Directions

Easy to find and easy to get to!

The J.Ira and Nicki Harris Family hostel is in the center of downtown Chicago. The hostel is also in the center of public transportation and the highway system. We are easy to find!

How are you traveling to HI-Chicago?

Click on your mode of travel!

Plane: O'Hare International Airport
Plane: Midway International Airport
Bus: Greyhound Bus Terminal
Train: Amtrak / Union Station
Car: Driving directions

Click here for location map

Download MAP for hostel: (three versions)
JPEG small (32k)
JPEG large (88k)
PDF large (144k)

Address & Streets
HI-Chicago, the Chicago Hostel
24 East Congress Pkwy, at the corner of Congress Pkwy and Wabash
1 block east of State Street, and the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library on Congress
1 block west of Michigan Avenue on Congress Pkwy
Next to the Auditorium Building

Parking
Parking is available for Hostelling International guests at the Park 1 Garage at 63 E. Congress Parkway, across the street from the hostel. The 24-hour garage offers a discounted rate of $35 for overnight parking until 2pm the following day for cars and $80 for full-size vans. No in and out privileges.

Guests can get their parking voucher stamped at the hostels front desk to get discounted rate. Payment for parking due upon departure from the garage.

Please note: Garage has a clearance of 6'11."

Garage is located at 63 E. Congress Parkway, on the Southeast corner of Congress and Wabash.

Transportation, Subway and Bus Stops Near the Hostel

Subway:
BLUE line, Jackson underground subway
ORANGE line (northbound), LIBRARY (Van Buren and State) "L" elevated Loop train
ORANGE line (southbound), ADAMS (Adams and Wabash) "L" elevated Loop train
RED line, JACKSON and State underground subway
RED line, HARRISON and State underground subway
BROWN line, LIBRARY (Van Buren and State) "L" elevated Loop train
PURPLE line, LIBRARY (Van Buren and State) "L" elevated Loop train
GREEN line, ADAMS and Wabash "L" elevated Loop train

City Bus:
Bus routes that have stops close to the hostel: 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 29, 36, 62, 126, 146

Need more information about public transportation on the subway or buses? Click here for the Chicago Transit Authority.

By Plane: O'Hare International Airport - Directions

Easy and cheap to get to! Only $2.00 on public transportation with CTA

O'Hare Airport is about 1 hour from downtown Chicago and HI-Chicago. You have 3 choices for getting to the hostel:
1. Subway CTA, cheapest and quickest. The subway is safe.
2. Shuttle bus Airport Express
3. Taxi

International Flights
You arrive at Terminal 5. Taxi service and Airport Express operate from this terminal. For the subway you must take the airport tram to Terminal 3. Follow the signs to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), subway to Chicago. The subway station is underground.

Domestic Flights
You will arrive at terminals 1, 2, or 3. Taxi service and Airport Express operate from those terminals. For the subway, follow the signs to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), subway to Chicago. The subway station is underground.

CTA Subway
BLUE line; O'Hare Airport to JACKSON stop
For the subway, follow the signs to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), subway to Chicago. The subway station is underground.
Walk to the hostel from JACKSON stop: exit underground on Dearborn, follow Dearborn 2 blocks south to Congress Parkway. Turn left (east) onto Congress Parkway and walk 2 blocks, the hostel is on the corner of Congress and Wabash.

Airport Express van/bus: $27.00
Check in at the Airport Express desk near the baggage claim area on the lower level of your terminal. Tell them you are going to the Chicago Hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway.
www.goairportshuttle.com

Taxi cab: $35.00
Immediately outside of the terminal, in front of the baggage claim areas. Tell the taxi driver you are going to downtown Chicago, the Chicago Hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway.

CTA (subway) Information files
O'Hare Station Information
Visitor Information

By Plane: Midway International Airport - Directions

Easy and cheap to get to! Only $2.00 on public transportation with CTA

Midway Airport is about 1/2 hour from downtown Chicago and HI-Chicago. You have 3 choices for getting to the hostel:
1. Subway ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â CTA, cheapest and often the quickest. The subway is safe between the airports and the Chicago Hostel.
2 . Van bus ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â Airport Express, inexpensive
3. Taxi, more expensive.

Subway
ORANGE line; Midway Airport to LIBRARY stop (Van Buren and State), $2.00
At the airport, follow the signs to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), subway to Chicago. It is a long walk from the airport to the subway. Take the ORANGE line to the LIBRARY (Van Buren and State) stop. Walk to the hostel: follow State Street south one block, turn left at Congress Pkwy, one block east to Wabash, the hostel is on the corner of Congress and Wabash.

Airport Express van/bus: $23.00
Check in at the Go Airport Express counter, near the Southwest Airline baggage claim, buy your tickets. Tell them you are going to the Chicago Hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway.
www.GoAirportShuttle.com

Taxi cab: $30.00
Immediately outside of the terminal, in front of the baggage claim areas. Tell the taxi driver you are going to downtown Chicago, the Chicago Hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway.

CTA (subway) Information files
Midway Station Information
Visitor Information

By Bus: Greyhound Bus Terminal - Directions

The Greyhound bus terminal is close to HI-Chicago, but it is a long walk of 11 city blocks. If you are traveling in a group of two or three we recommend that you use a taxi because it will take you directly to the hostel door for a little more than the cost of the bus.

Taxi Cab
If you are traveling in a group of two or three, a taxi is less expensive than the city bus. Tell the taxi driver you are going to the Chicago Hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway. $7.00 If there are no cabs waiting outside the terminal, you can call a cab from one of these companies.

Taxi Cabs:
Wolley Cab - 877-888-8294
Checker Cab - 312-243-2537
Flash Cab - 773-561-1444
Yellow Cab - 312-829-4222

Bus - Route #7 to Congress Plaza $2.00 [Monday - Friday: 6:00am - 8:00pm]
Walk north on Jefferson, three blocks to Jackson. Board the bus on the south side of Jackson, heading east. Take the bus to the terminal at Congress Plaza. Walk two blocks west on Congress Parkway to Wabash. The hostel is at the corner of Wabash and Congress. 24 East Congress Parkway.

Subway: Blue Line: Clinton to LaSalle $2.00 [Every day, 24 hours]
Walk west one block to Clinton, turn left, walk one block north to Congress. Enter the subway and take train in the direction of "O'Hare", only one stop to LaSalle. Walk east along Congress Pkwy four blocks to the hostel. The hostel is at the corner of Wabash and Congress. 24 East Congress Parkway.

CTA Information Files
Bus Route #7 information
Visitor Information

Walk: about 20 minutes, 11 city blocks east
In front of the bus terminal follow Harrison to the east. Walk over the river and about nine blocks to State. Turn left, walk one block north to Congress Pkwy. Turn right (east) and walk Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â½ block to the hostel. The hostel is at the corner of Wabash and Congress. 24 East Congress Parkway.

Related Websites
Greyhound Bus
Chicago Transit Authority

By Train: Amtrak Union Station - Directions

Union Station is in downtown Chicago, on the west side of the central business district. HI-Chicago is in the southeast corner of the same central business district. If you are traveling in a group of two or three we recommend that you consider a taxi because it will take you directly to the hostel door for a little more than the cost of the bus.

Bus ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Route #126 to Michigan and Congress $2.00 [Every day]
Board the bus on the south side of Union Station on Jackson at Canal Street. Bus #126 follows Jackson to Michigan. When the bus turns onto Michigan heading south you will pass one street, Van Buren, and the next street is Congress. Get off at Congress.
Walk to Hostel: walk one block west on Congress Parkway to Wabash. 24 East Congress Parkway. The #126 bus runs Monday through Friday from 5:00 am to 12:30am. Saturday and Sunday from 6:00am to 11:30pm.

CTA (bus) Information Files
Bus Route #126 information
Visitor Information

Related Websites
AMTRAK
Chicago Transit Authority

By Car: Driving Directions

Driving to HI-Chicago is easy!

http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Chicago&select=HI-CHI

Address & Streets
24 East Congress Pkwy, at the corner of Congress Pkwy and Wabash
1 block east of State Street, and the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library on Congress
1 block west of Michigan Avenue on Congress Pkwy
Next to the Auditorium Building

From the south: I-80East, I-80West, I-90West, I-94West, I-55North, I-57North
All of these expressways intersect or become the Dan Ryan Expressway [I-90/94 West]. Take I-90/94 West into Chicago, and as you approach the downtown area stay to the right, follow signs to I-290 (Eisenhower Expwy), stay to the right and exit onto I-290 East (Congress Parkway). The I-290 East expressway ends as it enters downtown and becomes Congress Parkway. HI-Chicago is on the north side of Congress Parkway at Wabash, just past the big library and after State Street.

From the North: I-90East, I-94East
These two expressways join together as you approach Chicago and become I-90/94East. Follow the expressway into the downtown area and exit at Congress Parkway, east. The Congress Pkwy exit is after Jackson and is a dual exit for both Congress and the highway to the western suburbs. As you exit stay in the left lane to go up the ramp to Congress. HI-Chicago is on Congress Parkway at Wabash, just past the big library and after State Street.

From the West: I-88East
This one is easy. Just follow the expressway east until it ends and becomes Congress Parkway. No turns, no exits, just go straight. HI-Chicago is on Congress Parkway at Wabash, just past the big library and after State Street.

Parking
Parking is available for Hostelling International guests at the Park 1 Garage at 63 E. Congress Parkway, across the street from the hostel. The 24-hour garage offers a discounted rate of $27 for overnight parking until 2pm the following day for cars and $32 for full-size vans. No in and out privileges. Please call for bus or oversized vehicle reservations at a rate of $75 a day: 312-617-4627.

Guests can get their parking voucher stamped at the hostelÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s front desk to get discounted rate. Payment for parking due upon departure from the garage.