Welcome to Chicago!
A UChicago Student-Created Guide for Navigating the City for Parents & VisitorsBefore you arrive, download these apps!
For planning your trips
Transit App
Transit is a mobile app providing real-time public transit data. It is consistently ranked as the best travel planning app in Chicago for its ease of use and clear information.
For paying for your trips
Ventra
Ventra is the official mobile app for managing CTA, Metra, and Pace fares. It allows users to load funds, buy passes, and use mobile tickets directly from their phone.
When you're here, there are so many ways to navigate the city.
Click a form of transportation below to be taken to information about it.
Note: During Family Weekend, your lanyard grants you access to ride UGo Shuttles for FREE! If you’re a parent, your student is able to hail free rideshare vehicles within Hyde Park for themselves and 1 additional guest through RideSmart by Via.
Coming from the airport? Skip the expensive rideshare.
Click an airport to learn about sustainable transportation into the city.
Midway International Airport (MDW)
Remember: A one-way train fare from the airports is $5, and a CTA day pass is also $5. We strongly advise visitors purchase a CTA Day Pass from the ticket vending machines or on the Ventra app to maximize your savings.
Midway is the closer airport of Chicago’s two major airports to campus. Taking public transportation from Midway International Airport can be a breeze. However, if you’re still not sure about taking it straight through you can still incorporate CTA in your travel plans without relying on it entirely!
Option 1. Take the #55 bus toward the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Walk to the Midway CTA/Orange Line station bus bays and board #55 Garfield eastbound. Ride to Ellis or University Ave to get the closest to campus. From there, it’s 5 minute walk to the Main Quad. The total travel time is typically 35–45 minutes. At $2.50, this is the cheapest point-to-point option for visitors coming to campus.
Option 2. If you’re staying downtown: take the Midway Orange Line
From the Midway CTA/Orange Line station, ride the Orange Line to Roosevelt or another downtown station. From there, switch to a short rideshare or continue by CTA buses (#6) to Hyde Park or your downtown area hotel.
Option 3. Save on Rideshare/Taxi costs by calling a ride from the Midway CTA Station
A short walk from the terminal, the Midway CTA Station has a Kiss n’ Ride section that is not within the airport property, allowing you to bypass pricey surcharges, saving you up to $15 on a ride from the airport.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
We get it, taking public transportation from O’Hare International Airport can be a lengthy and troublesome experience for people carrying large luggage. However, you can still incorporate CTA in your travel plans without relying on it entirely!
Remember: A one-way fare from the airports is $5, and a CTA day pass is also $5. We strongly advise visitors purchase a CTA Day Pass from the ticket vending machines or on the Ventra app to maximize your savings.
Option 1. Hail a ride from Rosemont
Take the CTA Blue Line one stop from O’Hare to Rosemont. Once you’re outside the airport boundary, rideshare fares drop significantly because airport pickup fees no longer apply. From Rosemont, you can request Uber/Lyft to Hyde Park or downtown for noticeably less than an airport pickup.
Note: If you are landing during rush hour, we encourage you to consider either Options 2 or 3, as traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway can lead to lengthy delays (the CTA is actually faster in these circumstances).
Option 2. Take the Blue Line downtown, then hail a ride
Ride the Blue Line all the way to downtown, and exit at either Washington, Clark/Lake, Monroe, or Jackson. From there, switch to a rideshare or taxi for the final leg to Hyde Park or your hotel. You’ll cut the price of your trip in half compared to taking a rideshare from the airport directly.
If you are arriving between 7-10am and 2-6pm, this option is faster than hailing a rideshare or taxi from Rosemont or ORD directly. Often times, during rush hour, the CTA is a faster way of getting downtown and Hyde Park than driving is.
Option 3. Take transit straight through
Stay on the Blue Line to Jackson or Washington, then transfer to the #6 Jackson Park Express Bus or the Red/Green Line + #55 Garfield Bus to reach UChicago. This method costs only the CTA fare ($2.50), but takes around 70–90 minutes. It’s the most budget-friendly option if time isn’t an issue.
If you are arriving between 7-10am and 2-6pm, this option is faster than hailing a rideshare or taxi from Rosemont or ORD directly. Often times, during rush hour, the CTA is a faster way of getting downtown and Hyde Park than driving is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to get from downtown Chicago to Hyde Park?
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Metra Electric Line: From Millennium Station to 57th St. or 59th St. stations—15–20 minutes.
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CTA Bus #6 (Jackson Park Express): From downtown to Hyde Park via Lake Shore Drive.
What stops do I get off for campus?
- Metra: 57th St, 59th St, or 55th–56th–57th St.
- #6 bus: 57th & Stony Island for the Quad area.
- #55 bus: Ellis or University Ave for central campus
- CTA Rail: Garfield (Green Line) or Garfield (Red Line) offer connection points to the #55 bus.
Does my child/student's U-Pass also work for me?
No, if your child/student attempts to swipe you within 10 minutes after they themselves swiped in, it will charge them a standard fare for the second swipe. After $5 of standard fares are accumulated, their U-Pass can be disabled for non-payment until they pay the balance off.
Where can I find more information about parking and University transportation?
UChicago Parking & Transportation Services maintains their own guide for on-campus transportation here.
What is RideSmart by Via, and can I ride it?
RideSmart by Via is UChicago’s free, app-based, on-demand late-night rideshare for students within the neighborhood (5 p.m.–4 a.m.), operated by Via. Students are allowed to book a trip for themselves and one additional rider. The program began in the 2024-25 school year and is a replacement to the previous Lyft RideSmart program.
Parents, visitors, and in general non-students are not allowed to book their own trips through RideSmart by Via. We encourage you to coordinate with your child/student to call trips for you during your time in Hyde Park on the RideSmart by Via app.
The major perk of the program is that students may call unlimited rides in the service zone, and if their vehicle takes 15 minutes or longer then they will have the ability to book a Lyft to their destination free of charge.
Can I take university shuttles during Family Weekend?
Parents and families who are registered to attend Family Weekend just have to show their attendee credentials to the UGo shuttle driver to be allowed on. If you do not have your credential, your student/child can bring you on the shuttle as a guest. All trips on university shuttles are FREE for all affiliates, students, and their guests.
Anyone can track University shuttles by downloading the free PassioGO! app or visiting https://chicago.passiogo.com/.
Can I take the university subsidized CTA routes (171/172/192)?
Students, faculty, visitors, and staff of the university ride FREE on the 171, 172, and 192 routes upon displaying a University-issued ID.