All Aboard!
Buses
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.
Riding CTA Buses
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 [email protected].
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.
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.
151
SHERIDAN
151 SHERIDAN
TO
EE
DEVON
TO DEVON
Trains
Fares**
Quick Ride Guide
Riding CTA Trains
CTA Passes
From the Loop
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:
22 Clark
Blue Line Dearborn Street subway
24 Wentworth
Brown Line
Loop elevated
22 Clark
24 Wentworth
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
to 41411 for estimated arrival times
How They Operate
to 41411 for estimated arrival times
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.
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.
At the Station
There are Customer Assistants or Security Guards at rail
stations to help you.
Full
First ride
1st transfer within 2 hours
2nd transfer within 2 hours
$2 bus; $2.25 rail $1
$5 O’Hare Station 25¢
15¢
FREE
FREE
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.
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.
Taking a Ride
Cash Fare
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.
Washington/
Wells
cta Orange, Purple,
Pink, Brown Lines
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.
Reduced*
Accepted on CTA buses only. No cash transfers available. Exact fare (coins and bills accepted).
Full Fare: $2.25; Reduced Fare*: $1
* 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.
Downtown
Transit
Sightseeing Guide
January 2013
From North Michigan Avenue
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.
•
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
Chicago Transit Authority
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
transitchicago.com
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
F-11 Adler Planetarium
A-7
Chicago Mercantile
Exchange Tours
C-8D-9
Harold Washington Museum of Contemporary
Library Center
Photography
D-6
D-7
Pritzker Pavillion
Symphony Center
· Grant Park
E-8
Music Festival
D-7 Art Institute C-6D-2F-4
Taste of Chicago
of Chicago
City Hall/
Hot Tix Booth
Navy Pier:
C-3(late June-early July)
County Bldg.
· Skyline Stage
River North Restaurants E-8 Buckingham E-11
Theatres (Live):
· Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
& Nightlife
Fountain
C-6
McCormick Place
D-8 Auditorium
· Chicago Children’s Museum
Daley Center
B-7B-6 Cadillac Palace
· Smith Museum of Stained
F-11 Charter One Pavilion
D-5
& Picasso
Willis (Sears) Tower C-6 Chicago
Glass Windows
Northerly Island Park
McCormick Tribune
Skydeck
F-4 Chicago Shakespeare
C-11
Freedom Museum
D-2
(Navy Pier)
D-7
Chinatown
F-10
North Michigan Avenue
C-6 Goodman
Chicago B-5
Shedd
Aquarium
Shopping
E-6 Harris Music and Dance
Architecture
E-11Merchandise Mart
D-2 Lookingglass
Foundation
Field Museum
D-5, F-4, F-10
E-1
C-4
C-6 Oriental
Tours
Sightseeing Boats
Oak Street Beach
A-8
Museum of Broadcast
D-9 Merle Reskin
D-6
Greektown
Communication
E-11
C-7 LaSalle Bank
D-2
Chicago Cultural Center
Soldier
Field
Old Water Tower C-6
E-2
E-11 Prairie Avenue
· Loop Tour Train & Pumping Station James R. Thompson
Museum of
D-9
Historic District:
· Visitor Info. Center
(Chicago Water Works; (State of Illinois) Contemporary Art
Spertus Museum
· Clarke House Museum
Visitor Info. Center)
C-4, C-6, C-7, D-4, D-6, E-6, F-4
Center
of Judaica
· Glessner House Museum
D-1
Chicagoland Trips Kiosk · Vietnam Veterans
E-7
D-2Nature Museum and Zoo
C-6, C-7
Art Museum
Petrillo Music Shell
A-6John Hancock State Street Shopping
D-
· Women’s Park and Gardens
Civic Opera House
Observatory
A
go
ic
a
Ch
go
ic
a
Ch
nd
ra
G
e
at
St
lle
Sa
La
Museum Campus Dr.
ph
ol
nd
Ra
on
is
ad
M
s
m
da
A
on
ar
ris
H
11th
3
12
t
Walkway
Museum Campus/
11th Street Station
3
800 S.
t
v
se
o
Ro
130*, 146 -direct service
6, 10*, J14, 28* - exit
bus at 11th/Columbus
*10, 28, 130 - run part-time
12
1200 S.
Solidarity
GREEN LINE
Daily until 1:20 AM 13th
to 63rd or Harlem /Lake
130 146
McFetridge
Bus
3
130 146
29
Solidarity
Roosevelt
4 blocks
Red Line to
CermakChinatown
station
10
Buses to Museum Campus
146 130
12 130 146
el
ev
el
os
9
12
Bus 3
8 blocks
4
3
41
6
J14
12
10
28
1400 S.
ve
McFetridge
Hutchinson
Field
600 S.
1000 S.
14th
8
11
mpus Dri
Roosevelt
Michigan
LaSalle St.
Station
State
rev. 1/13
Alphabetical List of Downtown Hotels
1 Allerton Hotel, D-3
19 The Fairmont Chicago, E-6
38 Hotel Monaco, D-5
56 The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, D-2
2 Amalfi Hotel, C-5
20 Four Points by Sheraton, D-3
39 Hotel Sax, C-5
57 The Seneca Hotel & Suites, E-2
3 Best Western Grant Park Hotel, D-10
21 Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, D-2
40 Hyatt Regency Chicago, D-5
58 Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, E-4
4 Best Western River North Hotel, C-4
22 Hampton Inn & Suites, C-4
41 Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, E-11
59 Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, D-2
5 The Blackstone, A Renaissance Hotel, D-9
23 Hampton Majestic, C-7
42 Inn of Chicago, D-4
6 Chicago Marriott Downtown Hotel, D-4
24 Hard Rock Hotel, D-5
43 InterContinental Chicago, D-4
60 Springhill Suites Marriott Chicago Downtown , C-5
7 Congress Plaza Hotel, D-8
25 Hilton Chicago Inn, D-9
44 The James Hotel Chicago, D-4
8 Conrad Chicago, D-4
26 Hilton Suites Chicago-Mag. Mile, D-2
45 La Quinta, B-7
61 The Sutton Place Hotel, D-1
62 Swissotel Chicago, E-5
9 Courtyard by Marriott Mag. Mile, D-3
27 Hilton Garden Inn, C-4
46 Millennium Knickerbocker Chicago Hotel, D-2
10 Courtyard by Marriott Downtown/ River North, C-4
28 Holiday Inn & Suites, A-8
47 Omni Ambassador East, D-1
11 Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro, A-7
29 Holiday Inn – Mart Plaza, A-5
48 Omni Chicago Hotel, D-3
30 Homewood Suites by Hilton, D-4
49 Palmer House Hilton, D-7
31 Hostelling International, C-8
50 Park Hyatt Chicago Hotel, D-2
32 Hotel 71, D-5
51 The Peninsula Chicago, D-3
33 Hotel Allegro Chicago, B-6
52 Radisson Hotel & Suites Chicago, D-3
34 Hotel Cass - A Holiday Inn Express, C-3
53 Red Roof Inn Chicago, D-3
35 Hotel Dana, C-37
54 Renaissance Chicago Hotel, C-5
36 Hotel Felix, C-3
55 Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown Mag. Mile, E-2
12 Crowne Plaza - Silversmith Hotel, D-7
13 Doubletree Hotel Chgo Mag Mile, E-4
14 The Drake Hotel, D-1
15 Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown, C-4
16 Embassy Suites Chicago Lakefront, E-4
17 Essex Inn, D-9
18 Fairfield Inn Suites Chicago
Downtown, E-3
37 Hotel Indigo, C-1
63 The Talbott Hotel, C-2
64 Travelodge Downtown Hotel, D-9
65 Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, D-5
66 W Chicago City Center, B-7
67 W Chicago Lake Shore, F-3
68 The Westin Michigan Avenue, D-2
69 The Westin River North, C-5
70 Whitehall Hotel, D-2
71 The Wit, C-5
72 Wyndham Blake, C-8
73 Wyndham Chicago, D-3
12JD007
Clinton
Canal
Jackson
6
10
J14
28
Museum
Ca
Union
Station
3
4
Indiana
Stop near Metra station
CTA rail station
Bus route terminal
Adams
8th
17
130
Operates daily Memorial Day
weekend through Labor Day every
15 minutes, from 9:30am to 6pm.
N
Balbo
25
RED LINE
Ro
Jefferson
Michigan
Halsted
Lake
5
J14
28
Daily until 1:25AM
to Midway
Daily at all
times north
to Howard or
south to 95th
#130 Museum Campus
Ogilvie
Station
7
147
126
ORANGE LINE
9th
400 S.
Congress
3
4
6
Michigan
Washington
Madison
Union
Station
7
Wabash
United
Center
Millennium
Station
Plymouth
No Stops
Van Buren
Street Station
6 10
29
130
146
Polk
Federal
Ogilvie
Transp
Center
Randolph
Jackson
147
64
State
Dearborn
N
200 S.
28
126
147
31
29
130
146
22
No stops between
Halsted and United Center
7
Lake Michigan
22
Bus stop
Bus route terminal
Harbor
72
Not Shown on Map
Service for Bulls, Blackhawks,
and concerts
6
10
36
Clark
#19 United Center Express Bus
LaSalle
Wells
157
One block
Financial Pl.
Harrison
0 N/S
Monroe
3
6
J14
36
ive
28
Millennium
Grant
Park
Park
3
4
6
J14
Lake Shore Drive
157
Millennium Station
at Randolph Street
Columbus
LaSalle
Street
Station
r
re D
Sho
Eisenhower Expressway
6
60
•
126 130
y
ar
br
.Li
W
H.
36
Westshore
7
Jackson
lle
7
60
130
Sa
60
Randolph
200 N.
Breakwater
126
28
Van Buren
n
to
in
Cl
Field
22
36
28 126 130 151
7
157
3 blocks
Greyhound
Bus Station
22
Benton
4
147
151
Quincy
cy
in
Qu
28 126 130 151
151
7 126 130
Field
Jackson
49
La
begins
36
146
147
66
J14
12
Park
Union/
Amtrak
Station
7
124
157
7 28 126 130 151
23
6
10
29
19
60
4
151
147
Monroe
J14
Franklin
Canal
J14
Wacker
Clinton
•
ends
126
J14 20 56 157
45
Monroe
28
151
22
Lake
Columbus
J14 20 56 60 124 157
124
157
60
3
6
124
147
151
157
Michigan
on
gt
in
h
as
W
ends
Adams
7
126
7
60
Washington
20 56
Washington
5
Waterside
lower level
South Water
4 124
S. Water
•
146
State Street Subway
60
11
124 3 blocks
126
33
124
60 130
Madison
36
Dearborn Street Subway
J14
124
Lake
PINK LINE
56 60 124 157
151
157
146
Daily until 1:25 AM
to 54th/Cermak
20
J14
24
400 N.
Wacker
62
40
157
146 32
10
38
New
54
6
Stetson
6
10
29 71
6
Wabash
State
Dearborn
Clark
LaSalle
ns
lea
Wells
Or
124
58
N. Water
124
Chicago River
39
10
Park
t
ar
M
36
4
29 65 66 124
Cityfront
Plaza
se
di
an
ch
er
M
ry
bu
Wacker
Lake
gs
29
36
146
147
151
157
65
29 65 66 124
Illinois
3
10
Lake
Center
igan
Mich
Kin
22 2
k
130 Ogilvie Transportation
43
10
22
66
600 N.
16
29 65
Kinzie
3
124 NAVY PIER
Direct from Union,
Ogilvie and Millennium
Metra stations daily.
Grand
8
65
ar
Cl
One block
Lake
6
29 65
60
800 N.
67
13
42
27 30
65
Hubbard
McClurg
44
4
Illinois
3
9 53 73 18
157
GREEN LINE
n
3
66
157
Fairbanks
20
2
157
69
Clin
to
157
1 52
Ohio
Daily until 1:20 AM
to Harlem/Lake or 63rd
157
St. Clair
22
29
Fulton
begins
48
Michigan
34
15
Grand
Daily at all times
to O'Hare
or Forest Park
3
10
146
147
151
36
35
Wells
Orleans
Franklin
Ontario
65
BLUE LINE
CTA
Hdqtrs.
Michigan
Dearborn
Clark
Erie
36
Rush
Huron
Wabash
PURPLE LINE
EXPRESS
Kennedy/Dan Ryan
Expressway
Feeder Ramp
51
State
Superior
56
57
3 10 66
66
LaSalle
Hudson
Kingsbury
Weekdays and Saturdays
until 1:00AM; Sundays
until 12:15 AM to Kimball
10
55
50
22
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).
59
Chestnut
Pearson
BROWN LINE
6:00 AM to 10:15 AM
3:15 PM to 7:10 PM to
Linden (Weekdays only)
146
147
151
70
Chicago
66
46
26
68
21
Chestnut
200 W.
Sedgwick
400 W.
Place
22
1000 N.
14
63
Delaware
36
1
East Lake Shore Drive
Walton
Walton
22
Institute
Oak
Dewitt
Visitor Information
Centers
151 147
Mies van der Rohe
Downtown
Attractions
(see list above)
RED LINE
400 E.
Accessible station
Bellevue
Daily at all times
north to Howard
or south to 95th
N
O
R
T
H
rD
rive
146
61
Rush
Free connection
with farecard
(walk between stations)
300 E.
36
Free connection
Maple
Chicago History
Museum
.5 miles
Bus 22
te
CTA rail station
47
Nature Museum
& Zoo
1.5 miles
Bus 151
200 E.
10
37
3 blocks
F
Ou
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
36
(see list below)
100 E.
rive
er D
Inn
36
3 blocks
0 E/W
Direction of
travel around
Loop elevated
100 W.
CTA trains
E
D
C
B