TRAFFIC ADVISORY
For information on traffic conditions around Navy Pier and McCormick Place, please visit the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Web site at: www.ci.chi.il.us/Transportation/
Entrance to the McCormick Place campus is 23rd Street and Martin Luther King Drive. Entrance to Lakeside Center (previously the East Building) is located on 23rd Street and Lake Shore Drive.
Entrance to Navy Pier is located at 600 East Grand Avenue.
PARKING AT McCORMICK PLACE
Getting to McCormick Place is easy and convenient. There are two main parking lots on the McCormick Place campus. Both are managed by Standard Parking and are in close proximity and walking distance to our convention complex. Events in Lakeside Center and Arie Crown Theater designate Lot C as the primary parking location, while events in the North, South and West Buildings designate Lot A as the primary parking location.
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DIRECTIONS BY CAR TO McCORMICK PLACE
- From Indiana via the Skyway, take the Indiana Tollway (I-90) west to the Chicago Skyway, to the local traffic lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) west to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) north to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south, and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
- From Indiana via I-80/I-90/94, exit I-80/I-94 on the Bishop Ford Freeway and proceed to the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) west to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) north to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south, and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
- From the north, northwest or O'Hare Airport, take the Edens Expressway (I-94) east to the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) east to the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) east. Continue east on the Dan Ryan, keeping to the right, exit north on the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
- From the northwest or O'Hare Airport, take the Northwest Tollway (I-90) east to the Kennedy/Dan Ryan (I-90/94) east to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) north to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
- From the west, take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) east to the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) east. Keep to the right and exit on the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) north. Proceed to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
- From the south, take the local traffic lanes on the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) west to the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) west to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) north to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
- From the southwest or Midway Airport, take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) north to Lake Shore Drive (US 41) south and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO McCORMICK PLACE
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) manages the 3 public transit operations in northeastern Illinois: The Chicago Transit (CTA), METRA commuter rail and Pace suburban bus. For information on routes and schedules, contact the RTA via their website at www.rtachicago.org or call their Transit Information Hotline at 312-836-7000.
Bus Services: Getting to McCormick Place is possible by using the city transit system. The Chicago Transit Authority provides the following bus service and runs approximately every 15 minutes. Drop off is located at the main entrance to the South Building on Martin Luther King Drive
- From Downtown Chicago: The #3 King Drive bus runs downtown from morning to midnight daily. McCormick Place stops are at the following locations:
- South Building – King Drive and 23rd Street
- West Building – Southwest and northeast corners of Indiana Avenue and Cermak Road intersection
- From Union Station: The #129 bus runs directly to McCormick Place, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5:30 pm. Otherwise, from the corner of Canal Street and Jackson Blvd, take the #7 Jackson to Michigan Avenue, obtain a transfer to the #3 which will take you to McCormick Place.
- From the Ogilvie Transportation Center (previously Northwestern Train Station): The #129 bus runs directly to McCormick Place, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5:30 pm. Otherwise, take any bus to Michigan Avenue, obtain a transfer to the #3 King Drive which will take you to McCormick Place.
Regional Transit Authority (METRA): Located on Level 2.5 of the Grand Concourse, the METRA commuter railroad provides direct service within seven minutes to and from downtown Chicago. Service from the Randolph Station (nearby the Fairmont Hotel) to McCormick Place begins early morning, with more frequent pick-ups during rush hours. Shuttle connections can be made to the METRA system. METRA services the Midwest as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin; northwest to Fox Lake and Harvard; west to Elgin, Geneva and Aurora; southwest to Joliet and Orland Park; south to University Park; and east to South Bend, Indiana.
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PARKING AT THE PIER
Standard Parking operates on-site parking garages accommodating 1,600 cars at Navy Pier. Self-park rates (including $3.50 city & county tax):
Monday through Thursday - a flat rate of $20.00 per day*
Friday through Sunday - a flat rate of $24.00 per day*
Holidays - a flat $24 fee per day*
For your convenience, Navy Pier has installed parking pay stations at various locations throughout the Pier. Pay for parking in advance and avoid the long lines when exiting.
Visitors can also take advantage of thousands of additional parking spaces located west of Lake Shore Drive near Navy Pier. The free Navy Pier trolley provides convenient transportation to and from remote lots.
* Prices Subject to Change.
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Navy Pier is accessible via a wide variety of public transportation options and also offers on-site parking. Following is a list of options to consider when visiting Navy Pier.
BY CAR TO NAVY PIER
From the north, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) to the Grand Avenue exit.
From the northwest, take the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to the Ohio Street Exit, south on Orleans to Illinois Street and proceed east.
From the west, take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Columbus Drive, north to Illinois Street and proceed east.
From the southwest, take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41), north to Illinois Street and proceed east.
From the south, take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) east to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41), north to Illinois Street and proceed east.
From the southeast, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) north to the Illinois Street exit.
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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO NAVY PIER
Public transportation is recommended as the best way of getting to Navy Pier. It makes your visit easy and affordable.
METRA: METRA commuter rail is a convenient travel alternative. On weekends and holidays, all youngsters 12-17 ride for half fare. Plus, Family Fares allow kids 11 and under to ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. For more information, visit www.metrarail.com or call (312) 836-7000.
City Bus: The CTA provides seven bus lines with more than 200 buses serving Navy Pier daily. These are: the #29 State Street, #65 Grand Avenue, #66 Chicago Avenue and the #124 Navy Pier Express (serving METRA lines, Millennium Park /Randolph Street., Ogilvie and Union Stations). During weekday rush hours, the #2 Hyde Park Express (stops running at 9:10pm), #120 Northwestern/Wacker Express (serving the Ogilvie Transportation Center) and the #121 Union/Wacker Express (serving Union Station) run every fifteen minutes from 9 am to 12am throughout the summer and 9am to 10pm the rest of the year. All buses are equipped with bike racks and are ADA accessible. For more information, visit www.transitchicago.com or call the Transit Information Hotline at (312) 836-7000.
Navy Pier Free Trolley Service: The Illinois-Grand Corridor Transportation Management Association (TMA) offers FREE daily trolley service between Navy Pier and State Street along Grand Avenue and Illinois Street. Trolley hours are Sundays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays 10 a.m. to 12 midnight; and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. After Memorial Day, the hours increase: Sundays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 - 1 a.m. Trolleys typically run every 20 minutes and pick-up points are indicated by 'Navy Pier Trolley Stop' signs along the route.
Taxi: Navy Pier has three convenient taxi drop-off and pick-up points. Depending on what you're coming to see, you can find taxis at the front entrance (serving Dock Street and the Family Pavilion); Entrance 1 (serving the mid-section of the Pier, the west end of Festival Hall and Riva Restaurant) and Entrance 2 (close to the east end of Festival Hall and the Grand Ballroom). Taxi phones can be found at each location.
On Foot or In-Line Skates: The Pier is located just four blocks east of Michigan Avenue, Chicago's 'Magnificent Mile,' and within easy walking (or skating) distance of many of Chicago's best hotels.
Sightseeing Buses: Three sightseeing bus lines stop at Navy Pier's front entrance, including American Sightseeing and Gray Line Chicago, (312) 251-3100/3107; and Chicago Trolley Company, (312) 663-0260.
Boat: In the summer months, Shoreline Sightseeing operates 42-seat water taxis between the Pier and the nearby Shedd Aquarium. In addition, a Shoreline Shuttle water taxi service operates between Navy Pier and the Loop (near Sears Tower) via the Chicago River. Daily shuttle service operates from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the summer. For more information, call (312) 222-9328.
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