2021-05-17 02:39:06
AVERAGE FLIGHT TIMES TO CHICAGO What you need to know about traveling to Chicago, plus tips on how to navigate the city. GETTING HERE By plane: Getting to and from the city from O’Hare International Airport or Midway International Airport is quick, easy, and convenient. For information on both airports, go to flychicago.com. By Amtrak train: Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states. Visit amtrak.com for more details. GETTING AROUND By public transit: Groups can use public transportation to get into and around the city via Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train and bus lines, as well as the Metra rail system. CTA ‘L’ Train: There are eight ‘L’ lines serving 145 train stations all over Chicago, including the Blue Line (24 hours), Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line, Red Line (24 hours), and Yellow Line. CTA Bus: There are 129 bus routes lacing the city, with bus stops every few blocks and mounted maps within the buses. Several lines operate 24 hours a day. CTA fares start at $2.25 for buses and $2.50 for trains with a reloadable Ventra card. One-, three-, and seven-day Ventra passes are available. Single-ride Ventra ticket: $3 (includes three rides within two hours of use) or $5 (from O’Hare Airport). One-day Ventra ticket: $10 (unlimited rides for 24 hours). Visit transitchicago.com to learn more. Metra Rail: High-speed Metra trains connect outlying suburbs to downtown and are an easy way to travel into the heart of the city. Most train routes arrive at Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center, both a short walk from the Loop and many downtown hotels. Single-trip fares start at $4. Learn more at metrarail.com. By taxi: Credit cards are accepted in all cabs, and tolls are charged to the passenger. CHICABS allows passengers to electronically hail and pay for a taxi through mobile apps ARRO (ridearro.com) and Curb (gocurb.com). Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Base rate: $3.25; $2.25 for each additional mile; 20¢ for every 36 seconds of elapsed time. Passenger fee: $1 for the first additional passenger between ages 13–64; 50¢ for each additional passenger after that. Illinois Airport Departure Tax: $4, applies only to taxi fares leaving the airports. Standard tip: 15–20% of the fare, plus $1–$2 per bag if the driver helps with luggage. By rideshare: Lyft and Uber services are available throughout the greater Chicago metro area. Download the Lyft or Uber app for fare quotes and booking. By shuttle: GO Airport Express, the official shuttle provider from airports to hotels, provides shared ride services to all downtown and suburban hotels. Group rates are available at airportexpress.com. By car: Major car rental companies have facilities at O’Hare and Midway airports, including Avis, Alamo, Budget, and Enterprise. Visit specific rental company websites for details. By bike: Chicago’s Divvy bike-sharing system is an inexpensive and easy way to get around the city. Thousands of bikes are available at hundreds of stations across Chicago. Rates start at $3 for a single 30-minute ride. Or try Divvy’s e-bike, with a pedal-assist motor. Pay $3 to unlock the e-bike, plus 20¢ per minute. Learn more at divvybikes.com. By scooter: Since 2019, the City of Chicago has operated electric scooter pilot programs from summer through early winter. Scooters have been available for rent in most parts of the city, except for The 606, Lakefront Trail, and central business district. Find out how your group can rent e-scooters this year at chicago.gov. By water taxi: Seasonal water taxis are a scenic and budget-friendly way for groups to reach points of interest along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Take a ride with Shoreline Water Taxi (shorelinesightseeing.com) or Chicago Water Taxi (chicagowatertaxi.com). All rates are subject to change. To learn about public transit sanitation protocols, go to choosechicago.com/updates.
©Chicago. View All Articles.