Getting to Hyde Park (the Dorms & the Ramada)

Probably the best way to get to Hyde Park from either airport is the Omega Shuttle. Omega shuttle fares are $17 from Midway, and $30 from O'Hare (a cab from O'Hare will be >$50, Midway >$20). There is a discount for two or more passengers to the same stop, but you should ask for it.

Here is the O'Hare schedule and boarding locations; this is the Midway schedule.

Omega Shuttle drops off in front of the Quadrangle Club, which is one block from the Max Palevsky dorm (walk west 1/2 block, then turn right immediately before the library (huge structure of concrete, can't miss it), and walk alongside the library. You'll pass a large purple entrance to the dorm, but please go to 56th Street to go in the main entrance, bright yellow with a big ramp (again ... missing it not easy). Check-in will be there.

The Omega shuttle will also stop at the Ramada.

NOTE: if you are returning to Midway from Hyde Park, you should call Omega (773-734-6688) 24 hours in advance to reserve your return trip.

You *can* take public transport from either airport to Hyde Park (it's easier from Midway). Use this trip planner to do so. Note: it will take a loooong time (several hours) to get to Hyde Park from O'Hare via CTA.

The address of Max Palevsky (if you're taking a cab) is 1101 East 56th Street Chicago, IL 60637.

The address of the Ramada Lake Shore is 4900 S Lakeshore Drive Chicago, IL, 60615.

Getting Around in Chicago

You can take taxis anywhere in Chicago; from the airports or downtown to Hyde Park (where the university is located) it is easy to hail a cab. From Hyde Park to these destinations or elsewhere is less easy because there are fewer cabs on the streets – but you can call one to pick you up. The biggest company is Yellow Cab (phone 312 TAXICAB). If you are staying at a hotel, you can ask the front desk to get you a taxi. A taxi from O’Hare Airport to Hyde Park costs about $60; from Midway Airport to Hyde Park about $25-30; and from downtown to Hyde Park, about $25.

You can also use Chicago’s extensive public transportation system, called the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority), which consists of buses and trains. The CTA’s trip planner is at

http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/


and is a valuable resource for planning trips. When using the trip planner, use “Museum of Science and Industry” as your landmark origin/destination if you are staying in a hotel. Use “University of Chicago – main campus” if you are staying in the dorms.

The following CTA routes will be of interest to conference attendees:

Bus No. 55 and X55: Both run along 55th street. You can take either of these buses to/from Midway Airport and the conference, but be aware that this journey takes you through a neighborhood that may jangle your nerves. For shorter journeys, the 55 bus is a convenient way to get from the east side of Hyde Park, where the hotels are, to the main campus. The X55 makes fewer stops and is good for the airport but not good for travel within Hyde Park.

Bus No. 6: This is an express bus that runs between Hyde Park and downtown Chicago. It is the most economical way to get downtown.

Bus No. 10: This is an express bus that runs between the Museum of Science and Industry (in Hyde Park) and downtown Chicago. It is less frequent than the No. 6.

Blue Line: This is the elevated and underground train that runs between O’Hare Airport and downtown Chicago.

All CTA transportation is paid for with fare cards. These can be purchased and topped up at any CTA train station. The cost of a ride on a bus is $1.75, plus an additional 25 cents if your ride involves a transfer (to another bus). A train ride costs $2.00. You can pay with cash on buses only; the cash fare is $2.00 and you must have exact change. You can also purchase a 3 or 5 day visitor pass that will be good on all forms of CTA transportation.

The Metra Electric Line is not operated by the CTA. It runs relatively fast trains between Hyde Park and downtown. There are three stations in Hyde Park, near the hotels. See the link below for timetables. A one-way ride is $2.15. The downtown destination is Millennium Station.

Metra Schedule

[Thanks to DSNA member Orin Hargraves for this writeup ... Orin is the author of the guidebook Chicago At Your Door (sold abroad under the title Living and Working in Chicago), and available on Amazon and elsewhere ...]