalder.com (it redirects to Coach USA), through the Coach USA app, or at the terminal. The fare page doesn't list children's, senior or military fares, so if you're traveling with kids, call Coach USA at (800) 747-0994 before you buy.

Parking at the Rockford terminal costs $3/day for days 1 through 5, then $5/day from day 6. The first hour is free. You pay after you park by scanning the QR code or texting "7559" to 25023. You can't prepay. A seven-day trip comes to about $25 in parking.

Is the free Van Galder ticket for Landline customers still available?

It was announced for trips in this window. Coach USA Van Galder said it would give free tickets to American Airlines customers whose Rockford–O'Hare Landline trips were canceled, for travel between October 1 and November 20, 2026 (Rock River Current).

To claim it, email questions@coachusa.com with proof that your Landline trip was canceled. Your American cancellation email or revised itinerary should work. Do it well ahead of your travel date, not the night before. The offer isn't posted on Coach USA's own site, so ask in that email whether it's still being honored, and whether it covers a return trip that falls after November 20.

How long is the drive from Rockford to O'Hare, and what does parking cost?

Driving from Rockford to O'Hare takes about 75 to 90 minutes on I-90 when traffic is light (the Van Galder bus is scheduled at 70 minutes to Terminals 1–3). During weekday rush hours, or when there's construction near the airport, plan on two hours or more. Parking for a week costs anywhere from about $112 in an economy lot to about $300 in the terminal garage.

Tolls: The whole drive is on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). An I-PASS or E-ZPass gets you the lowest rate. Without one, you pay online through the Illinois Tollway's Pay By Plate afterward at the higher rate, and you need to do it promptly to avoid fines. Toll rates change, so check the Tollway's site for the current total before you go.

O'Hare parking (official rates, taxes included) from FlyChicago:

Rates are from the economy lot and Main Garage pages. The ATS and the lot shuttles run every 5 to 10 minutes, 24 hours a day. From the economy lots it's a shuttle, then a train, then the walk inside, so build in extra time before you need to be at security.

Reserved parking: For a $10/day reservation fee on top of the parking rate, you can reserve a covered space in the Main Garage, the Terminal 5 garage or Lot F. It's worth it on holiday weekends, when lots fill up.

Off-airport parking: Private lots in Des Plaines, Rosemont and Schiller Park run their own shuttles, and some let you prepay. Compare their total against the $16/day economy lots, and before you book, check the shuttle frequency and late-night hours.

Ride-share and car services: A one-way Uber or Lyft from Rockford to O'Hare is a long, expensive ride, and surge pricing at 4 a.m. makes it hard to predict, so check the app's quote before you count on it. Private car services cost more but are scheduled ahead and can bring car seats. It's usually hard to get a ride-share back to Rockford from O'Hare on short notice, so book your return ride ahead or take the bus home.

Bus or car: which is cheaper for my trip?

For one or two travelers, the Van Galder bus is almost always cheaper. For a family of four on a week-long trip, driving and parking in an economy lot usually costs less than four bus tickets.

Here's a rough seven-night comparison:

Bus fares are before fuel surcharges and service fees, and assume adult fares for everyone. Tolls and gas are not itemized. Check current numbers.

Money isn't the only factor. With the bus, nobody has to drive I-90 at 4 a.m. or after a red-eye. With the car, you choose when to leave, you can stop whenever you need to, and you don't have to haul a car seat through the terminal. I'd pick based on your departure time and your family, not just the price.

Can I take Metra or the train from Rockford to O'Hare?

Not easily. Rockford has no Metra or Amtrak service right now. The closest Metra stations are in Elgin and Harvard, and neither line runs to O'Hare. Getting to O'Hare that way means going into downtown Chicago and taking the CTA Blue Line back out, which can take three hours or more.

Passenger rail between Rockford and Chicago is in the works. IDOT says service is anticipated to begin by the end of 2027, with stops planned in Belvidere and Elgin, and it said in summer 2026 that the timeline hadn't changed (Streetsblog Chicago). The line runs to downtown Chicago, not O'Hare, so for now it doesn't help you catch a flight.

When does flying from RFD beat O'Hare?

If RFD flies nonstop to where you're going, it almost always wins. You avoid the drive, parking costs as little as $8/day booked ahead (RFD parking), security lines are short, and from landing to your car takes minutes, not hours.

Allegiant from RFD flies to Orlando/Sanford, Punta Gorda, St. Pete–Clearwater, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale (the newest, started Feb. 12, 2026), Las Vegas, Phoenix-Mesa and Nashville (RFD destinations). Some of these routes are seasonal.

Winter charters through Apple Vacations for 2027 (Rockford News First):

Huatulco is not on the 2027 schedule. You can book these as air-only or as a package with a resort. My full guide to direct flights from Rockford (RFD) explains how the charters work, and I have a separate guide on the Liberia, Costa Rica charter from Rockford.

O'Hare is still the right choice for Europe (see flights from Rockford to Europe), Hawaii, Alaska, most cruise ports, summer international trips, and anything that depends on United or American miles. With Landline gone, these are also the trips where your plan for getting to O'Hare matters most.

What about flying out of Milwaukee (MKE) instead?

Milwaukee is a good option if you live in Beloit, Janesville or the northern part of the Stateline, or if MKE has a better fare or a nonstop that RFD doesn't. From Beloit, MKE can be about as far as O'Hare, with less traffic and a smaller airport.

My rule of thumb: if MKE has a nonstop and O'Hare would mean a connection, look at MKE seriously. Van Galder doesn't serve MKE, so you'll be driving and parking there; check MKE's current parking rates when you compare. I compare RFD, ORD and MKE for Stateline clients regularly. My Stateline travel planning guide has more on Beloit and South Beloit logistics.

Tips for families and autistic travelers

For many autistic kids and adults, a predictable trip to the airport matters as much as the flight. The bus runs on a fixed schedule and follows the same route every time. The car lets you control the noise, temperature and stops. Neither is better in general. It depends on which your traveler finds easier.

When the bus may work better: - Your child does well with a set routine and a clear "the bus leaves at 6:20" plan. - Nobody wants a parent driving tired after a long return flight. - You can show them photos of the Walton St. terminal and the coach ahead of time. A short social story about "bus, then airport" can help a lot. - Bring noise-canceling headphones, a tablet with downloaded shows, and snacks they know. Coach USA describes the coaches as having USB charging ports and seat belts; it doesn't list Wi-Fi or restrooms, so plan a bathroom stop at the terminal before you board.

When the car may work better: - Your traveler needs to be able to stop, or gets upset by strangers or announcements. - You're bringing car seats, a wheelchair, a stroller and a lot of luggage. - The bus that fits your flight would mean a middle-of-the-night departure from Rockford.

At O'Hare, either way: - Call TSA Cares at (855) 787-2227 at least 72 hours before you fly to request a Passenger Support Specialist at the checkpoint (TSA). - Ask your airline to add the DPNA code to your reservation. - Build in extra time. The ATS train and the walk to your gate are a lot of noise and crowd before you've even reached security. - The Arc of Illinois holds a free "Wings for All" airport rehearsal at O'Hare. The 2026 event was May 2 (UIC DSCC), so watch for the spring 2027 date.

I wrote more about how my family travels in Traveling with two kids on the spectrum.

How I help

When I plan a trip, I don't just book the flight. I work out how you'll get from your driveway to the gate. For every client in Rockford, Belvidere, Freeport, DeKalb or the Beloit area, I compare RFD, O'Hare and sometimes Milwaukee. That covers your actual travel dates, the bus times that match your flight, parking costs, and what departure time your family can realistically handle.

As an IBCCES Certified Autism Travel Professional and a mom of two autistic kids, I also plan the parts other people skip: the TSA Cares call, the DPNA code, and a social story for the bus ride. If an RFD charter or an Allegiant nonstop gets you where you're going without O'Hare, I'll tell you. My planning is free to you, because suppliers pay me. See how I plan family vacations and autism-friendly travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is Landline still running from Rockford to O'Hare?

No. American Airlines ended Landline's Rockford–O'Hare service on October 4, 2026, and no replacement has been announced.

Where does the Van Galder bus leave from in Rockford?

The Van Galder Terminal at 7559 Walton St., off Bell School Road, one block south of East State Street. Parking costs $3/day for the first five days and $5/day after that.

How much is the bus from Rockford to O'Hare?

Online, it's $28.20 one way or $50.45 round trip, plus a fuel surcharge and service fees. Walk-up one-way tickets are $35.

Where do I catch the Van Galder bus home from O'Hare?

At the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF), bus bays 5, 6 or 7. Take the free ATS train from any terminal to get there. The bus no longer picks up at the terminals.

Can I still check bags at RFD for an O'Hare flight?

No. That ended with Landline. You check bags and go through security at O'Hare. Allegiant and charter passengers flying out of RFD still check in at RFD as usual.

Is it cheaper to drive or take the bus to O'Hare?

For one or two people, the bus is usually cheaper. For a family of four on a week-long trip, driving and parking in O'Hare's $16/day economy lots is often cheaper.

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Not sure whether your next trip should start at RFD, O'Hare or Milwaukee? Call or text me at (815) 904-9755, or use the contact form at magicbeantravel.com. Tell me where you're going and who's coming, and I'll work out the easiest way to get there.

Sources

• Rock River Current: American Airlines to end motorcoach service in Rockford (Aug. 6, 2026)
• Rockford News First: American Airlines to end Landline service between Rockford airport and O'Hare (July 31, 2026)
• AirlineGeeks: American to end Landline service at O'Hare (Aug. 4, 2026)
• Coach USA Van Galder: airport transportation
• Coach USA Van Galder: fares
• Coach USA Van Galder: stop information
• Coach USA Van Galder: O'Hare airport information
• Van Galder schedule PDF, effective Aug. 18, 2026
• FlyChicago: O'Hare parking overview
• FlyChicago: economy parking rates
• FlyChicago: Main Garage daily rates
• FlyChicago: reserved parking
• Illinois Tollway
• Chicago to Rockford Passenger Rail (IDOT)
• Streetsblog Chicago: IDOT says Metra's Rockford extension is still on schedule for a late 2027 debut (Aug. 11, 2026)
• Chicago Rockford International Airport: parking
• Chicago Rockford International Airport: destinations
• Rockford News First: RFD adds international vacation destinations for 2027 (May 21, 2026)
• TSA: Passenger support and TSA Cares
• UIC DSCC: Wings for All 2026 at O'Hare

Bonnie Nofsinger is a Rockford, Illinois travel advisor, IBCCES Certified Autism Travel Professional, and mom of two kids on the spectrum. She plans Disney, cruise, Europe, and all-inclusive trips for families across Northern Illinois.