Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide - 2026
Getting around Chicago
2025-12-26 08:40:17
All fares are subject to change.
BY CAR
With its central geographic location and status as a hub for major interstates, Chicago is convenient to reach by car from every region of the country. Reserve a discounted parking spot nearly anywhere in the city through iParkit, Millennium Garages, SpotHero, or Parking.com.
BY PUBLIC TRANSIT
CTA ‘L’ Train: There are eight ‘L’ lines serving 146 stations all over town, 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 127 bus routes lacing the city, with bus stops every few blocks. Buses have mounted maps, and several lines operate 24 hours a day.
CTA fares start at $2.25 for buses and $2.50 for trains, and can be paid with a reloadable Ventra card. Single-ride Ventra ticket: $3 (includes three rides within two hours of use) or $5 (from O’Hare International Airport). One-day Ventra ticket: $5 (unlimited rides for 24 hours). Visit transitchicago.com to learn more.
Metra: Metra trains connect Chicago’s outlying suburbs to downtown.
Trains arrive at and depart from Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Millennium Station, and the LaSalle Street Station — all a short walk to many downtown hotels. The McCormick Place station stop is right at the convention center. Metra fares start at $3.75 for a single trip, with all-day and weekend passes available. Discounted group tickets are also sold. Go to metrarail.com for more information.
VIA AMTRAK
Chicago is the center of Amtrak’s national rail system. Fourteen Amtrak routes arrive and depart from Chicago’s Union Station, connecting to key Midwest cities and other locales that include Los Angeles and New York City. Learn more at amtrak.com.
BY TAXI
Credit cards are accepted in all cabs, and any tolls are charged to the passenger.
Base rate: $3.25 flag pull (base fare); $2.25 for each additional mile; 25¢ 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.
Standard tip: 15-20% of the fare, plus $1-$2 per bag if the driver helps with luggage.
CHICABS allows passengers to electronically hail a taxi and pay the fare through mobile apps. Download ARRO or Curb from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
BY BICYCLE & SCOOTER
Divvy: Chicago’s Divvy bike- and scooter-sharing system is an easy, convenient way to get around. Thousands of bikes and scooters are available at hundreds of stations across Chicago. Single classic bike rides are $1 to unlock and 18¢ per minute. Or try Divvy’s ebike, with a pedal-assist motor. Pay $1 to unlock the ebike, plus 44¢ per minute. Scooters are $1 to unlock and 44¢ per minute. Learn more at divvybikes.com.
RIDE OPTIONS
Many major car rental companies have facilities at O’Hare and Midway airports, including Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, and Budget. Visit specific rental company websites for details.
Limousine and chauffeur agencies prefer that all customers reserve cars at least 48 hours in advance, although cars can occasionally be ordered within a two-hour notice.
Chicago is also Uber and Lyft friendly.
See our current list of transportation partners.
TRAVELING THE GRID
Because of its unique grid system, Chicago boasts an easy-to-navigate downtown. Whether driving or walking, convention attendees have no trouble traversing the city.
The State/Madison intersection in the Loop marks the origin of the grid system — the 0/0 mark.
One mile = eight blocks
GETTING TO McCORMICK PLACE
No matter where your attendees are traveling from, Chicago’s public transportation system makes McCormick Place uniquely accessible and easy to navigate.
McCormick Place RTA
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) serves the Chicagoland region and provides a variety of direct routes to McCormick Place. The RTA trip planner makes it easy to use CTA, Metra, and Pace buses and trains with real-time next bus and next train travel information. Access the latest transit information and the RTA trip planner to find the best route to McCormick.
McCormick Place Metra
The Metra Electric District commuter train line, located on Level 2.5 of the Grand Concourse in McCormick Place South, provides a seven-minute direct route to and from downtown Chicago’s Millennium Station.
Metra also provides service to and from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. Find routes and schedules.
McCormick Place CTA ‘L’ train
The Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station is just a sevenminute walk from McCormick Place West. Check out Green Line routes and schedules.
McCormick Place CTA bus
The following bus routes all serve McCormick Place:
#1 Bronzeville/Union Station (during weekday morning and evening rush hours only)
#3 King Drive
#4 Cottage Grove
#21 Cermak
Taxis and rideshare
You can get to McCormick Place via taxi, as well as on-demand Uber and Lyft ridesharing, from anywhere in the city. In addition to hailing taxis, you can e-Hail and e-Pay with CHICABS-approved apps ARRO and Curb. Credit cards are accepted in all taxis.
TAKE THE ‘L’ FROM THE AIRPORTS
An inexpensive way for convention attendees to get to and from their destination.
From O’Hare International Airport: The CTA ‘L’ station (Blue Line) is accessible via O’Hare’s lower level in Terminal 2 and transports riders downtown in approximately 40 minutes.
From Midway International Airport: The CTA ‘L’ station (Orange Line) is accessible from Midway Airport’s Transportation Center, which is connected by a walkway east of the terminal and transports riders to the Loop (downtown) in approximately 35 minutes.
FUN FACT
You can easily explore many of Chicago’s neighborhoods via the ‘L’ and Metra.
Learn about the many accessible ways to get around Chicago.
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