This crazy idea is just starting to form in my brain.
I'm thinking of driving to Chicago for a real cheapy getaway for a few days in the summer.
I'll be on a real tight budget, and will probably use Priceline for a hotel.
I don't usually care what hotel I get, but I'm afraid of getting one with a high parking fee.
Is there anywhere on the outskirts of the city where I could leave my car for a few days?

What about at the airport? Is there a long term parking there at a good rate? or anywhere else safe?

Thanks for any help.

You could leave your car at one of the airports, take the El into the city and then use public transportation to get around. If you do that, then is it worth it to drive rather than fly or take the train (I'm assuming you're traveling solo)? Parking downtown can be very expensive. You could also stay at the Days Inn Lincoln Park or the Willows (about two blocks from there) and park at the Century mall lot for $16 a day.

If I was waiting til the fall , it would be just as cheap to fly.. but in the summer, the fares that I've checked so far are too high , against the cost of driving.

Is Lincoln Park a good area to stay, as far as transportation?
Are there any Fairfield Suites or County Inn type places?

Andrew thanks very much for the suggestion , I'll check out Days Inn .

Any hotel in Chicago will have high parking fees. It is just what they do.

There has to be a place to leave your car and take a train in. What direction will you be coming from?

Here is the website for the train that goes to the suburbs:

http://www.metrarail.com/

By just clicking on one station I see that parking is $1.50 a day at that one. It looks to be about $5 round trip to ride one of the trains, so that would be a very attractive total price. Your whole stay would be less than half of one night parking at a hotel.

If you can swing it, it is more fun to stay right downtown. Apparently priceline works very well in Chicago. You should also check vrbo for condo rental.

As kelliebellie mentioned, the Metra trains run between the central city and the suburbs. The problem with Metra parking lots is most spaces are leased to permit holders M-F and the remaining spots fill with the other commuters by 7 or 8 am.

If you're planning on the Days Inn on Diversey, there is street parking west of the hotel on some of the side streets. If you opt for that, read signs very carefully as some areas allow only residents to park. Also be aware of Cubs evening games as parking restrictions are more stringent on those nights.

Another option is parking along Stockton which runs through the middle of Lincoln Park. It would be about a half-mile walk to the Willows or Days Inn from there.

One last word of caution on street parking is that if you're in an area with meters, they are enforced from 8 am to 9 pm everyday including holidays.

We did the same thing. Got a great rate on Priceline and parked the car at the airport. It was a LOT cheaper. We just took the train into town and used public transportation the whole time.

Best Western River North is about 5 blocks off Michgan Av downtown Chicago and has free onsite parking. So does Howard Johnsons downtown.

Maybe www.parksleepfly.com. Spend a night at the hotel near the airport, leave the car, take the hotel shuttle to the airport and the blue line from the airport into downtown.

What great ideas . Thank you everone.
I had not thought of ParkSleepFly. although I have used them in Buffalo when I go away.

I'm hesitant to use Priceline because of the parking, but if we took the car back to the airport parking, I wouldn't have to worry.

I'll check out the Best Western adn Howard Johnsons...

Thanks again.

another possible parking spot at the airport is avistar

www.avistarparking.com

They offer covered parking as well as out in the open.