I can answer your last question about daily rates. In city lots, a daily rate is any 24-hour period. Thus if you check in the first day at, say, 11 a.m., and leave on the third day at, say, 2 p.m., you'd pay two daily rates but whatever the addition 3 hours cost.

You can park for less at the Millennium Garage, in Grant Park, which is east of Michigan Avenue. It's about half of the PH rate. Go east on Monroe,(the Art Institute will be on your right) and turn north (left) on Columbus Drive. No reservations taken. I think they charge by the 24-hour period. It's HUGE, be sure to write down your location.

Thanks - Do you know how much the Millenium Garage charges per 24 hour period?

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Do you really need your car while you are there or could you just ditch it near a train stop and then use public transportation for your weekend?

Where are train spots to ditch it? I'll be coming in on I-94. Also, is it safe to leave a car there for the weekend? How much would it cost?

I don't know the specific areas that well, but my advice to save money would be to look at a transit map, find an upscale shopping mall to drop your car, and hitch a taxi to the closet train station which will take you downtown. I think it would be just as safe in a mall parking lot as in a large city parking garage.

The only CTA station that has long term parking rates is Cumberland. You aren't going to save a lot of money over Millenium park however you may save some time in traffic.

The rate is 10.75 a day (24hours). To get there take I-94 to 294. then briefly like 1 mile on 1-90 east. There is a 1500 spot parking garage next to the interstate that is very safe.

Can you give me directions on how to get to the Palmer House Hilton from the CTA station in Cumberland. I'm a bit uneasy about leaving my car in any parking garage, but I still don't want to pay 31 per day. I appreciate any help you can give, thanks!

From the Cumberland Blue line station you will take the train to Monroe. The Palmer House Hilton is Located at the Corner of State and Monroe which is one block east.

I think this garage is very safe although someone can refute that statement if they have experienced a problem. The area is generaly large offices and hotels.

I think it is used heavely for people flying out of O'hare. It is a lot easier to get in and out of then O'hare long term parking and is the same rate.

Where are you coming from ?? maybe we can find better soulution than droping off at cumberland?

here is the CTA park and ride info
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/park.html

chicago also has a very good commuter rail network (different than CTA) called metra
http://www.metrarail.com/
there are stops in many suburbs and some may allow long term parking (especially on weekends) Parking in these lots is very affordable (1-2 bucks a day) you will have to call the parking contact for the station to find out if they allow it

if you decide to drive there are lots of lots parking lots

this garage is very close to your hotel and should run about 15 bucks a day or so:
- Michigan Avenue at Van Buren Street
(Grant Park South Garage), 312-747-2519


here is another link with more info:
http://www.choosechicago.com/maps_1.html#parking

There are STILL more garages than this. Millenum park garage is kind of far - but on wabash (behind the hilton) there are tons of public lots

Where are you driving from ?? I could give you a better Idea of how to come into the city

If you can drop off your bags at the hotel first then park, the millenium garage wouldn't be a bad walk back. We were just there over the 4th. Parking is $15.25 for 24 hours. It's $12 (I think) for 12 hours. So, for a 3-day weekend you should be looking at $42.50.

The Hilton garage should, but you could call to confirm, only charge you for the number of hotel nights. So it would be $62 Friday through Sunday. Also, is that the valet rate, or self-park? There is a self-park garage associated with the Palmer House, about a block away (east, from the front of the hotel). In November they charged ~$25/day for self-park, but prices may have gone up since then.

I think I feel the most comfortable trying the millenium parking garage or the self-park at the Hilton. Does anyone know more about the Hilton self-park garage?

Thanks!

Amanda75 as I stated above
the garage you want to park in is
Grant Park North OR Grant Park South

They both have access from michigan ave
the Millennium park garage has access from columbus ave (this will be harder to find if you don't know the area)
They should be around the same price
Also from Millennium park grage you will walk much further.

here is a quote from the millenum parl web site:
"Parking
Underground parking is available directly beneath the park in four garages. The Grant Park North Underground garage is accessible directly from Michigan Avenue and Randolph and Madison streets. The Millennium Park Garage is accessible from Columbus Drive between Randolph and Monroe Streets. The Monroe Street Garage is also accessible from Columbus Drive between Randolph and Monroe Streets. The Grant Park South Garage is accessible from Michigan Avenue at Van Buren or Adams Streets. Direct pedestrian access is located at many points around the entire park. The underground pedway system, which connects to the CTA and Metra, has been extended from Michigan Avenue to the lower level of Randolph Street."

http://millenniumpark.org/

Grant park south is closest.North is close to. you have to drive into the middle of the park to go to the others

FYI millennium park is Part of Grant park

So to confirm what you're saying - Grant Park South is the closest garage to the Palmer House Hilton?

Any specific driving directions I should know to get to Grant Park South Parking Garage?

As far as I understand it's on Michigan Ave. and Van Buren or Adams.

when driving on michigan avenue you can see the entrances - I belive one of the garages ( not sure north or south or both ) has an entrance going down in the center lane of michigan ave

what direction will you be driving from? what highway are you coming in on?

We'll be driving in the city from the Northwest - the I-90, then the Kennedy Expressway. Probably we'll drop off our luggage and check into the hotel then bring the car over to the garage, so we'll be coming from the Palmer House Hilton.

Any directions, tips?

OK - I don't know if you know how to get the to hilton but I will giver you directions anyway

From the kennedy you should get off at Adams street
- go right to halsted
(it will seem like you are going the wrong way but you have to do it beacuse the one way streets)
- go right again on halsted,
- then another quick right onto monroe
- just drive down monroe
(back over the xpressway heading into the loop) to wabash and you should see the palmer house

to get to the garages is easy just take monroe to michigan(one block) and go right , in one block you should see the entrance to grant park south garage.there should be an entrance at adams and at van buren

Expect a ton of traffic if you are arriving between 3-6pm. they xpressway will be clogged and monroe street will be packed (it could take 20 minutes to go 10 blocks sometimes)

you will be passing the cumberland park and ride one the way in - so if you change you mind when you see the traffic you can just exit at cumberland and hop the blue line

Good luck

Let us know if you need any help with resturants or anything else