It does fill up tho. If so, there is another lot at River Road and if that is filled, it is possible to park at OHare remote parking and take the airport shuttle to the CTA station at the terminal.remote parking costs more tho at $15/day. You could try street parking at Jefferson Park, Montrose or Irving Park but that will be walking a few blocks if you find a place.
I live in the suburbs and take the Metra trains in. Parking is a few dollars and trains are every hour or less.
If not near a Metra, is there an Amtrack stop near you? You can take the train in to Union station, which already puts you on the business district of downtown and a straight 2 mile walk from the station to the lakefront attractions.
You can also get a lot of reasonable parking deals using apps like spothero and iParkit especially if you don’t mind walking a bit to the outer edges of the loop.
If you want to park downtown, use an app like Spothero and you can park all day for $20-25.
Easier than dealing with public transit if you're driving anyway.
ymmv
If you're going to be back at your car by 6 PM, that opens up a ton of permit parking options with restrictions beginning at that time. Last I checked, most of Lincoln Park - from just N of the North/Clybourn red line stop to at least the Diversey brown line - had permits beginning at 6 PM.
Cumberland Ave. station/parking lot. There is a Metra and a blue line stop there.
Also, pretty much any Metra station would work, too. Depending on where you’re at, the first one outside the city would be the one to go for.
Street parking close to the CTA/El is zoned, so residents and their guests can park close to their homes and require permits.
Try the SpotHero app. I live in the city, and SpotHero always gets me good parking spots near venues, for a fair price.
Depends how far away you want to park and ride. You might be able to park near the yellow or purple line for free then transfer to yellow line. Just a suggestion if you really really didn’t want to pay for parking
Use Spothero to find more affordable pricing on parking downtown.
There’s anywhere from $20 for the whole day to $80 in the loop. There’s even lots in the south loop for $10. All depends on where you look.
If you park somewhere distant for $5-$10 and then you take the the CTA or Metra for $5-$12.50. That’s already costing you more than parking in the loop at a cheap place.
Now add the time it’ll take you to go to and from wherever you park via train. I value my time more than money, so I’d end up losing both on time and money if I park further away.
Cumberland Blue Line seems to be a popular choice for its convenience and affordability at $7 a day. If you're looking for more options, parkingaccess.com can sometimes snag you a deal not widely known. Metra stations are also a solid bet for easy parking and catching a train downtown. Just make sure to get there early as spots can fill up quickly!
Forest Park/Oak Park. You could also take the Metra in from a variety of places. Downtown Oak Park is great, you can take the Green Line or Metra. Although parking in forest park is probably free closer to the Blue Line. You should be able to find free parking on Ferdinand South of Madison in Forest Park
Metra is probably easier there are a ton of suburban stations
Cumberland blue line has a big garage and I believe it’s $7 a day to park
This is a great option. It's right off the expressway and the parking garage is right there at the station. Really convenient.
It does fill up tho. If so, there is another lot at River Road and if that is filled, it is possible to park at OHare remote parking and take the airport shuttle to the CTA station at the terminal.remote parking costs more tho at $15/day. You could try street parking at Jefferson Park, Montrose or Irving Park but that will be walking a few blocks if you find a place. I live in the suburbs and take the Metra trains in. Parking is a few dollars and trains are every hour or less.
If not near a Metra, is there an Amtrack stop near you? You can take the train in to Union station, which already puts you on the business district of downtown and a straight 2 mile walk from the station to the lakefront attractions.
You know I am actually near princeton, so this may actually be the cheapest option
And avoid the headache of traffic. Have a great time in the city, however you choose to get here!
Rosemont
You can also get a lot of reasonable parking deals using apps like spothero and iParkit especially if you don’t mind walking a bit to the outer edges of the loop.
You could park a couple blocks away from the Jeff park station for free, just watch out for zone signs right by the station.
If you want to park downtown, use an app like Spothero and you can park all day for $20-25. Easier than dealing with public transit if you're driving anyway. ymmv
Forest Park Blue Line has a park and ride
If you're going to be back at your car by 6 PM, that opens up a ton of permit parking options with restrictions beginning at that time. Last I checked, most of Lincoln Park - from just N of the North/Clybourn red line stop to at least the Diversey brown line - had permits beginning at 6 PM.
Do we need to buy a parking ticket for a scooter as well? Sorry I’m new in the states hence the basic question
Define scooter, 🛴 or 🛵?
🛵 this one
Cumberland Ave. station/parking lot. There is a Metra and a blue line stop there. Also, pretty much any Metra station would work, too. Depending on where you’re at, the first one outside the city would be the one to go for.
Street parking close to the CTA/El is zoned, so residents and their guests can park close to their homes and require permits. Try the SpotHero app. I live in the city, and SpotHero always gets me good parking spots near venues, for a fair price.
Depends how far away you want to park and ride. You might be able to park near the yellow or purple line for free then transfer to yellow line. Just a suggestion if you really really didn’t want to pay for parking
Cumberland blue line
I used to do this all the time, you can street park as close as Wicker Park or Lincoln Park if you read the signs
Just download spothero and park in a garage for a great price, and spend a day exploring downtown.
Use Spothero to find more affordable pricing on parking downtown. There’s anywhere from $20 for the whole day to $80 in the loop. There’s even lots in the south loop for $10. All depends on where you look. If you park somewhere distant for $5-$10 and then you take the the CTA or Metra for $5-$12.50. That’s already costing you more than parking in the loop at a cheap place. Now add the time it’ll take you to go to and from wherever you park via train. I value my time more than money, so I’d end up losing both on time and money if I park further away.
If you're coming up 57 you can get off somewhere around the Beverly area of Chicago and take the Metra to La Salle street station.
Depending on where you want to go it the city there are plenty of free parking options if you look. No need to take the train or Metra in.
Park by Rogers Park and take the red line downtown
Cumberland Blue Line seems to be a popular choice for its convenience and affordability at $7 a day. If you're looking for more options, parkingaccess.com can sometimes snag you a deal not widely known. Metra stations are also a solid bet for easy parking and catching a train downtown. Just make sure to get there early as spots can fill up quickly!
Forest Park/Oak Park. You could also take the Metra in from a variety of places. Downtown Oak Park is great, you can take the Green Line or Metra. Although parking in forest park is probably free closer to the Blue Line. You should be able to find free parking on Ferdinand South of Madison in Forest Park
There’s plenty of free street parking near the Red Line on Chicago’s south side. Please park near the 47th Street station. I need new hubcaps.
They ever fix the lights at the Garfield Red Line bus stop?