Hello again, admitted students! We are looking forward to your visit next weekend.
We know that navigating a new city can be a bit baffling, especially when you are only staying for a short time. Sure, Google Maps can be your best pal in that situation, but it doesn’t always show you all of the options. Below are some of our recommendations regarding transportation. Please feel free to reach out to ma-humanities[at]uchicago[dot]edu should you have any questions!
From the Airport
- O’Hare: The Blue Line runs straight from ORD to the Loop, where you can grab any other L train or the buses that go to Hyde Park (see below).
- Midway: The 55 bus goes straight from Midway to Hyde Park. The 55th & Ellis stop is essentially on campus, but some of you might be staying farther east, as ask your host (or Google) which stop you should use. You can also jump on the Orange Line from Midway. This will take you to the Loop, where you can grab a train to another neighborhood if you are staying/hanging out outside of Hyde Park.
From the Loop to Hyde Park (and vice versa)
- During rush hour on the weekdays, the 2 bus runs express to/from the Loop and 57th & Stony Island. The 60th & Ellis stop will drop you off directly across the Midway from the Classics Building (1010 E. 59th Street), home of the MAPH Office and many Campus Days activities.
- The 6 bus, which runs express to/from the Loop and 47th, makes more stops throughout Hyde Park. It also runs all day everyday and into the night (south from 5:00 am until 1:00 am and north from 4:00 am until ~midnight). If you are staying outside of the neighborhood, this will probably be your bus.
- The Metra Electric Line goes from Millennium Station to 57th and 59th street. Riding the Metra is more expensive than the CTA, but it is speedy and pleasant.
- Free apps like Transit Stop, Busboy, and TransLoc (which is specific to buses in Hyde Park) can help you track your buses and trains. When it comes to nighttime trips back to and from Hyde Park, the 6 stops running at about the same time that we recommend you resolve to take a cab. In the past, visitors have found that sharing cabs or taking the train to the Loop and then a cab the rest of the way helps cut down on costs. See below for cab/cab alternative information.
Within Hyde Park
- The 170, 171, and 172 buses travel throughout Hyde Park.
- The University also runs daytime shuttles that follow routes throughout the neighborhood, including to/from the Metra stations. There is also a 53rd street shuttle that makes getting from campus to businesses and residences near 53rd & Lake Park a breeze.
- The UGO NightRide shuttles will come in handy, well, at night. For example, after the Welcome Reception/Dinner on Sunday night, you can hop onto the South Route shuttle right outside the Logan Center.
- We will have passes that will get you onto the shuttles (and into the library!) in the information packets you will receive on Sunday afternoon. However, if you are using these services before then, you should be able to get on by just telling the driver that you are prospective student.
Parking
- Parking on Saturday/Sunday should be no problem. However, if you are driving down on Monday, I recommend budgeting some extra time for this task, as parking spots around campus tend to have disappeared by an ungodly hour on the weekday. You can usually find something on the Midway after circling around a few times, but, if that doesn’t work out, there is a free lot on 60th & Stony Island that is open 24/7. It is a bit of a walk from the main quad, but it’s a good backup spot.
Cabbing, etc.
- As you may already know, ride-sharing apps, such as Uber and Lyft, provide popular [and often cheaper] alternatives to cabs in cities like Chicago.
- Hailo can help pin down cabs in places where it is harder to hail one
- Cab companies in Chicago: Yellow Cab, Flash Cab, Chicago Carriage Cab