Chicago Lakefront Running Path
 

I've only been to/near downtown Chicago once and would like to walk the Lakefront Path on our next biz trip. I've found some info on the Path but cannot determine the best destination point to use on Mapquest, and nearby parking. Fee parking is fine. We will be coming directly from Midway Airport early afternoon. Can I pick up the trail at Navy Pier?

Thanks for your help.

You can pick up the path in a number of places. Navy Pier would work, but I would suggest parking near North Avenue Beach (lots of spaces a short distance away in the park, or near Lincoln Park Zoo). You can start at North Avenue Beach, walk south towards Oak Street Beach, past Navy Pier and down to the Planetarium/Oceanarium area. It's a great walk, taking in the best scenic areas.

For Mapquest, I'd enter in North Ave. & Lake Shore Drive as starting point, and ending point at Soldier's Field or Planetarium. Hopefully that will work.

What hotel are you staying at? It may be easier to walk or taxi from there to the beach to pick up the path rather than trying to park.

You will really enjoy your walk! My husband and I cycled it when we stayed at the Inter-Continental. We left our car at the hotel, so I'm afraid I can't help you with the parking end. However! I can tell you that the city and lake views from the path are magificent. The path gets a bit crowded in places, but we found that people were considerate, whether they were walking, cycling, roller-blading, or pushing a stroller. We started at in the vicinity of Navy Pier and carried on north to the beach. Great path!

Alicia, is there some reason why you need to rent a car? Unless you will need to drive to places outside of the city, I would recommend rethinking the rental car and taking a taxi or the el from Midway to downtown.

If you need to drive, Wagsdvm's suggestions are good, if you can't find a free space, there's a lot for about $10 right next to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Another alternative closer to downtown is parking at the Millenium Park garage at Columbus and Monroe which I think is around $10 for under 12 hours. Most other garages will have reduced rates only after business hours.

From that garage, you would want to head north on the lakefront path if you want to see Navy Pier, North Avenue beach, etc. and south if you want to see the museum campus (Field Museum, Adler, Shedd) but I wouldn't go much further south than that.

Parking at Navy Pier is expensive, look at this site for fees http://www.navypier.com/SubLink.cfm?...&Sub_ID=54

One more thing, be sure to pay attention to street signs if you park on the street, there are rush hour restrictions, restricted residential parking, etc.

Thanks for the responses. After our walk we have to head to a Naperville hotel for a meeting the next day. We only have the afternoon and evening available for an activity and we decided on the a walk along the lake. I know there is parking around Navy Pier, but that's the only area I know from my one visit. I can expense the parking so I'm not worried about the fees.

Thanks for the heads up on parking restriction signs.

Thanks for your help!
A

I would definitely, then, park at Navy Pier and expense it. It's your choice whether you want to walk south towards the museum campus, Soldier's Field and Grant Park Fountain, or north towards view of Hancock, gold coast and beaches. Both are great walks!