Chicago - Cost of cabs in Chicago centre

Can anyone advise me how easy it would be to catch a cab from Union Station to the Affina Hotel on East Superior Street & roughly what cost?

In addition we have one full day to try & cram in The Museum of Science & Industry & the Adler Planitarium. The CTA bus system looks a little daunting according to the plan i put in & we were thinking of catching a cab down to the Musuem of Science & Industry & another to the planitarium but it depends on the cost.

I am used to using London Transport but it looks more confusing in Chicago!

Any advice/opinions would be helpful.:D

Do the Art Institute and the Chicago Symphony with a nice dinner at Miller's Pub.

More bang for your time/bucks.

Your Welcome.

tanya934, I hope you enjoy your stay in Chicago!

Catching a cab from Union Station should be very easy, they are usually everywhere. Make sure you get out on Canal street, as that is one way in the direction of your travel. Cost should be relatively cheap, I can say with 100% certainty but considering the distance it should be about $10. You can also walk to the L Red Line but the station is a few blocks away and if it's cold/have bags/other people with you it may be too much of a hassle just to save a few bucks.

Do the Art Institute and the Chicago Symphony with a nice dinner at Miller's Pub.

More bang for your time/bucks.

Your Welcome.

Thanks for the suggestion but we really want to see the Apollo & Gemini capsules they have on display at the 2 museums. I would like to do the Art insitute if we have time & if it's open later than 5.00pm.

tanya934, I hope you enjoy your stay in Chicago!

Catching a cab from Union Station should be very easy, they are usually everywhere. Make sure you get out on Canal street, as that is one way in the direction of your travel. Cost should be relatively cheap, I can say with 100% certainty but considering the distance it should be about $10. You can also walk to the L Red Line but the station is a few blocks away and if it's cold/have bags/other people with you it may be too much of a hassle just to save a few bucks.

Will the Cab drivers try & rip you off the way they did to us NYC by taking you a less direct route & therefore putting more on the meter?
We're getting off the Amtrak Empire Builder train so will be a little train lagged after a 47 hour rail journey so a cab looks like the best option.

It is about 2 miles from Union Station to Affinia Hotel. Taxi fare about $ 10.00
A $ 1.00 surcharge is currently added on as a "fuel surcharge" when gas goes above $ 3.00 gal
Hope your Empire Builder train arrives at a decent hour. Over the last 2 weeks it has been running significantly late ( 4 or more hours late) due to weather delays.
The CTA # 10 bus operates every 30 minutes (at :55 and :25 past) down Michigan ave and express to MSI fare $ 2.25 cash or $ 2.00 with fare card.

Will the Cab drivers try & rip you off the way they did to us NYC by taking you a less direct route & therefore putting more on the meter?
We're getting off the Amtrak Empire Builder train so will be a little train lagged after a 47 hour rail journey so a cab looks like the best option.

I hope not, I've never had that happen to me but then again there are no guarantees. If you tell them you are going to Affinia hotel on Superior, just east of Michigan, it should be no problem.

http://www.worldtaximeter.com/

Will the Cab drivers try & rip you off the way they did to us NYC by taking you a less direct route & therefore putting more on the meter?
We're getting off the Amtrak Empire Builder train so will be a little train lagged after a 47 hour rail journey so a cab looks like the best option.

You shouldn't have a problem with cabbies trying to rip you off -- streets here are so easy to understand that most people know general directions and whether or not they're going on the best path -- so cabbies rarely screw around.

You've got nothing to worry about.

In addition we have one full day to try & cram in The Museum of Science & Industry & the Adler Planitarium. The CTA bus system looks a little daunting according to the plan i put in & we were thinking of catching a cab down to the Musuem of Science & Industry & another to the planitarium but it depends on the cost.

Actually there is good bus service that can take you from downtown to the Musem. I am not a frequent bus traveller but I found it easy. Once you know the Bus route number from the CTA web. My friend tells me CTA has a I-Phone App that you can put in the Route number and it checks your location and tells you how many minutes till the next bus arrives.

Once you are on the bus their are recordrd announcemnets telling you the next stop. Also if you ask the driver when you get on to tell you when you have got to the Musem stop they will do it. Though it is really obvious because you go through a largely residential area then come to a Park with a huge Museum building.

Can anyone advise me how easy it would be to catch a cab from Union Station to the Affina Hotel on East Superior Street & roughly what cost?

In addition we have one full day to try & cram in The Museum of Science & Industry & the Adler Planitarium. The CTA bus system looks a little daunting according to the plan i put in & we were thinking of catching a cab down to the Musuem of Science & Industry & another to the planitarium but it depends on the cost.

I am used to using London Transport but it looks more confusing in Chicago!

Any advice/opinions would be helpful.:D

Once nice thing about Chicago is that you don't have to calculate how much a trip will cost on the rapid transit. Every trip is the same price. I'd take a cab to the Museum of Science and Industry too.

One thing people find very confusing I've heard is that Chicago has multiple stops on different lines with the same names. That's because the stops are (almost always) named after the street where they are stopping as opposed to a particular location.

Have a great trip. :)

One thing people find very confusing I've heard is that Chicago has multiple stops on different lines with the same names. That's because the stops are (almost always) named after the street where they are stopping as opposed to a particular location.

Yep, 5 stops named Western, but that's not surprising since Western is the longest continuous street in the city.

Yep, 5 stops named Western, but that's not surprising since Western is the longest continuous street in the city.

In fact, it's the longest city street in the world that doesn't change names. There's a longer street in Toronto but it changes names a couple times. I forget what it's called.

My friend tells me CTA has a I-Phone App that you can put in the Route number and it checks your location and tells you how many minutes till the next bus arrives.

You can also go to ctabustracker.com on any computer or smartphone.

It is about 2 miles from Union Station to Affinia Hotel. Taxi fare about $ 10.00
A $ 1.00 surcharge is currently added on as a "fuel surcharge" when gas goes above $ 3.00 gal
Hope your Empire Builder train arrives at a decent hour. Over the last 2 weeks it has been running significantly late ( 4 or more hours late) due to weather delays.
The CTA # 10 bus operates every 30 minutes (at :55 and :25 past) down Michigan ave and express to MSI fare $ 2.25 cash or $ 2.00 with fare card.

Slight correction: It's when the price of fuel goes over $3.20 for seven consecutive days, which is in effect.

Also, any additional passenger is $1.00 for the first and $.0.50 for the additional ones.

Ten dollars is pretty accurate (and that would include tip). I live three blocks from that hotel and work three blocks before Union Station and take a cab every day. Around $8.00 depending upon traffic and time of day.

Ten dollars is pretty accurate (and that would include tip). I live three blocks from that hotel and work three blocks before Union Station and take a cab every day. Around $8.00 depending upon traffic and time of day.

Are you getting miles for that? :cool:

In fact, it's the longest city street in the world that doesn't change names.


There was an article once in TIMEOUT mag where one of their folks walked the entire marathon-plus length of Western and described what it was like. Interesting idea for a story.:

http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/features/21265/shes-gotta-ave-it

There was an article once in TIMEOUT mag where one of their folks walked the entire marathon-plus length of Western and described what it was like. Interesting idea for a story.:

http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/features/21265/shes-gotta-ave-it

Another similar book I love is Studs Terkel's Division Street, which is an anthologie of stories from people of the entire length of Division.

I hope not, I've never had that happen to me but then again there are no guarantees. If you tell them you are going to Affinia hotel on Superior, just east of Michigan, it should be no problem.

Reading this reminded me of one trip, I asked the taxi driver to go to "Embassy Suites" and apparently he heard "NBC"...!

I am used to using London Transport but it looks more confusing in Chicago!


If you've mastered London's system then Chicago is much easier! We're on a grid so its pretty simple. Most buses (generally speaking) only go East/West or North/South. Some of the express/longer distance ones might change streets when they get into/out of downtown or the loop but they still head basically the same direction.

Trains are easy too ... while they don't help you for your itinerary, they too basically go North/South or East/West with the biggest exception being the Blue Line train to ORD which follows the expressway.

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To get to the Museum of Science and Industry take the #10 ... it runs down Michigan Avenue and then when it hits the river switches over to State Street and then eventually runs express to the Museum.

Your concierge or bellboy can tell you where the closest stop is.

Reading this reminded me of one trip, I asked the taxi driver to go to "Embassy Suites" and apparently he heard "NBC"...!

Fortunately, NBC is quite close to one of the ESes in Chicago (one block, down a flight of stairs and across the street). Not so much the other one.

In addition we have one full day to try & cram in The Museum of Science & Industry & the Adler Planitarium. The CTA bus system looks a little daunting according to the plan i put in & we were thinking of catching a cab down to the Musuem of Science & Industry & another to the planitarium but it depends on the cost.

Downtown to Museum of Science and Industry (MSI)

You can do this with CTA train+bus for $2.50 . Assuming you are starting at Affinia Hotel:

Walk to CTA Red Line's "Chicago" station at Chicago Avenue and State Street (only a few minutes). Here is map of the area:http://maps.google.com/maps?near=166+East+Superior,+Chicago,+IL+60611+(Af finia+Chicago+Hotel)&geocode=Cf-iXL6k2P2WFTJHfwIdlfvG-iFR7FQvWaIGJg&q=State+and+Chicago+Red+Line&f=l&dq=Affinia+Chicago+Hotel&sll=41.895729,-87.622763&sspn=0.019933,0.038418&ie=UTF8&hq=State+and+Chicago+Red+Line&hnear=&ll=41.895857,-87.624314&spn=0.009775,0.020642&z=16

Here is a map of the CTA Red Line: transitchicago.com/riding_cta/systemguide/redline.aspx. You are starting at "Chicago" and will exit at "Garfield". If you are starting somewhere other than Affinia, use the appropriate Red Line station.

At the station, purchase a fare card for $2.50. (This is just enough for your 1-way trip. If you wish you can put in more money for later use. If you have a card from before, make sure it has at least $2.50 in it. CTA also has unlimited travel passes of various durations if they fit your plans). Take the train going south. Follow the stations on a map (there is one in every car) and get off at Garfield. (If you miss your stop, do not attempt to walk, etc., take the train back to Garfield.)

After exiting at Garfield (there's only one exit), cross the street completely and wait for East bound #55 bus. Use your fare card from the train again (so you'll only be charged for a transfer instead of the full fare). This bus goes to and terminates at MSI.

From MSI to Adler Planetarium

Mainly due to the Planetarium's location, a cab would be most convenient.

However, if your mood and weather permit a 15-20 minute walk, you can consider bus or train (the train in question is not CTA, but commuter Metra; it runs less often but on a schedule). Here are Google directions for a generic weekday afternoon, adjust as needed: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=museum+of+science+%26+industry,+chicago,+il&daddr=Adler+Planetarium,+South+Lake+Shore+Drive,+C hicago,+IL&geocode=FbKwfQId1JTH-ilVb0COCykOiDG6Sv62HKllTA%3BFXzUfgIdAjrH-iGmjiESqqMgaQ&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=r&ttype=dep&date=02%2F15%2F11&time=2:00pm&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&sll=41.829026,-87.595196&sspn=0.08148,0.165138&ie=UTF8&ll=41.830561,-87.602062&spn=0.081478,0.165138&z=13&start=0

The area just outside the planetarium offers absolutely the finest view of Chicago's skyline. Do stroll around for a few minutes.

If you've mastered London's system then Chicago is much easier!

+1. The buses are fairly modern, and the trains run, despite looking like they have not been updated since late 19th Century. Google Maps is great for route planning (with CTA schedules), there are iPhone and Android apps to track closest buses, you can use transitchicago.com web site, or use SMS. All buses are GPS equipped. Trains are not, but CTA uses approx. travel times from station to station to predict arrival times.

To get to the Museum of Science and Industry take the #10 ... it runs down Michigan Avenue and then when it hits the river switches over to State Street and then eventually runs express to the Museum.


Check out this handy sightseeing guide published by the CTA: http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/brochures/Downtown_Sightseeing_Guide_Sep_10.pdf. As others mentioned, from North Michigan #10 goes to MSI, while #146 goes to the museum campus (Adler, Field's, Shedd). If you're going from MSI to Adler, take #6 or #10 or X28, get off at 11th and Columbus, and walk to the museum campus; it's about a 15 min stroll.

Or, to MSI, if you'd like a bit of sightseeing on Michigan Avenue, which you should anyway, stroll south and across the river and to the corner of Michigan and Randolph. Go down the steps of the Millennium Park Station and buy a ticket for the Metra Electric Line. Should be $2-3 dollars one way to 55th/56th/57th station.

The trip south (the only one way out of this station) takes about 15 minutes or a bit more. Exit the station toward the south. Turn left and MSI is 2+ blocks ahead.

I toss this out as a possibility because the Red Line/Garfield (55th) interchange for the bus mentioned by aktchi (and the first part of the route) is in a pretty crappy neighborhood (I lived in Hyde Park for 7 years and I know it extremely well). Not necessarily dangerous, but not risk-free or pleasant either.

Timewise, it should be about a wash if you watch the Metra schedule (about hourly, more often during the rush hours and less often on Sunday/holiday).

Or, to MSI, if you'd like a bit of sightseeing on Michigan Avenue, which you should anyway, stroll south and across the river and to the corner of Michigan and Randolph. Go down the steps of the Millennium Park Station and buy a ticket for the Metra Electric Line. Should be $2-3 dollars one way to 55th/56th/57th station.

The trip south (the only one way out of this station) takes about 15 minutes or a bit more. Exit the station toward the south. Turn left and MSI is 2+ blocks ahead.

I toss this out as a possibility because the Red Line/Garfield (55th) interchange for the bus mentioned by aktchi (and the first part of the route) is in a pretty crappy neighborhood (I lived in Hyde Park for 7 years and I know it extremely well). Not necessarily dangerous, but not risk-free or pleasant either.

Timewise, it should be about a wash if you watch the Metra schedule (about hourly, more often during the rush hours and less often on Sunday/holiday).

This is actually a perfectly good alternative and in some ways a more pleasant one.

I should have explained the reason for my choice, then OP can decide if it matters or not. My suggestion was heavily influenced by the fact that OP would be trying to cram two museums in one day. Starting from Affinia, the CTA Red Line is closer and trains run frequently, so no big deal if you miss one. Metra is longer walk (but a nice one), and a much longer wait if you miss a train.

While I certainly won't recommend exploring the Red Line/Garfield area, the interchange itself for the #55 bus is not so dangerous. Unpleasant is a different matter, but that applies to a lot of public transportation infrastructure in big cities.

Of course time would be less of an issue if one was only interested in Apollo & Gemini capsules and not the rest of the two museums. In that case I might skip all trains and choose buses which are slow but better at giving you a sense of the city.

Actually there is good bus service that can take you from downtown to the Museum.

Downtown to Museum of Science and Industry (MSI)

You can do this with CTA train+bus for $2.50 . Assuming you are starting at Affinia Hotel:

The IC train used to run from downtown (you could catch it under the Cultural Center or across from the Art Institute) to just one block away from the Museum. Who runs that line now, and is it still a workable route? It used to be the absolute fastest and simplest way to get to that museum from the loop.

The IC train used to run from downtown (you could catch it under the Cultural Center or across from the Art Institute) to just one block away from the Museum. Who runs that line now, and is it still a workable route? It used to be the absolute fastest and simplest way to get to that museum from the loop.

It is called Metra now and was mentioned above by myself as well as toomanybooks. The trains don't run very frequently all day, so you need to work with their schedule, and of course get to Randolph & Michigan. With that caveat, it remains a very good option.

It is called Metra now and was mentioned above by myself as well as toomanybooks.

Sorry. It's been a long time since I lived on the South Side. I used to ride the IC every week.

Sorry. It's been a long time since I lived on the South Side. I used to ride the IC every week.

No problem. The name "IC" was drilled into our thinking and we all kept saying IC for a long time after the name changed. Sears/Willis phenomenon on a smaller scale - I have to make quite a deliberated effort to utter the word Willis. :)

BTW do take the train once again to relive the old moments and see the changes. :) The Randolph station is now called Millennium. You no longer have to go through a turnstile either to enter or exit the stations. Hyde Park stations are sort of upgraded; 57th street station even has a nice cafe / ice-cream shop (with outdoor seating in good weather). However, the 59th street station is the same dump it always was.

Reading this reminded me of one trip, I asked the taxi driver to go to "Embassy Suites" and apparently he heard "NBC"...!

I have a tendency to pronounce Sheridan & Sheraton similarly (let's say it comes out as "Sheradon"). I once got in a cab downtown and asked to go to the "Sheradon Hotel" and had a cab driver look at me blankly, ask where it was located and then proceeded to say, "Oh, the Sheraton Hotel." Yes, I realize I should be more precise in my pronunciation, but I had to roll my eyes at him. I hope he doesn't treat out of towners who speak English as a second language that way.

(Similarly, I had a former colleague who was originally from MN and whose family still lived there. One day he said to me, "My college son is coming to Chicago for a concert and staying with friends at the Sheraton Hotel in Rogers Park. Where is there a Sheridan in that neighborhood?" I couldn't help but laugh when I told him that his son wasn't staying at the Sheraton Hotel but at the Sheridan Motel.)

I told him that his son wasn't staying at the Sheraton Hotel but at the Sheridan Motel.)

Hmmm the Sheridan Chase Motor Hotel - I can only imagine how alluring Sheraton Chase would sound if that's what one thought one heard. :)

Off topic. I remember a cabbie in Shanghai telling me how to say "Hilton" in Cantonese: sheer-don.

Some Taxi Company phone numbers provided by the official Chicago Dept. of Aviation web site:

http://flychicago.com/PassengerInformation/GroundTransportation/OHare/TaxiCabProviders.aspx

Thanks for all your posts.
We tried to get a bus from Michigan Avenue to MOSI but was told by our hotel that it did not run on a Thursday & to get a cab.
Needless to say we bought a day ticket & took the advice posted here and reached the museum for a fraction of the cost, using the pass later to go to Navy Pier.
We managed to do The Adler Planitarium by bus the following day before our departure for ORD.
CTA staff are so friendly & helpful and, yes, it's an easy system to use.

Thanks for all your posts.
We tried to get a bus from Michigan Avenue to MOSI but was told by our hotel that it did not run on a Thursday & to get a cab.
Needless to say we bought a day ticket & took the advice posted here and reached the museum for a fraction of the cost, using the pass later to go to Navy Pier.
We managed to do The Adler Planitarium by bus the following day before our departure for ORD.
CTA staff are so friendly & helpful and, yes, it's an easy system to use.

Good for you for finding your way! Transitchicago.com is a great resource for public transport travel-planning help in Chicago.

I never understand hotel staff who are ignorant of/lie about public transportation schedules. I was at a Hong Kong hotel last year & asked the concierge which bus route would take me to Stanley Market via the mountain route (rather than through the tunnel). He looked at me like I was crazy and told me that route hadn't existed for years. Only after I got to Stanley Market & turned around to head back did I discover that there are several bus routes that go over the mountain.