Chicago Parking

[paul253]

I’m looking for some advice about parking in Chicago.
 

My wife and I are going to visit on a Saturday in October. The plan is to probably start off at the Shedd then head a little north to the area of Navy Pier, park my car somewhere then spend 5-6 hours walking around. I’m trying to figure out the best way to do this. I don’t mind spending $40-$50 or so to leave it in a structure for 5-6 hours if that’s my only option but I don’t know how expensive garages are down there and the websites don’t seem to offer much help in that regard. Also curious about how safe it is to leave cars in structures all day like that as far as car breaks ins go.  
 

Anyone familiar with the area that has some advice?

[homer]

I don't think the garages will be that pricey on a weekend but I'd check out Spot Hero. You can reserve a spot and it's usually a lot cheaper. I use it when I drive down for work and it's saved me money. \

[LouisEly]

Anything close to the Museum campus (Shedd, Field Museum, Soldier Field) will be expensive for parking, as will anything near Navy Pier.  Speaking of Soldier, check to see if there is a soccer game or Northwestern Football game that day that will make parking even more expensive/harder to find.

Similar to what homer said, download the Parking.com app (you literally have to search for "parking.com app" or "sp+ parking" in the app/Play store; it's a black letter "P" with a small red car inside of the "P").  Many parking lots in Chicago are owned by/affiliated with SP+, the company that owns the Parking.com app, and won't show up or are more expensive on Spot Hero.  The lot at the Museum campus is owned by SP+ but may close at 6pm (museums close at 5pm).

Don't plan on walking from Shedd to Navy Pier - it's a lot longer walk than you think (2 miles).  And, personally, I think Shedd is overrated - the Field Museum is a much better bet.  As far as vehicle safety goes, assuming you won't be parking there at 3am you'll be fine.  During the daytime there is too much activity/too many people around where they would easily get seen/identified. 

I might recommend parking by Navy Pier, then Uber to Shedd and back.  There will be a lot more people around Navy Pier after 6pm than the Museum campus for vehicle safety reasons.  Nobody is down by the Museum campus after 6pm unless there is a night Bears game or a concert at Northerly Island.

[homer]

If you want to just park sort of near Navy Pier and leave your car for the day, the 146 bus runs from the museum campus up and down Michigan Ave.  It will probably be filled with tourists on a summer weekend. Michigan Ave to Navy Pier is about 3/4 of a mile (or you can transfer to the 29 which takes you right to Navy Pier but if the weather is nice it's not worth it, IMO).
https://www.transitchicago.com/bus/146/

You can pay with the Ventra app

[Fear The Chorizo]

23 hours ago, paul253 said:

I’m looking for some advice about parking in Chicago.
 

My wife and I are going to visit on a Saturday in October. The plan is to probably start off at the Shedd then head a little north to the area of Navy Pier, park my car somewhere then spend 5-6 hours walking around. I’m trying to figure out the best way to do this. I don’t mind spending $40-$50 or so to leave it in a structure for 5-6 hours if that’s my only option but I don’t know how expensive garages are down there and the websites don’t seem to offer much help in that regard. Also curious about how safe it is to leave cars in structures all day like that as far as car breaks ins go.  
 

Anyone familiar with the area that has some advice?

Can I ask where you're coming into Chicago from?  There might be some solid options to park near public transit (Metra or El train stations), then use those to get into the downtown/museum campus area before heading back to your car that would be parked somewhere much cheaper.

if you want your car down there with you, Millenium Park has a garage that would be centrally located between the Shedd and Navy Pier area - then just Uber or take public transit one way or the other.  This would not be the cheapest option.  

Finally, as LouisEly pointed out, look into the Field Museum....I'd also point towards wandering through Millenium Park or checking out the Art Institute as solid options ahead of venturing over to the Navy Pier tourist trap :)

[paul253]

We are staying at a hotel in Deerfield for the weekend. I was looking at hotels in the area so we could just park at a hotel garage all weekend and walk everywhere but the hotels are ungodly expensive that weekend. There’s a Metra Station in Deerfield that we could use to get to Union Station but I’ve never taken the Metr before so I was a little leery of that. We aren’t 100% for sure going to the Shedd but we definitely want to walk around Navy Pier and that area. 

[homer]

11 hours ago, paul253 said:

We are staying at a hotel in Deerfield for the weekend. I was looking at hotels in the area so we could just park at a hotel garage all weekend and walk everywhere but the hotels are ungodly expensive that weekend. There’s a Metra Station in Deerfield that we could use to get to Union Station but I’ve never taken the Metr before so I was a little leery of that. We aren’t 100% for sure going to the Shedd but we definitely want to walk around Navy Pier and that area. 

I'd look into Metra. I'm guessing it'd be about a 45 min train ride but the traffic to/from Deerfield could be maddening so that might be a wash. You can buy your ticket on the same Ventra app you use with the bus system. I think it's like $7 per person for unlimited rides on the weekends. Save the $20+ on parking and use it to buy a couple of cocktails since you aren't driving :)

[Fear The Chorizo]

15 hours ago, paul253 said:

We are staying at a hotel in Deerfield for the weekend. I was looking at hotels in the area so we could just park at a hotel garage all weekend and walk everywhere but the hotels are ungodly expensive that weekend. There’s a Metra Station in Deerfield that we could use to get to Union Station but I’ve never taken the Metr before so I was a little leery of that. We aren’t 100% for sure going to the Shedd but we definitely want to walk around Navy Pier and that area. 

If you're already out in the burbs, by all means find a Metra station on a line that runs consistently on weekends and use that to get downtown instead of spending twice as much time fighting traffic.  The Metra stations typically have lots where you can park your car for a fraction of the cost of anywhere downtown.  I will say Union Station is a bit of a hike from the downtown Lakefront - but it'd be super easy to snag an uber or cab from there directly to anywhere you'd want to go initially.

Another solid and very cost-friendly option for you would be to drive from Deerfield to the CTA Purple Line Linden station (Wilmette area).  I think they have a Park n Ride lot there - that line will get you to the Howard stop on the Red line, which runs right through the downtown area.  Might have to do a little homework on train line transfers once downtown if there are specific spots you want to visit - but i think you can purchase the Ventra day pass and have unlimited rides/transfers between train lines using that.  The Grand Red Line Station would basically put you straight west of Navy Pier area on State Street,