My plane arrives at O'Hare at 6:17 a.m. (America West) and I have to be at The Drake Hotel at 8:00a.m. Can I take the blue line into the loop take the red line (???) north to a station close to the Drake and do it in around an hour or so? If so what station is close to the Drake on Walton Place. Is it the red line that I should take and what station should I transfer to off the blue line from O'Hare? If anyone can help me figure all of this out it will save me a lot of grief. The web site with the rail system maps is too small to read and thus too confusing. If possible I would appreciate someone's help on this. Thanks a bunch.

By the way, If any of you regular riders know how long it takes to ride the blue line from O'Hare to inside the loop dowtown I would appreciate that info. Thanks.

Why not just take a taxi? Less stressful?/

The trip from O'Hare to the Loop takes about 45 minutes barring any delays. It's a rough, loud ride.

I'm not sure if you'd be better or worse off in a taxi. I remember taking the train and flying past motionless traffic on the interstate. But maybe you're early enough to beat the worst of it. Maybe a native knows?

Hi,

Forget the taxi from O'Hare. Best plan: Take the "El" (subway) into the Loop, get off, and take a cab up Mich. Ave from the Loop. Avoids lousy traffic inbound in morning rush hour, but gets you to the Drake door without negotiating change of train and long walk (nearest El station isn't that near).

Enjoy the city! Don't miss the architectural boat tour and the view from the Hancock Bldg.

Me again, forgot to mention timing.

You will be cutting it close without much leeway for late plane, etc., but the inbound "El" is somewhere between 35-45 minutes; taxi ride is only about 10-15 blocks, but it depends on the traffic -- could be 20 min. or even less. Chicago cabbies don't let much stop them, except Chicago buses.

I take the EL a lot to O'Hare. Take the blue line, it'll be approx. 45 minutes to the nearest stop by the Drake (not sure which stop, I usually take it out to O'Hare and then a cab back). Then hop a cab to the Drake. You should make it by 8:00 a.m. Don't risk a cab in rush hour traffic. Good Luck!!

The blue line doesn't have a stop anywhere near the Drake at all (re last post). But taking the train in from the airport really is the smartest way...traffic is not going to affect it at all. And forget that remark about the noise, please! I took this same train to work for 18 years....and can still hear perfectly fine, thank you. It's true, you'll be cutting it close...but the inbound rush hour on the expressway may well mean it would take you too long if you tried to do the whole thing by taxi.
You could get off the blue line at Clark & Lake and grab a cab there for the rest of the trip, but again...there's the chance you could have bad traffic stall you. The full train route would be: get off the blue line at Dearborn/Washington, take the stairs down, go thru the tunnel, go up that platform and take a northbound train. Get off at Chicago Avenue. You'll be at State Street. Walk east about three blocks (Michigan Avenue) and north about 4-5 quick blocks, and you'll be at the Drake. The walk will take you about 10-12 minutes. Good luck!