Subway/Train: Chicago Transit Authority / CTA / All trains are called The “L”

• 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
• PINK line, LIBRARY (Van Buren and State) “L” elevated Loop train

Arriving By Plane O’Hare International Airport – Directions

O’Hare Airport is about 1 hour from downtown Chicago and HI-Chicago.

You have 3 choices for getting to the hostel:

• Subway – CTA, cheapest and often the quickest. The subway, called The “L” is safe between the airports and HI-Chicago
• Shuttle bus – Airport Express (inexpensive)
• Taxi – (more expensive)

International Flights:

• You will 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.

Airport Express Shuttle Bus

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 Hostelling International Chicago hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway.

Go Airport Shuttle

• 1 person: $31 one way from O’Hare to HI-Chicago, $29 one way from HI-Chicago to O’Hare, $55 roundtrip
• 2 persons: $22 per person one way from O’Hare to HI-Chicago, $20 per person one way from HI-Chicago to O’Hare, $39 per person roundtrip
• 3 or more people: $17 per person one way from O’Hare to HI-Chicago, $15 per person one way from HI-Chicago to O’Hare, $31 per person roundtrip

From the Airport: Taxicabs

Estimated rates: $35 – $45 US

• Immediately outside of the terminal
• in front of the baggage claim areas
• Tell the taxi driver you are going to downtown Chicago, Hostelling International Chicago hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library

Arriving By Plane: Midway International Airport – Directions

Midway Airport is about 1/2 hour from downtown Chicago and HI-Chicago.

You have 3 choices for getting to the hostel:

• Subway – CTA, cheapest and often the quickest. The subway is safe between the airports and HI-Chicago.
• Shuttle bus – Airport Express (inexpensive)
• Taxi – (more expensive)

Easy and cheap to get to! Only $2.25 on public transportation with CTA

Subway

ORANGE line; Midway Airport to LIBRARY stop (Van Buren and State) $2.25

• At the airport, follow the signs to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), subway to Chicago. It is about a 10-15 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.

*From Midway, the CTA ORANGE line runs Monday through Friday 4:00 am – 1:-00 am and 4:30 am – 1:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Greyhound Bus Terminal – Directions

The Greyhound bus terminal is located on 630. W. Harrison Street.

You have 4 choices for getting to the hostel:

• Walk (11 blocks, about 20 minutes)
• Taxi (quicker, only a little more than city bus if in a group of 2 or more)
• Bus, CTA
• Subway, CTA

Walking

The Greyhound bus terminal is close to HI-Chicago, but it is a long walk of 11 city blocks (about 1 mile or 20 minutes). 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. Cross Congress to the north side of the street, turn right (east) and walk ½ block to the hostel. The hostel is at the corner of Wabash and Congress. 24 East Congress Parkway.

Taxi Cab $6.00 – $8.00

If you are traveling in a group of two or three, a taxi will take you to the hostel door for only a little more than the city bus. Tell the taxi driver you are going to Hostelling International Chicago hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway. If there are no cabs waiting outside the terminal, you can call a cab from one of these companies.

Taxi Cab Information:

• Wolley Cab – 877-888-8294
• Checker Cab – 312-243-2537
• Flash Cab – 773-561-1444
• Yellow Cab – 312-829-4222
• Bus, CTA – Route #7 to Congress Plaza $2.00 w/fare card or $2.25 cash
• Walk to the Harrison/Jefferson stop located on the south side of Harrison and take the #7 bus toward Congress Plaza. Get off at State/Jackson. Walk two blocks south on State Street to Congress Pkwy. Turn left (east) and walk ½ block to the hostel. The hostel is at the corner of Wabash and Congress. 24 East Congress Parkway.

Arriving By Bus: Megabus Stop- Directions

The Megabus stop is located on the east side of South Canal Street, about 300 feet south of Jackson Blvd. You have 4 choices for getting to the hostel:

• Walk (10 blocks, about 20 minutes)
• Taxi (quicker, only a little more than city bus if in a group of 2 or more)
• Bus, CTA
• Subway, CTA

Walking

The Megabus stop is close to HI-Chicago, but it is a long walk of 10 city blocks (about 1 mile or 20 minutes). Follow Jackson to the east. Walk over the river and then 6 blocks to State Street. Turn right, walk two blocks south to Congress Pkwy. Turn left (east) and walk ½ block to the hostel. The hostel is at the corner of Wabash and Congress. 24 East Congress Parkway.

Taxi Cab $5.00 – $7.00

If you are traveling in a group of two or three, a taxi will take you to the hostel door for only a little more than the city bus. Tell the taxi driver you are going to Hostelling International Chicago hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway. If there are no cabs waiting outside the terminal, you can call a cab from one of these companies.

Taxi Cab Information:

• Wolley Cab – 877-888-8294
• Checker Cab – 312-243-2537
• Flash Cab – 773-561-1444
• Yellow Cab – 312-829-4222
• Bus Route #126 to Michigan and Congress $2.00 w/fare card or $2.25 cash. Board the bus 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.

Arriving By Train: Amtrak Union Station – Directions

Union Station is located in downtown Chicago at 203 South Canal Street, on the west side of the central business district. HI-Chicago is in the southeast corner of the same central business district. Walking

The Amtrak Station is close to HI-Chicago, but it is a long walk of 10 city blocks (about 1 mile or 20 minutes). Follow Jackson to the east. Walk over the river and 6 blocks to State Street. Turn right, walk two blocks south to Congress Pkwy. Turn left (east) and walk ½ block to the hostel. The hostel is at the corner of Wabash and Congress. 24 East Congress Parkway.

Taxi Cab $5.00 – $7.00

If you are traveling in a group of two or three, a taxi will take you to the hostel door for only a little more than the city bus. Tell the taxi driver you are going to Hostelling International Chicago hostel at Congress and Wabash, near the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. 24 East Congress Parkway. If there are no cabs waiting outside the terminal, you can call a cab from one of these companies.

Taxi Cab Information:

• Wolley Cab – 877-888-8294
• Checker Cab – 312-243-2537
• Flash Cab – 773-561-1444
• Yellow Cab – 312-829-4222
• Bus Route #126 to Michigan and Congress $2.00 w/fare card or $2.25 cash. Board the bus 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.

Arriving By Car: Driving Directions

Driving to HI-Chicago is easy!

From the south: I-80 East, I-80 West, I-90 West, I-94 West, I-55 North, I-57 North

[Construction Alert: exit ramp at Congress is closed, follow these driving directions]

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 Roosevelt Road Exit 52B. Turn right (east) onto Roosevelt Rd. Cross over the bridge and move to the left lane to State Street. Turn left (north) onto State St. continue to Congress Pkwy and turn right. HI-Chicago is on the north side of Congress Parkway at Wabash. **[Directions for arriving after June 30, 2012, ramp will be open] 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.**