Chicago - Free street parking close to Blue Line?

I need to catch a 7AM flight from ORD on a several days as part of January's MR fever. While Lot F is always an option, I would appreciate ideas on free, convenient, and safe parking close to a Blue Line station. (The car will be parked for about 14 hours.)

I need to catch a 7AM flight from ORD on a several days as part of January's MR fever. While Lot F is always an option, I would appreciate ideas on free, convenient, and safe parking close to a Blue Line station. (The car will be parked for about 14 hours.)

Parking lot across the driveway from the Renaissance O'Hare garage is close to Cumberland CTA. While not technically free (it's for office building tenants and visitors) I have never had an issue parking there for a day.

Parking lot across the driveway from the Renaissance O'Hare garage is close to Cumberland CTA. While not technically free (it's for office building tenants and visitors) I have never had an issue parking there for a day.

I suppose that wouldn't work for overnight? I need to park 5AM-6PM a few days, and 5PM-6AM another few.

I suppose that wouldn't work for overnight? I need to park 5AM-6PM a few days, and 5PM-6AM another few.

The Rosemount CTA station says $5 for up to 14 hours, so a little cheaper than F.

Most areas right by blue line stops have the dreaded residential zones.

You might do a little scouting around Harlem or Jefferson Park (or even Montrose or Irving Park), see if some of the zones are overnight only. You could take a chance on the 5AM parking not getting caught.

Or maybe a helpful FTer lives by a stop and would gift you some dailies?

The Rosemount CTA station says $5 for up to 14 hours, so a little cheaper than F.

Well, $5 for parking plus $4 for CTA would be about even with Lot F. :) I guess we are talking small sums here. Unless there was an obvious solution, F would make sense. Today I happened to be in Logan Square area, and that looked promising.

I am primarily concerned about the 6:50AM flights, because bus+train would mean leaving home before 4AM. Overnight trips are less bad in that sense.

I suppose that wouldn't work for overnight? I need to park 5AM-6PM a few days, and 5PM-6AM another few.

I've seen posts from FTers who claim that they always park there overnight with no issues, but I personally have never risked it. I imagine one night won't raise much suspicion, but you never know.

What does Lot F cost these days? Me thinks Rosemont CTA might be easier to get to/from than Lot F, and slightly cheaper.

Parking is $9 per 24 hours.
Bus shuttle to people mover. Allow 20 minutes to get to terminal.

Parking is $9 per 24 hours.
Bus shuttle to people mover. Allow 20 minutes to get to terminal.

Rosemont CTA is more expensive then, even for 12 hours: $5 parking + $2.25 train each way.

Well, $5 for parking plus $4 for CTA would be about even with Lot F.

duh, forgot about the CTA fare. walk to a hotel and freeload on the shuttle ;)

I wanted to know if the regulars knew of a free/safe spot by Blue Line (please pm if you don't want to post it :)), but at 4AM in winter I'd probably pay $9 at lot F if it looks complicated. (Thinking about office building across from Renaissance, but don't want to return to find my car towed, all for $5.)

Still, you raised an interesting idea, even if in humor. Can you really walk in from outside into a hotel and get a free shuttle ride? I don't have the chutzpah that many FT'ers seem to naturally possess, and wonder about such things.

While I am fantasizing, it would nice to find a hotel/motel where I could leave my car and get a shuttle, both for free. :)

I wanted to know if the regulars knew of a free/safe spot by Blue Line (please pm if you don't want to post it :)), but at 4AM in winter I'd probably pay $9 at lot F if it looks complicated. (Thinking about office building across from Renaissance, but don't want to return to find my car towed, all for $5.)

Still, you raised an interesting idea, even if in humor. Can you really walk in from outside into a hotel and get a free shuttle ride? I don't have the chutzpah that many FT'ers seem to naturally possess, and wonder about such things.

While I am fantasizing, it would nice to find a hotel/motel where I could leave my car and get a shuttle, both for free. :)

1000 and 1100 blocks of W. Adams and assorted cross streets. Totally free and safe. Three blocks from the Morgan Street entrance to the UIC/Halsted stop on the Blue line. Since I live there, I'll be walking it myself several times on cold January mornings.

For my first-ever AA MR, I chose www.theparkingspot.com on the recommendation of ORD-TGU.

$7.50 with coupon, fast and efficient shuttle took maybe 15 minutes.

Still, you raised an interesting idea, even if in humor. Can you really walk in from outside into a hotel and get a free shuttle ride? I don't have the chutzpah that many FT'ers seem to naturally possess, and wonder about such things.

While I am fantasizing, it would nice to find a hotel/motel where I could leave my car and get a shuttle, both for free. :)

I work near ORD in a building adjacent to a hotel. Since we throw business their way, they let us their shuttle (which runs on a set schedule, not on call). Even so, I feel a bit skeevy when I do and guilt-tip the driver. I have seen airline/airport employees catching the shuttle and wondered if they really stayed at the hotel or if they live nearby and are just friends with the driver. Especially the ones without crew bags.

As far as parking for free in a lot, I don't think there's any hotel in the area that doesn't either charge for parking or agressively defend against overnight parking by non-guests. The office building lots are probably safe for day trips, but they mostly all use stickers to identify authorized vehicles. Our building requires you to notify the building manager if you're parking overnight, even with a sticker. They may not sweep the lot every night, but they do it often enough that I wouldn't want to risk it to save $5.

I suppose that wouldn't work for overnight? I need to park 5AM-6PM a few days, and 5PM-6AM another few.

Also, with mileage runs you always have to allow for the possibility of irrops causing delayed returns or unintended overnights.