This guide will show you how to use Chicago Transit
Authority (CTA) buses and trains to see Downtown Chicago,
North Michigan Avenue, and a few places beyond.
The CTA runs buses and elevated/subway trains (the ‘L’)
that serve Chicago and 35 nearby suburbs. From
Downtown, travel to most attractions on one bus or train.
We Have Answers
Get travel information and questions answered about
CTA buses and trains, Metra commuter trains, and
Pace suburban buses by calling 312-836-7000, 5am to
1am daily (TTY: 312-836-4949 for hearing and speech
impaired). Or, visit the Regional Transportation Authority
(RTA) goroo
®
trip planner at rtachicago.org.
Maps, train and bus schedules, and brochures can
also be ordered through the RTA Travel Information
Center. CTA Bus & Rail Maps and this brochure are
also available at CTA rail stations.
We Are Listening
Comment, commendation or inquiry?
Call 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282) weekdays
(excluding holidays) 7am to 7pm, or leave a voice mail
message at other times. TTY: 1-888-CTA-TTY1
(1-888-282-8891).
Write us at CTA Customer Service, P.O. Box 7566,
Chicago, IL 60680-7566. Or, e-mail us at
feedback@transitchicago.com.
Visit Us Online
CTA’s web site is transitchicago.com. You can get
information, see our map, purchase CTA-themed gift
items, and even buy your fare in advance! Metra’s web
site is metrarail.com. Pace’s web site is pacebus.com.
Riding CTA Buses
CTA buses stop at bus shelters or signs
that look like this. Signs list the service
days/general hours, route number, name
and destinations, and the direction of travel.
When a bus approaches, look at the sign
above the windshield. It will first show the
route number and route name, then change
to show the destination.
If it’s the bus you want, flag it down.
How They Operate
Bus routes shown on the map operate every day, including all
holidays, unless the route number is indicated below. Buses run
every 10 to 20 minutes, except route 10 (see below).
Routes that operate every day do so from early morning until
at least 10pm, with some exceptions:
124 Navy Pier until midnight daily in summer between Union,
Ogilvie, and Millennium stations and Navy Pier.
146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express until 10:30pm daily from
Museum Campus and Downtown.
147 Outer Drive Express until 9:20pm Sundays.
Routes that do not operate every day have service as follows:
7 Harrison operates weekdays 5:55am to 10:15pm
10 Museum of Science & Industry weekends/holidays year-round;
daily Memorial Day to Labor Day and Thanksgiving to New Year’s
Day. Hours from about 9am, Monday-Saturday (10:25am, Sundays/
holidays) to 4:40pm every 30 minutes. No service on Christmas Day.
28 Stony Island weekdays 7am to 9:30am and 4:05pm to 6:35pm.
130 Museum Campus operates Memorial Day weekend to Labor
Day, daily from 9:30am to 6pm.
157 Streeterville/Taylor weekdays 6:25am to 7:15pm.
Special Note:
A number of bus routes are affected by temporary reroutes due
to the Wacker Drive reconstruction project.
Know before you go; visit transitchicago.com.
Accessibility
All CTA buses are accessible to people with disabilities.
Riding CTA Trains
Each rail line has a color name. All trains operate Downtown
daily until at least midnight, except the Purple Line Express (see
map for hours). Trains run every 7 to 10 minutes during the day
and early evening, and every 10 to 15 minutes in later evening.
Here’s a quick guide to boarding in the Downtown area:
Blue Line Dearborn Street subway
Brown Line Loop elevated
Green Line Loop elevated (along Wabash & Lake)
Orange Line Loop elevated
Pink Line Loop elevated
Purple Line Exp Loop elevated
Red Line State Street subway
At the Station
There are Customer Assistants or Security Guards at rail
stations to help you.
Accessibility
Almost sixty-five (65) percent of rail stations are accessible
and every train has at least two cars that are accessible to
customers with disabilities. For information on current accessible
rail stations, visit transitchicago.com (click on “Accessibility”),
see CTA’s Bus & Rail Map or call 312-836-7000.
Taking a Ride
Entering the Station –
Signs list station name
and route.
Inside the Station –
Signs overhead and
on the columns tell
you which trains stop
there and destinations.
When the Train Arrives –
Train destination appears
on front and sides of train.
On the Train – Rail maps are above the doorways. Stops and
connections are announced. Watch and listen for your stop.
Trains to Planes
Take the Blue Line between O’Hare and Downtown.
From the airport, follow the “Trains to City” signs.
From Downtown, board in the Dearborn Street subway.
Take the Orange Line between Midway and Downtown.
From the airport, follow the “Trains to City” signs.
From Downtown, board at any Loop elevated station.
From the Loop
Attraction Take Bus or Train:
Art Institute, Chicago Cultural Ctr. Short walk from most buses and all rail lines
Charter One Pavilion at 146 south on State or 130 (summer weekends)
Northerly Island Park east on Jackson
Chinatown Red Line train (toward 95th/Dan Ryan) in the
State Street subway south to Cermak-Chinatown
DuSable Museum 4 south on Michigan (starts at Randolph)
Garfield Park Conservatory Green Line train (toward Harlem) on the Loop
‘L’ west to Conservatory-Central Park Drive X
John Hancock Observatory 10, 146, 147 or 151 north on State
Lincoln Park Zoo 151 north on State
McCormick Place 3 south on Michigan
Museum Campus** 146 south on State, or 130 (summer
weekends) east on Jackson
Museum of Science & Industry 6 or 10 south on State or 28 (weekday rush
hours) east on Jackson.
See “Buses” panel for 10 & 28 hours.
Navy Pier 29 north on State or 124 east on Wacker
North Michigan Avenue 10, 146, 147 or 151 north on State, or 3
north on Michigan
River North & Old Town areas 22 or 36 north on Dearborn
Soldier Field (Bears) 146 south on State
Union Station 151 west on Madison
United Center (Bulls, Blackhawks) 19 or 20 west on Madison
U.S. Cellular Field (White Sox) Red Line train (toward 95th/Dan Ryan) in the
State Street subway south to Sox-35th X; or
Green Line train (toward Cottage Grove or
Ashland/63rd) to 35th-Bronzeville-IIT X
Willis (Sears) Tower 7 or 126 west on Adams
Wrigley Field (Cubs) Red Line train (toward Howard) in the State
Street subway north to Addison X
From North Michigan Avenue
Attraction Take Bus or Train:
Art Institute, Chicago Cultural Ctr. 3* or 147 south on Michigan
Lincoln Park Zoo 151 north on Michigan
McCormick Place 3* south on Michigan
Museum Campus** 146 south on Michigan
Museum of Science & Industry 10 south on Michigan. See “Buses” panel for
days/hours. Otherwise, 6 west on Wacker at
Michigan.
Navy Pier 66 east on Chicago or 29, 65 east on Illinois
Willis (Sears) Tower/Union Station 151 south on Michigan
State Street Shopping 10, 146, 151 or 157 south on Michigan
Soldier Field (Bears) 146 south on Michigan
U.S. Cellular Field (White Sox) Red Line train (toward 95th/Dan Ryan) in the
State Street subway south to Sox-35th X
Wrigley Field (Cubs) Red Line train (toward Howard) in the State
Street subway north to Addison X
* starts at Superior
** Adler Planetarium/Field Museum/Shedd Aquarium/Soldier
Field
CTA Passes
Passes offer unlimited rides on CTA buses
and trains when activated with first use —
1-day: $10; 3-day: $20; 7-day: $28.
Cannot be shared or recharged.
1-, 3- and 7-day passes are sold at Midway and
O’Hare airports, Chicago Cultural Center, CTA’s
Lake (Lake – Randolph mezzanine), Roosevelt
and Adams/Wabash rail stations Downtown, and other select
locations. Visit transitchicago.com for a complete listing or to
order CTA passes in advance.
Transit Card
Deducts full fares and transfers on CTA and Pace. Can pay for
up to 7 full-fare rides at once.
Purchase full-fare Transit Cards ($2 to $100) at
rail station farecard machines. Or, buy pre-valued,
full-fare Transit Cards ($10 or $20) at select
Currency Exchanges, Jewel and Dominick’s
stores, CVS Pharmacies, and online at
transitchicago.com.
Cash Fare
Accepted on CTA buses only. No cash transfers available.
Exact fare (coins and bills accepted).
Full Fare: $2.25; Reduced Fare*: $1
Connections are free between CTA rail lines at stations marked
on the map with a
. Exceptions: Customers must use a Transit
Card or pass for free connections between State/Lake (elevated)
and Lake X (Red Line subway) stations; and between Harold
Washington Library-State/Van Buren X (elevated) and Jackson X
(Blue and Red lines subway) stations. No transfer charge or use
is deducted.
* Reduced Fares are for children ages 7-11, and for seniors 65+ and
customers with disabilities with a valid RTA Reduced Fare Card. For
more information, call 312-836-7000.
Eligible to Ride Free on CTA
• Qualifying seniors ages 65+ and customers with disabilities who
are enrolled in the Illinois Department on Aging Circuit Breaker
Program and have a valid RTA Circuit Ride Free Permit**
• Active duty military personnel in full uniform with U.S. Armed
Forces ID or CTA Military Service Pass (MSP), and qualifying
disabled military veterans with a MSP.
• Children under age 7 with a fare-paying customer.
** Fares are subject to change. Call RTA at 312-913-3110 or visit
rtachicago.com for info regarding Circuit Ride Free Program.
All Aboard! Buses Trains Fares** Quick Ride Guide
Chicago Transit Authority
cta
Orange, Purple,
Pink, Brown Lines
Washington/
Wells
151 SHERIDAN
E
TO
DEVON
to 41411 for estimated arrival times
22 Clark
24 Wentworth
First ride $2 bus; $2.25 rail
$5 O’Hare Station
$1
1st transfer within 2 hours 25¢ 15¢
2nd transfer within 2 hours FREE FREE
Full Reduced*
151 SHERIDAN
E
TO
DEVON
to 41411 for estimated arrival times
22 Clark
24 Wentworth
Downtown
Transit
Sightseeing Guide
January 2013
transitchicago.com
60
124
146
157
151
3
157
157
157
130
130
130
126
124
3 blocks3 blocks
3 blocks3 blocks
37
47
61
14
63
21
68
46
55
26
57
70
59
56
50
51
48 152
34
15
44
42
53 73 18
13
27
30
6
8
43
16
58
10
22
69
39
62
40
19
38
54
4
29
33
66
23
7
64
25
17
72
28
3
41
67
32
2
24
9
20
31
65
5
36
35
J14
J14
146146
151
147
10
157
157
3
10
66
66
36
22
3
66
3
10
66
22
36
3
66
29
65
66
29
65
22
65
65
65
22
36
36
29
3
10
10
65
66
60
3
6
6
151
10
3
4
20
22
22
36
146
36
6
3
7 7
7
7
7
7
7
7
28 28
28
6
6
3
29
60
60
3
22
1212
12
12
6
10
146
146
146
146
J14
6
28
10
3
22
6
6
146
22
60
60
124
124
124
146
146
147
147
147
147
147
10
10
6
363636
lower level
124
124
124
6
Museum Campus Drive
36
151
147
146
151
147
147
126
130
130
60
60
60
10
20
56
4
4
4
4
4
4
65
157
157
157
157
20
130
130
130
124
36
12
29
36
146
151
147
157
10
56
56
124
J14
J14
J14
J14
60
157
124
60
157
J14
28
J14
126
126
126
126
126
29
29
29
130
146
130
130
130
126
130
151
28
28
28
J14
Chicago
Chicago
Grand
Merchandise Mart
Clinton
Clark
6
10
29
State
Lake
Washington
Monroe
Jackson
H.W.Library
H.W.Library
Randolph
Madison
Adams
Quincy
LaSalle
LaSalle
Clinton
Harrison
Roosevelt
Dearborn Street Subway
State Street Subway
Jackson
RooseveltRoosevelt
Inner Drive
O
u
t
e
r
D
r
i
v
e
Bellevue
Oak
Walton
Delaware
Chestnut
Pearson
S. Water
Lake
Grand
Illinois
Cityfront
Plaza
N. Water
Wacker
South Water
Waterside
Benton
Breakwater
Randolph
Washington
Madison
Monroe
Adams
Jackson
Harrison
Quincy
Polk
Monroe
Congress
Balbo
Jackson
8th
11th
9th
Roosevelt
Solidarity
McFetridge
14th
Dewitt
Mies van der Rohe
Michigan
McClurg
Fairbanks
St. Clair
Michigan
Rush
Wabash
State
Wells
Franklin
Orleans
Kingsbury
Stetson
Michigan
Orleans
Lake Shore Drive
Columbus
Michigan
Wabash
State
Dearborn
Clark
LaSalle
Financial Pl.
Wells
Wacker
Canal
Clinton
Lake Shore Drive
Indiana
Rush
East Lake Shore Drive
Walkway
Maple
Walton
Chestnut
Institute Place
Hudson
Kingsbury
Sedgwick
Park
New
Federal
Plymouth
Harbor
124
Wabash
State
Dearborn
Clark
LaSalle
Wells
13th
Fulton
Field
Field
Columbus
Park
Westshore
Franklin
124
157
126
130
151
7 28
126
130
151
71
Chicago
Superior
Huron
Erie
Ontario
Ohio
Grand
Hubbard
Kinzie
Illinois
Wacker
Van Buren
Union/
Amtrak
Station
Millennium Station
at Randolph Street
Van Buren
Street Station
Museum Campus/
11th Street Station
LaSalle
Street
Station
3 blocks3 blocks
11
157
157
151
157
157
Greyhound
Bus Station
One block
CTA
Hdqtrs.
Red Line to
Cermak-
Chinatown
station
4 blocks
8 blocks
22
36
151
151
126
146
Bus
Bus
3 blocks
ends
3
3
56
151
20
Washington
Ogilvie Transportation
Center
One block
45
begins
begins
ends
J14
J14
Nature Museum
& Zoo
1.5 miles
Bus
RED LINE
Daily at all times
north to Howard
or south to 95th
BROWN LINE
Weekdays and Saturdays
until 1:00AM; Sundays
until 12:15 AM to Kimball
RED LINE
Daily at all
times north
to Howard or
south to 95th
PURPLE LINE
EXPRESS
6:00 AM to 10:15 AM
3:15 PM to 7:10 PM to
Linden (Weekdays only)
BLUE LINE
Daily at all times
to O'Hare
or Forest Park
GREEN LINE
Daily until 1:20 AM
to Harlem/Lake or 63rd
ORANGE LINE
Daily until 1:25AM
to Midway
GREEN LINE
Daily until 1:20 AM
to 63rd or Harlem /Lake
Kennedy/Dan Ryan
Expressway
Feeder Ramp
124 NAVY PIER
Direct from Union,
Ogilvie and Millennium
Metra stations daily.
Eisenhower Expressway
Buses to Museum Campus
130*, 146 -direct service
6, 10*, J14, 28* - exit
bus at 11th/Columbus
*10, 28, 130 - run part-time
65 GRAND
Connects to Blue &
Red lines daily at
the Grand stations
until 9:40 PM EB
(to Navy Pier); until
10:05 PM WB
(from Navy Pier).
Lake
Dearborn
Clark
LaSalle
PINK LINE
Daily until 1:25 AM
to 54th/Cermak
Chicago History
Museum
.5 miles
Bus
151
22
Lake Michigan
Chicago River
Millennium
Park
Grant
Park
Lake Michigan
Hutchinson
Field
100 W.
0 E/W
100 E.
200 E.
300 E.
400 W.
200 W.
400 E.
1000 N.
800 N.
600 N.
400 N.
200 N.
0 N/S
200 S.
400 S.
600 S.
800 S.
1000 S.
1200 S.
1400 S.
AA
BB
CC
DD
EE
FF
rev. 1/13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
1
0
29
#19 United Center Express Bus
Not Shown on Map
Operates daily Memorial Day
weekend through Labor Day every
15 minutes, from 9:30am to 6pm.
N
Clinton
Museum Campus Dr.
Michigan
Lake
Adams
Jackson
Roosevelt
McFetridge
Solidarity
Canal
Ogilvie
Station
Union
Station
Stop near Metra station
CTA rail station
Bus route terminal
Bus stop
Bus route terminal
N
State
#130 Museum Campus
12
49
147
•
•
•
N
O
R
T
H
CTA trains
Direction of
travel around
Loop elevated
CTA rail station
Free connection
Free connection
with farecard
(walk between stations)
Accessible station
Downtown
Attractions
(see list above)
Visitor Information
Centers
Chicagoland Trips Kiosk
Bus runs daily
Bus runs part-time
One way street
This bus route
is one way only
No stops
Bus route terminal
Metra commuter
train stations
Bus stop near
Metra station
(to Downtown)
Hotels
(see list below)
10
36
36
United
Center
Michigan
Jefferson
Randolph
Washington
Madison
Union
Station
Millennium
Station
No Stops
Ogilvie
Transp
Center
Halsted
Service for Bulls, Blackhawks,
and concerts
No stops between
Halsted and United Center
LaSalle St.
Station
12JD007
Alphabetical List of Downtown Hotels
Allerton Hotel, D-3
Amalfi Hotel, C-5
Best Western Grant Park Hotel, D-10
Best Western River North Hotel, C-4
The Blackstone, A Renaissance Hotel, D-9
Chicago Marriott Downtown Hotel, D-4
Congress Plaza Hotel, D-8
Conrad Chicago, D-4
Courtyard by Marriott Mag. Mile, D-3
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown/
River North, C-4
Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro, A-7
Crowne Plaza - Silversmith Hotel, D-7
Doubletree Hotel Chgo Mag Mile, E-4
The Drake Hotel, D-1
Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown, C-4
Embassy Suites Chicago Lakefront, E-4
Essex Inn, D-9
Fairfield Inn Suites Chicago
Downtown, E-3
The Fairmont Chicago, E-6
Four Points by Sheraton, D-3
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, D-2
Hampton Inn & Suites, C-4
Hampton Majestic, C-7
Hard Rock Hotel, D-5
Hilton Chicago Inn, D-9
Hilton Suites Chicago-Mag. Mile, D-2
Hilton Garden Inn, C-4
Holiday Inn & Suites, A-8
Holiday Inn – Mart Plaza, A-5
Homewood Suites by Hilton, D-4
Hostelling International, C-8
Hotel 71, D-5
Hotel Allegro Chicago, B-6
Hotel Cass - A Holiday Inn Express, C-3
Hotel Dana, C-37
Hotel Felix, C-3
Hotel Indigo, C-1
Hotel Monaco, D-5
Hotel Sax, C-5
Hyatt Regency Chicago, D-5
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, E-11
Inn of Chicago, D-4
InterContinental Chicago, D-4
The James Hotel Chicago, D-4
La Quinta, B-7
Millennium Knickerbocker Chicago Hotel, D-2
Omni Ambassador East, D-1
Omni Chicago Hotel, D-3
Palmer House Hilton, D-7
Park Hyatt Chicago Hotel, D-2
The Peninsula Chicago, D-3
Radisson Hotel & Suites Chicago, D-3
Red Roof Inn Chicago, D-3
Renaissance Chicago Hotel, C-5
Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago
Downtown Mag. Mile, E-2
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, D-2
The Seneca Hotel & Suites, E-2
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, E-4
Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, D-2
Springhill Suites Marriott Chicago
Downtown , C-5
The Sutton Place Hotel, D-1
Swissotel Chicago, E-5
The Talbott Hotel, C-2
Travelodge Downtown Hotel, D-9
Trump International Hotel &
Tower Chicago, D-5
W Chicago City Center, B-7
W Chicago Lake Shore, F-3
The Westin Michigan Avenue, D-2
The Westin River North, C-5
Whitehall Hotel, D-2
The Wit, C-5
Wyndham Blake, C-8
Wyndham Chicago, D-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
F-11
Adler
Planetarium
D-7 Art Institute
of Chicago
E-8 Buckingham
Fountain
F-11 Charter One Pavilion
Northerly Island Park
D-7
Chicago
Architecture
Foundation
Tours
D-6
Chicago Cultural Center
· Loop Tour Train
· Visitor Info. Center
C-4, C-6, C-7, D-4, D-6, E-6, F-4
Chicagoland Trips Kiosk
A-6
Civic Opera House
A-7
Chicago Mercantile
Exchange Tours
C-6
City Hall/
County Bldg.
C-6
Daley Center
& Picasso
C-11
Chinatown
E-11
Field Museum
A-8
Greektown
C-6
James R. Thompson
(State of Illinois)
Center
D-2
John Hancock
Observatory
C-8
Harold Washington
Library Center
D-2
Hot Tix Booth
E-11
McCormick Place
D-5
McCormick Tribune
Freedom Museum
B-5
Merchandise Mart
C-4
Museum of Broadcast
Communication
E-2
Museum of
Contemporary Art
D-1
Nature Museum and Zoo
D-
D-9
Museum of Contemporary
Photography
F-4
Navy Pier:
· Skyline Stage
· Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
· Chicago Children’s Museum
· Smith Museum of Stained
Glass Windows
D-2
North Michigan Avenue
Shopping
E-1
Oak Street Beach
D-2
Old Water Tower
& Pumping Station
(Chicago Water Works;
Visitor Info. Center)
E-7
Petrillo Music Shell
D-6
Pritzker Pavillion
· Grant Park
Music Festival
C-3
River North Restaurants
& Nightlife
B-7
Willis (Sears) Tower
Skydeck
F-10
Shedd Aquarium
D-5, F-4, F-10
Sightseeing Boats
E-11
Soldier Field
D-9
Spertus Museum
of Judaica
C-6, C-7
State Street Shopping
D-7
Symphony Center
E-8
Taste of Chicago
(late June-early July)
Theatres (Live):
D-8 Auditorium
B-6 Cadillac Palace
C-6 Chicago
F-4 Chicago Shakespeare
(Navy Pier)
C-6 Goodman
E-6 Harris Music and Dance
D-2 Lookingglass
C-6 Oriental
D-9 Merle Reskin
C-7 LaSalle Bank
E-11 Prairie Avenue
Historic District:
· Clarke House Museum
· Glessner House Museum
· Vietnam Veterans
Art Museum
· Women’s Park and Gardens
Visitor Info. Centers: Chicago Cultural Center (Michigan/Randolph) and Chicago Water Works (Michigan/Pearson). Open daily (except
Thanksgiving/Christmas Day). Special Events Hot Line: (312) 744-3370.
Chicagoland Trips Info. Kiosks: Located at CTA Hdqtrs., Chicago Cultural Center, Metra Millennium Station, Palmer House Hilton, Shedd
Aquarium, Union Station and Westfield Northbridge Shopping Center.
Downtown Attractions
