Arrival
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (tel 773/686-2200,
), the national HQ for United, American and several other airlines,
is seventeen miles northwest of downtown Chicago. It is connected
to the center by 24-hour CTA (Blue Line) trains from the
station under Terminal 4, which take around forty minutes and cost
$1.50. Midway Airport , smaller than O'Hare but used by an
increasing number of domestic airlines, is eleven miles southwest
of downtown; take one of CTA's Midway (Orange Line) trains, which
take thirty minutes, or the #99M Midway Express bus (weekday rush
hours only). Taxis into town from O'Hare cost around $25-30
(there's also a shared ride program with a flat rate of $15), and
take thirty minutes to an hour. From Midway the fare is about $25
(shared rides are $10) and the journey time twenty to forty
minutes. Another option is Continental Air Transport's express
bus and van service between the airports and downtown hotels
($20 from O'Hare, $15 from Midway; tel 312/454-7799, ). The
highways are often clogged, so allow at least an hour for the trip
from either airport.
Chicago is the hub of the nationwide Amtrak rail system, and
almost every cross-country route passes through Union
Station (tel 312/558-1075) at Canal and Adam streets, west of
the Loop. Greyhound and a number of regional bus companies pull
into the large 24-hour bus station at 630 W Harrison St,
three blocks southwest.
Arriving in Chicago by road , racing towards the
gleaming glass towers of the Loop, can be memorable. Bear in mind,
though, that traffic on the expressways to and from downtown can be
bumper-to-bumper during rush hours. Parking can also be a
problem. Meters are expensive (25ยข for 15min) and usually have a
two-hour limit. Check street signs for additional restrictions,
which are rigidly enforced - violations may result in your car
being towed and impounded. Perhaps the best place to leave a car in
the downtown area is in the garage under Grant Park at Columbus
Drive and Monroe Drive ($13 for 24hr; tel 312/742-7644), close to
the east side of the Art Institute.
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