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Driving/Parking, Chicago

Lots of traffic in downtown Chicago - Chicago
Lots of traffic in downtown Chicago
by rmdw
Driving/Parking tips and advice posted by real travelers and Chicago locals.
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Driving/Parking: Driving in the Chicagoland area
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  • Dabs
  • By Dabs on January 19, 2004
  • Chicago Page by Dabs
  • If you are listening to traffic reports while driving through Chicago, in addition to the highway number, sections of these highways in and around Chicago have different names that they are more commonly known by

    Kennedy-highway 90/94 West runs north from downtown Chicago, at the Junction the Kennedy (90) keeps going northwest towards O'Hare and the Northwest suburbs, renamed after President John F. Kennedy after his assasination in 1963

    Edens Expressway-highway 94 West runs north from the Kennedy Junction to the north suburbs, named for William Edens, head of the Illinois Highway Improvement Association, who ironically never owned or drove a car.

    Dan Ryan-highway 90/94 East actually runs south from downtown, splits into the Bishop Ford (94) and the Chicago Skyway (90), named for Daniel B. Ryan, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

    Bishop Ford-highway 94 runs east from the Dan Ryan into Indiana, formerly named the Calumet Expressway, renamed in 1996 honor of the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford who had a church nearby.

    Eisenhower-highway 290, runs west from downtown Chicago to the western suburbs, named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, very appropriate as he was a major force in the development of interstate highways (although 290 isn't an interstate highway as it just runs through Illinois)

    Stevenson-highway 55, runs south from Chicago towards St. Louis, named after Illinois governor and presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson

    If you're a bigger geek than me and want more info, everything you could possibly want to know about the highways can be found at the website below.

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    Driving/Parking: Parking in Downtown Chicago
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  • rmdw
  • By rmdw on October 28, 2004
  • Chicago Page by rmdw
  • Lots of traffic in downtown Chicago - Chicago
    Lots of traffic in downtown
    Chicago
    by rmdw
    If you're going to be visiting downtown Chicago and thinking of driving there, my advice is: DON'T!!! Your best option is to park in a safe area near one of the El Train lines and then take the "El" downtown.

    But if you really do want to drive & park downtown then here are some garages that generally have lower cost parking rates:

    - The East Monroe Street and Millennium Park garages (enter at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street) Call (312) 742-7644 for lot and rate information.

    - Grant Park south garage (enter at Michigan Avenue between Van Buren and Adams) Call (312) 745-2862 for lot and rate information.

    - Grant Park north garage (enter at Michigan Avenue between Madison and Randolph) Call (312) 742-7530 for lot and rate information.

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  • Theme: Car/Motor Home
  • Website: http://www.choosechicago.com/map_downtown.html
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    Driving/Parking: Reversible lanes-Kennedy Expressway
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  • Dabs
  • Updated By Dabs on May 13, 2005
  • Chicago Page by Dabs
  • If you are driving north out of Chicago (outbound) or south into Chicago (inbound) on the Kennedy watch for the signs saying the Express lanes are open. Almost always, these lanes move faster than the local lanes.

    Don't use them if you need to exit before you can get out of them, there's one place you can exit in the middle and then again at the end.

    The lanes are reversible and change direction depending on which way the traffic is usually heaviest. The schedule,which can be overruled by IDOT, is 1 am to 11:30 am inbound and 1 pm to 11 pm outbound on Sunday-Friday. On Saturdays the express lanes are switched from outbound to inbound sometime between 1:30 pm and 5 pm and back to outbound sometime between 5 pm and 8 pm.

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    Driving/Parking: Chicago Skyway
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  • Dabs
  • Updated By Dabs on April 11, 2008
  • Chicago Page by Dabs
  • If you are heading into/out of Chicago via the Indiana Toll Road, you will spend a portion of your trip on the Chicago Skyway. As the price keeps rising and rising and rising, I'm less inclined to use this to get to and from home to Chicago than Highway 41 which eventually merges into Lake Shore Drive. If I'm not in a real hurry, I almost always avoid the Skyway now.

    If you do drive it, watch out for the ever present Chicago Police Department writing tickets to speeders, it is practically guaranteed that you will see one during your trip. They lurk on the on ramps and at the bottom of hills so you'd be advised not to go too fast.

    And if you are unlucky enough to be continuing on to the Indiana Toll Road, you will get hit within a few miles with yet another 50 cent toll.

    In 2004, the City of Chicago agreed to sell the Skyway and the toll, which had been $2 since 1993 rose to $2.50 and in 2008 rose to $3 and will likely continue to rise as the agreement allows for a series of increases up to $5 by 2017. You can use your Illinois I Pass, Indiana I Zoom or the EZ Pass (used in northeast US states) to pay the toll on the Skyway but there is no discount over cash like there is on the Indiana and Illinois toll roads. At least you avoid the long cash lines!

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    Driving/Parking: Parking on North Michigan Avenue
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  • Dabs
  • Updated By Dabs on April 18, 2007
  • Chicago Page by Dabs
  • Street parking near the shopping area on North Michigan Avenue is nearly impossible. When we go in the evening we either park at 900 N. Michigan where the have validation with a $5 purchase. The parking with validation is $6, $21 without validation. If nothing else, there is a bookstore in the mall where you can go buy a cheap book.

    2007 update, I found the Sterling Self Park on Kinzie between LaSalle and Clark recently, after 3 pm and on the weekends it's $8.

    Prices are subject to change, check the signs before you pull into the garage.

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    Driving/Parking: Driving in Chicago
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  • sambarnett
  • Updated By sambarnett on January 15, 2003
  • Chicago Page by sambarnett
  • Driving/Parking - Chicago
    by sambarnett
    TO drive or not to drive, that is the question. I approach it this way: If I’m going to the Loop or the North Side, particularly Cubs day games, I prefer to use public transportation. Anything on the South or West side I usually drive.
       Get a map, learn it and create wacky short cuts, the Interstates occasionally resemble parking lots. Driving around the Loop, especially during rush hour, is a tiring game of skill, wit and perseverance.

    Pictured: So rare I had to capture it in pictures. The Dyan Ryan, NOT clogged up.

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    Driving/Parking: Parking Downtown Chicago
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  • Florida999
  • By Florida999 on October 5, 2006
  • Chicago Page by Florida999
  • Chicago is the first large city I have ever had to park in where it was very easy to do so. The city planners did a great job providing parking garages all over downtown.
    We had no problem at all finding a parking garage, getting a space in one, or figuring out how to pay. Very well thought out. It was $14 per day, but, compared to the hassle of parking in other cities, I would say it was worth it.

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    Driving/Parking: Hire A Hummer
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  • IrishFem
  • Updated By IrishFem on February 10, 2006
  • Chicago Page by IrishFem
  • Hummer - Chicago
    Hummer
    by IrishFem, 1 more photos
    Thats excactly what we did. Well actually got a loan of a Hummer for a few days. I have never driven a tank before but it felt like it was a tank l was driving. The Hummer would not fit into my garage at home it was so big, and its amazing the way other cars get off the road when your driving this huge tank. I enjoyed the experience.

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    Driving/Parking: For Sunny Days
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  • IrishFem
  • Updated By IrishFem on June 16, 2005
  • Chicago Page by IrishFem
  • Red Head - Chicago
    Red Head
    by IrishFem
    A must for when the sun is out. Coming from Dublin we don't get to use cars like this very often so l took the opportunity to borrow this car to see what it was like. Great if your used to the sun but l burned the head off myself... Lucky my hair is red, no one noticed. Ah the pain of it all... won't forget sunscreen again.

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    Driving/Parking: Big cars in this City
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  • IrishFem
  • Updated By IrishFem on June 16, 2005
  • Chicago Page by IrishFem
  • Driving/Parking - Chicago
    by IrishFem
    Driving in Chicago is a bit scary if your anyway nervous. The rules of the road slightly differ to the rules in my country. For example the "Chicago Left". Basically you can turn left on a red unless a sign states not to do so. I found it cool to crash a red light but you do need eyes in the back of your head because Chicagoans drive very fast and change lanes at high speed.

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