Transit Around Chicago

There are many ways to move around the city of Chicago: we've provided details on a few of the common routes our attendees take, along with where to get more information for your specific needs. 

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Table of Contents

Conference Site

McCormick Place West
2301 S. Indiana Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616

Shuttle Service

Shuttles will run between McCormick Place West's covered Shuttle Center on Level 1 and the official conference hotels. Shuttle service typically begins an hour before the first scheduled clinic and ends an hour after the last event. For more details, visit our shuttle schedule page. 

 Taxis

There are over 5,800 taxis in Chicago! During the conference, many will be available at McCormick Place West’s taxi queue, located at 2301 S. Indiana Avenue.  There are several buildings within the McCormick Place Convention Center, and we recommend that those taking taxis to the conference ask their driver to take them to that address, to avoid any confusion.

 Rideshare

Chicago has robust Uber and Lyft rideshare services, which can be hailed through each service’s app. Solo, shared, and group rides are available, and McCormick Place has numerous designated rideshare pick-up locations that can be found in rideshare apps when setting your pick-up location. 

Metra Information
Attendees can take Chicago’s Metra Railroad to McCormick Place West. Located on Level 2.5 of McCormick Place South’s Grand Concourse, the McCormick Place Station is served by the Metra Electric Line. This line provides service to McCormick Place from the Chicago Loop and from the South Side neighborhoods. Please note that the station is not in McCormick Place West, the conference site.  However, Metra riders can cross the Grand Concourse to McCormick Place West without going outside. 

Public Transit

The easiest way to reach McCormick Place West on the CTA is via the Green Line “L”. From downtown, take the Green Line south–the trains will say they are going to either Cottage Grove or Ashland/63rd; both lines will take you to McCormick Place. Ride to the Cermak-McCormick Place stop, then walk 3 blocks east on E. Cermak Road (if you’re not sure which way to turn, most CTA stations feature a compass rose on the ground near their exit doors or just outside the station). McCormick Place West is on the south side of Cermak Road, just east of Indiana Avenue.

Attendees can also take the Chicago Transit Authority’s #3 King Drive bus directly to McCormick Place West. This bus begins its route downtown on Michigan Avenue at Chicago Avenue, and continues south on Michigan Avenue to Cermak Road, stopping frequently. Board on the west side of Michigan Avenue, and disembark at the McCormick Place stop. CTA buses typically announce the next stop over a loudspeaker and have a digital display listing the upcoming stops. To request a stop, pull the cord running along the top of the bus windows, or press a red stop button, located on yellow poles around the bus. To exit, press the strip along the center of bus doors once the bus has stopped (if exiting from the back), or wait for the driver to open the bus door (if exiting from the front). 

Attendees can also take the CTA “L” Red Line (trains will say “to 95th”) south to the Cermak/Chinatown stop, and then take the #21 bus east or walk about one-half mile east on Cermak Avenue to McCormick Place West.

Payment on the CTA is accepted in several ways. For those needing only a few rides, the simplest way to pay is to tap a touch-to-pay credit card to the card reader terminals located at “L” station turnstiles or the front of buses. Bus rides are $2.25 and “L” rides are $2.50; if you transfer between buses and trains on your journey, the first transfer is $0.25, those after are free–note that you will need to use the same card to receive the transfer cost.

For those traveling more extensively, the CTA offers 1, 3, 5, and 7-day transit cards that allow unlimited use within the chosen time period through its “Ventra” system. These can be purchased at “L” station Ventra kiosks for cash or credit, and will give you a physical transit card to tap. You can also download the Ventra app to your phone to load credit to your Ventra account, and then use your phone to tap-to-pay at train stations and on buses. The Ventra app can also be used to load credit onto your Ventra card once purchased (you will need to create a Ventra account through their app and link your card, which generally takes about 10 minutes). 

• Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t take up more than one seat, know if someone is behind you, or trying to move around you. If approached by a panhandler, a polite “no, thank you” or “sorry, I don’t have any cash” will generally end the interaction. 
• Be ready to go: have your card or phone out to pay when boarding buses or approaching turnstiles. If you’re not ready, step out of the flow of traffic. 
• Rush hour on the CTA is 7-9am and 4-6pm. During this time, trains and buses run at their most frequent, and are also their most crowded–you may need to wait for the next one if you cannot fit. 
• Bikes: CTA buses have a bike rack on the front, which can fit up to 2 bikes. The rack folds down and features a pull-up wheel lock that goes over the front wheel of the bike. The CTA recommends removing any bags, helmets, and water bottles from the bike before locking it to the rack, as they can be lost in transit. Bikes are allowed on CTA trains (limit 2 per car), except during rush hour, which is 7-9am and 4-6pm every day. 
• Most CTA “L” stations have two exits–north and south, or east and west, depending on their direction of travel. Some also connect to other lines–when looking at the route map, these have the color bars of each line that stops at the station. You can generally transfer for free between rail stations, except for Red-Blue line stations downtown.
• When going up and down escalators, those wanting to ride/stand should stay to the right; those walking up should stay to the left. This includes your luggage–please don’t block the flow of traffic!
  If you’re standing on a CTA railcar or bus, please hold on! Chicago traffic can be unpredictable, and unexpected stops can take down the entire aisle. This includes securing any baggage that could go flying. 
• CTA buses have a special section at the front for wheelchairs, strollers, those with mobility concerns or aids, and the elderly, identifiable by signage and seats that can be lifted up. If these seats are available, you may sit there. But, if someone with a wheelchair or stroller boards, please move to the back to allow them to use the priority seating. 
• CTA buses all have ramps to allow wheelchair access. The driver will generally lower them automatically, but you can request the ramp be lowered if you need it. The bus itself also can be lowered to decrease the 18-inch rise into the bus; simply ask the driver to lower the bus (and hold on!).

Maps and schedules for the bus and the El can be found on the Chicago Transit Authority website.  You can also reach the Chicago Transit Authority by calling (888) YOUR-CTA.

 Cars

McCormick Place has two main parking lots, and Lot A is highly recommended for McCormick Place West. To get to Lot A from N. Lake Shore Drive, exit at 31st Street and turn right (west). Make another right turn on Martin L. King Drive, turn left on 24th Place, and follow the signs to Lot A. The parking fee is $19 for up to 16 hours and $30 for 16-24 hours. For more information about driving, please visit the McCormickPlace website.

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Accessible Transit

The Midwest Clinic will be accessible to all. If your mobility is limited and you plan to use the conference shuttles, please contact as soon as possible so we can make sure your needs are accommodated.  Accessible parking is available in Lot A, and Traffic Aides can assist people exiting taxis.

 Airport Transit

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport can be reached by public transit, taxi, car, and independent shuttle. See GO Airport Express.

O’HARE AIRPORT: get detailed directions here.
Taxis are available outside of baggage claim at designated taxis stands at all terminals. All taxis must accept credit cards, and can take you to any hotel in the city. There is a base fare of $3.25 (called a “flag” or “pull” fare) for the first rider, $1.00 for the second passenger, and $0.50 for each passenger thereafter (most taxis can fit 4 passengers total). Taxes cost $2.25 per mile plus $0.20 for each 36 seconds of the ride. There is a $4.00 fee for airport pick-up, and it costs $0.50 to pay by credit card. Your total cost will be available on the meter, usually visible at the front of the cab. Tips are appreciated and expected by drivers, particularly if they help with your luggage.

Rideshare pickups are outside Terminal 2 only and must be reserved through the Uber or Lyft app. Note that rideshares from the airport are often more expensive than taxis into the city due to required fees for airport pick-ups. 

The CTA has an O’Hare station that serves as the northern end of the Blue Line: follow the TRANSIT TO CITY/CTA signs from your terminal to the station–note this can be a very long walk of 20 minutes or more depending on what terminal you fly into, and will include multiple escalators/elevators/stairs. You can purchase a transit card or pay with your tap/chip credit card at the station; rides from O’Hare are $5.00/person. If you are traveling with large luggage, a CTA station attendant can open a gate to allow your luggage through–look for them in the small office kiosk at the station.

You will see two trains on either side of the track; get on the train that has the DEPARTING NEXT sign lit (any car that is open will do). If heading to McCormick Place, ride the Blue Line south to the Clark and Lake stop, downtown in the Loop. At Clark/Lake, take the stairs, escalator, or elevator up two levels (above the street) to the elevated outdoor portion of the station, on the south side of the street (if you’re on the wrong side, just look for stairs on the platform that go over the tracks to the other side–no need to leave the station!). Board a Green Line train south (heading to either Ashland/63 or Cottage Grove), and depart the train at the Cermak-McCormick Place stop, walking three blocks east to McCormick Place West.  

MIDWAY AIRPORT: Get detailed directions here. 
Taxis to the city at Midway Airport can be found outside Door 2. See pricing info in the O’Hare section above. 

Rideshare pick-ups have three zones: Blue Zones A & B, outside Doors 2 & 3; Orange Zones C & D, outside Doors 3 & 4, and Green Zones E & F, outside Door 4. Head to the center lane for pick-up for all three zones. 

The CTA has an Orange Line stop at Midway Airport. Follow the TRANSIT TO CITY/CTA signs from your terminal to the station–note this can be a long walk depending on your arrival gate, but it is all indoors. You can purchase a transit card or pay with your tap-enabled credit card at the station; rides from Midway are $5.00/person. If you are traveling with large luggage, a CTA station attendant can open a gate to allow your luggage through–look for them in the small office kiosk at the station.

You will see two trains on either side of the track; get on the train that has the DEPARTING NEXT sign lit (any car that is open will do). If heading to McCormick Place, ride the Orange Line north to Roosevelt stop, where you will transfer to the Green Line. Get on a Green Line train heading south to either Cottage Grove or Ashland/63rd and ride one stop to Cermak-McCormick Place. Walk three blocks east to McCormick Place West. 

 Driving Directions

For driving directions to McCormick Place West, enter your address below. Directions are provided by Google. 

McCormick Place has two main parking lots, and Lot A is highly recommended for McCormick Place West. To get to Lot A from N. Lake Shore Drive, exit at 31st Street and turn right (west). Make another right turn on Martin L. King Drive, turn left on 24th Place, and follow the signs to Lot A. The parking fee is $25 for up to 16 hours and $38 for 16-24 hours. For more information about driving, please visit the McCormick Place website.