Getting around · Chicago · United States
Getting around Chicago
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alanscottwalker, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Downtown Chicago is flat and walkable, and the CTA's eight colour-coded L lines radiate from the Loop, with the Red and Blue lines running 24 hours. Buses fill the lakefront gaps the L doesn't reach, Divvy bikes cover the Lakefront Trail, and Metra commuter trains serve the suburbs and several day trips. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- ORD, MDW
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- CTA Ventra passes
Ways to get around
Metro
The L (elevated and subway trains) reaches most visitor areas: the Blue Line links O'Hare with Wicker Park and the Loop, the Red Line runs past Wrigley Field and Chinatown, and the Brown Line gives elevated views around the Loop.
Tap a contactless bank card or phone at the turnstile, or use a Ventra card; a multi-day pass pays off if you ride several times a day.
Bus
CTA buses cover routes the L misses, such as the 146 down Michigan Avenue to the Museum Campus and the 151 north to Lincoln Park and the zoo.
Walking
The Loop, River North, Streeterville and the Riverwalk are all within a 20–30-minute walk of each other, and the lakefront path links Navy Pier to the Museum Campus.
Cycling
Divvy bike-share has docks across the city, and the 29-km Lakefront Trail runs almost the whole length of the shoreline, separated from traffic.
Boat
In the warmer months, water taxis link the river near Michigan Avenue with the Union Station area and Chinatown, and lake water taxis run between Navy Pier and the Museum Campus.
Train
Metra commuter trains leave from Union Station, Ogilvie and Millennium Station for Oak Park, Evanston and the Chicago Botanic Garden, while the South Shore Line runs from Millennium Station to the Indiana Dunes.
Ride-hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are plentiful downtown and useful late at night or for reaching areas away from the L.
Allow extra time on the expressways at rush hour; the Kennedy between O'Hare and downtown is often slow.
Tickets and passes
CTA Ventra passes
1-day, 3-day and 7-day passes give unlimited L and bus rides; buy them in the Ventra app or from machines at L stations.
Chicago CityPASS
Bundles entry to several headline attractions, such as the Shedd Aquarium and the Skydeck; it saves money only if you visit most of them.
From the airport
From O'Hare, the CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours to the Loop in about 45 minutes. From Midway, the Orange Line reaches the Loop in about 25 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing take about 30–60 minutes from O'Hare and 25–40 minutes from Midway, depending on expressway traffic.
Do you need a car?
No. The L, buses and walking cover all the main sights, and downtown hotel parking is expensive. A car only helps for Starved Rock, Galena or the outer suburbs.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Park | About 25 minutes by L or Metra | CTA Green Line to Oak Park or Harlem/Lake, or Metra from Ogilvie |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | About 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by train | South Shore Line from Millennium Station |
| Milwaukee | About 1 hour 30 minutes by train | Amtrak Hiawatha from Union Station |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | About 1 hour by train and a short walk | Metra Union Pacific North line from Ogilvie, or about 45 minutes by car |
| Starved Rock State Park | About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by car | Car |
| Galena | About 3 hours by car | Car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Chicago?
No. The L, buses and walking cover all the main sights, and downtown hotel parking is expensive. A car only helps for Starved Rock, Galena or the outer suburbs.
+How do you get from the airport to Chicago?
From O'Hare, the CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours to the Loop in about 45 minutes. From Midway, the Orange Line reaches the Loop in about 25 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing take about 30–60 minutes from O'Hare and 25–40 minutes from Midway, depending on expressway traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Chicago?
Metro: The L (elevated and subway trains) reaches most visitor areas: the Blue Line links O'Hare with Wicker Park and the Loop, the Red Line runs past Wrigley Field and Chinatown, and the Brown Line gives elevated views around the Loop.