Transportation

Not all of the system’s train lines are elevated (which is where the term ‘L’ comes from). The color-coded system connects the city via above-ground, street-level, and subway trains, and serves 145 rail stations all over town. 

Two lines operate 24/7: the Blue Line, which connects Chicago O’Hare International Airport and downtown, and the Red Line, with service between the North and South Sides via downtown. 

The CTA is a fast and affordable way to get to and from Chicago’s international airports: 

Blue Line service from O’Hare to downtown takes about 40 minutes. 

Orange Line service from Midway to downtown takes about 25 minutes. 

Train fare is $2.50 per ride, with reduced fares and unlimited day passes available. The Blue Line from O’Hare costs $5. 

Learn more about  how to ride the train in Chicago. 

Convenient CTA bus routes travel throughout the city, with stops every few blocks. The CTA bus system includes more than 120 lines that cover 1,516 miles and serve over 10,000 bus stops throughout Chicago.  

Bus fare is $2.25 per ride, with reduced fares and unlimited day passes available.  

Learn more about how to ride the bus in Chicago.  

How to get CTA train and bus tickets:   
There are a few ways you can pay for your bus and train fare:  

• Cash: Cash can be used directly on Chicago buses; train fare cannot be paid with cash.  

• Ventra vending machines: You can buy disposable paper tickets and reloadable cards at Ventra vending machines (located in every ‘L’ station).  

• Retail locations: More than 1,000 local businesses sell reloadable Ventra cards. Find locations.  

• Mobile pay apps: Ventra readers can accept contactless payments directly from mobile devices, using Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.  

TIP:  Download the Ventra app to track arrival/departure times for CTA buses and ‘L’ trains, and to reload your balance on the go. And check our transit maps of the CTA bus and train routes.  

#3 King Drive bus: This is the most common bus route to McCormick Place as it runs both north and south from the McCormick Place campus along Michigan Avenue, including stops at many downtown hotels, the Magnificent Mile, and Water Tower Place.  

#21 Cermak bus: This bus runs east and west along W. Cermak Rd., covering a 10-mile distance west of McCormick Place campus. This is the bus to take to transfer to the Green or Red “L” trains.  

Additional Nearby Stations and Routes  

#4 Cottage Grove bus  

#X4 Cottage Grove Express bus  

#1 Bronzeville/Union Station bus  

 #3 King Drive Route Map with Hotels  

Metra and CTA Bus Routes Map    

Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station  
The nearest CTA “L” train station to McCormick Place is the Green line Cermak-McCormick Place station, located at the intersection of E. Cermak Road and S. State Street, 2 blocks (0.15 mile) from the northwest corner of the McCormick Place West Building.  

Connections to Other Trains, Airports  
The CTA Green Line Route offers convenient citywide connections to the Loop and free transfers to many other “L” lines including the Blue Line – O’Hare Airport branch, and the Orange Line – Midway Airport branch. The Green Line also offers near-direct connection to suburban METRA train stations servicing the North and Western Suburbs via Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and Amtrak – via the Clinton Green Line stop.  

• Metra Train and CTA Bus City Map  
• Metra Train and CTA Bus Locations at or near McCormick Place  

The CTA “L” trains provide service to Downtown Chicago and McCormick Place from both international airports.  

From O’Hare International Airport: The CTA Blue line provides service to and from the airport. Take the Blue Line from O’Hare and transfer to a south-bound Green Line train at Clark and Lake. Note, in the Loop the Blue Line is a Subway Train and the Green Line is an elevated train. Free transfer is available at Clark and Lake.  

From Midway Airport: The CTA Orange line provides service to and from the airport. Take the train to the Roosevelt Street Station (Subway) and transfer to the elevated Green Line Station. Continue on the southbound Green Line train for 1-stop to the Cermak-McCormick Place station.  

The Cermark-McCormick Place Station is a two- block (0.15 miles) walk from the Northwest Corner of the McCormick Place West Building.  

Metra Electric Rail Connection   

Here is helpful information for using Metra to trave from McCormick Place to Midway or O’Hare airports.  

Taking Metra from the McCormick Place: Located on Level 2.5 of the Grand Concourse in the South Building, the METRA Electric commuter railroad provides direct service within seven minutes to and from downtown Chicago. Service from the Millennium (Randolph St.) Station (near the Fairmont Hotel) to McCormick Place begins early morning, with more frequent pick-ups during rush hours.  

Shuttle connections (via CTA bus) can be made to the METRA system at Chicago Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center and LaSalle Street Station. METRA services the Midwest as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin; northwest to Fox Lake and Harvard; west to Elgin, Geneva and Aurora; southwest to Joliet and Orland Park; south to University Park; and east to South Bend, Indiana. Metra/CTA Bus Map  

Here is helpful information for using Metra to traveling from McCormick Place to Midway or O’Hare airports. 

Chicago is an extremely walkable big city, largely thanks to its organized grid system.  

Madison Street divides the city north and south, while State Street divides it east and west. The State and Madison intersection in downtown Chicago marks the starting point of Chicago’s grid system. Addresses are relative to the distance from this point, with eight blocks to every mile. So, an address of 3600 N. Clark St. means that it is 36 blocks north of Madison Street.  

Walkers can also take advantage of the Chicago Pedway, a system of underground tunnels that connect more than 40 blocks in the Central Business District. Covering roughly five miles, the Pedway connects buildings, public transit and more while protecting pedestrians from the elements.