I've been to Chicago a few times, but this trip we're not staying downtown and have a different agenda than usual. We are staying in Oakbrook, and want to spend the day in the magnificent mile area. However, in the evening we need to get to the United Center for the U2 concert ( : (can't wait!!!) and then back to the hotel in Oakbrook. We are driving to the hotel, but wanted to avoid driving/parking downtown especially, and at United Center.

Is there an easy way to get around? Park and ride? Train? Bus? Should we go back to the hotel before the concert and drive to United Center?

Please help me figure this out! Thanks so much!

I'm not sure you want to do this, but here it goes:

MetraRail has a train from Union Station in downtown Chicago that leaves at 12:40am. I'm assuming that's the one you want and it's also the last one for the night. It will get you to Hinsdale station at 1:15am. From there you can either arrange a taxi or maybe the hotel will still have a shuttle available.

I'm sure CTA will have busses running from United Center to the station after the show or again you could just grab a cab.

Remember that United Center's location is not the safest in the world. You will need to "disappear" from the area with everybody else. Union Station is well lit and patrolled so no problems there and once you are on the train you will be fine. Hinsdale station is safe, but I'm just not sure if taxis will be waiting around at that time so make sure you take your mobile and few phone numbers with you just in case.

Also, check with your hotel as to which station is the closest to it, Hinsdale, Westmont or Downers Grove.

Here is some more info:

http://metrarail.com/Sched/PDF/bnsf.pdf

the drive from Oak Brook to the UC is a piece of cake. As long as you are there for an event and park in one of the event lots, there should be no safety problems.

If you happen to wander in your car 6 blocks away or so, just say no thanks to the crack dealers...all will be fine.

I would go back to the hotel after mag mile and drive to the UC or I would just drive the whole thing.

I do not live too far from the United Center and the area has cleaned up a lot in recent years.

I would drive to the United Center and park there in one of the designated lots. It will be fine. I think that's the easiest way to go about it.

Definitely drive to the UC as stated before me and park there. Give yourselves some time to park, there will be lines.

Welcome to Chicago. As stated, the Oakbrook/UC run isn't that bad with a car. But the three sided trip!!!

Welcome to Chicagoland, where even when I lived in the city, I have always needed to own a car.

What day of the week is the concert, Metra has less service on the weekends.

One option would be to take Metra from Hinsdale to Union Station, you can take CTA buses, trains to get around Chicago from there. Bus #19 provides service between downtown and the UC.

Another option , would be to drive to the Forest Park CTA station, just off I-290. This would have more frequent service, although coming back make sure the Train Reads Forest Park as there are two legs to the Blue Line.

I would probably take the #19 bus back to downtown to catch the blue line back to Forest park late at night. The area around the United Center is not one you would want to be walking to the blue line from.

Like I said, welcome to Chicago.

Kind of like myself in Chicago taking a flight to NYC to get to Miami.

Anything on the S or SW sides is not easily accessed as some Chicagoans would like to think it is. When I was young- it would take me three different buses plus a el to get downtown. At least they have the orange line now.