Chicago Traffic
 

I'll be in Chicago for one night (flight connection), arriving at 7:00pm, Friday.<BR><BR>How bad should be the traffic from the airport to the Navy Pier or Rush St?<BR>How long it should take?<BR><BR>We are renting a car.. <BR><BR>Thanks! <BR>Patricia

Anywhere between 30 mins and 3 hours. If there is any construction or an accident you'll develope a new form of patience. If you want a defininte arival time take the train downtown.

Weekend nights inbound on the Kennedy, the highway you would take from O'Hare (I assume you don't mean Midway?) can be especially brutal.

Pat, it should take about an hour from O'Hare after 7 p.m. Obviously, traffic could vary, but I live 15 minutes from the airport and would feel comfortable with this time frame.<BR><BR>You may want to rethink renting a car. Parking is costly in the North Michigan area - there are some good spots to park, but I guarantee the regulars will have them figured out beore you do! One not-too-expensive option is the 900 N. Michigan Garage - it's about $6-7 for the evening if you patronize one of the restaurants or shops in the building and get a parking validation. <BR><BR>Are you staying downtown or at the airport? Overnight parking will run you closer to $25 in the North Michigan area. A cab would be about $30 each way, depending on the traffic. The ease of just getting in a cab, giving your destination and settling after a day of traveling makes it extra appealing in my view.

Patg, thanks for your valuable comments..<BR><BR>So probably the best way to make it to North Michigan Area is by train.<BR>The hotel is at the airport.<BR><BR>Then we should go back to the hotel by cab...<BR><BR>Do you think this is a better plan for the night?<BR><BR>Thanks!!! :o)

I would stay downtown and take a cab to the airport in the morning. <BR><BR>

If your staying out by the airport, the Blue line has inexspensive parking at both Rosemont and Cumberland stops. 1.75 for 12 hours. At Washington transfer to the red line and go north to Chicago St. This stop will put you in the middle of the action of Michigan Ave.

If you are on a budget, then take the train from your hotel to downtown. You can either catch a $5 cab from the Lake/Clark (aka Lake Transfer) station to North Michigan Avenue, or cross under and take the Red line to State/Chicago for no extra charge, as mentioned. Walk straight east on Chicago and visit the lovely little Water Tower Park. The Red line is older and schlummier than the line from the airport. Since you are young (and adventurous?) and not alone, it won't be bad. It's a real taste of Chicago, that's for sure. Taking a cab back is the right idea. Your hotel likely has an airport shuttle.<BR><BR>Always glad to help out another Pat. BTW, you can't go ten steps in Chicago without running into a Pat, male or female.

Don't waste your one night in Chicago renting a car. In the time it takes to get the shuttle to the car rental lot (nothing at O'Hare is close together), just to get to the car and get your rental agreement will probably take an hour, and that's before you even get on the Kennedy Xway (90/94). A cab or a limo would be doable, but if traffic's bad [or there's a snowstorm], then you'll just sit there in traffic watching one CTA train after another pass you by. In the airport, go to the lower (bag claim) level. Signs saying &quot;rapid transit to city&quot; will point you in the right direction. It's the Blue line train. For the North Michigan Ave/Mag Mile area I would get off at Chicago Avenue. You will go up the stairs and you will be at the intersection of State Street and Chicago Avenue. (800N/0W). Michigan Avenue is 3 blocks to the east. Oak Street is 2 blocks north. This way you don't have to worry about finding a place to park. <BR>

To clarify -<BR>Lake/Clark is the closest Blue Line station for catching a cab to North Michigan area. But to take the subway there, go one stop further to Dearborn and Washington, where there is a subterranean passageway to the Washington/State stop. From there you travel northbound to the Chicago/State, the second stop.

Do not rent a car! Take the CTA to the Washington stop. It costs $1.50 per person and should take you 45 minutes max. Then take a cab to wherever you want to go. You could get off at Clark/Lake, but I think you can catch a cab easier if you get off at Washington. Then take a cab back to the hotel- about 25-30 dollars.