I will be landing at ORD on a Friday in mid January at ~4:30pm. I will be picking up a rental car and then driving stright to the United Center.

Looking at the traffic map today (A Friday ~3:30pm) It looks like the 90 to 290 route is really backed up while the 294 toll to the 290 has much less traffic.

My question for those who know is what is the quickest route? I am trying to get to a 7:30pm game at the United Center. of course all this depends on actually landing on time and there not being a blizzard.

-MODS, if this is in the wrong place feel free to move it. Thanks-

Moving to the FT Chicago Forum
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Thank you.

Neither route is going to be pretty, but you should probably take 90 (Kennedy Expy). However, don't take it all the way to 290 (Eisenhower Expy). Rather, exit at Ogden Avenue, and follow this "angle" street southwesterly to the UC from 90.

Another option may be to take the El (Blue Line) from O'hare to the Loop (~45 Minutes). Then rent a car from a city location, if you really need one. Else, short cab to the UC from the El stop.

It is generally a congested trip, but it should not take you two hours most days. You take 190 out of the rental car lots, merge into 90 east, get off at Ogden/Racine (50A), make a right onto Ogden, make another right onto Madison and three blocks. If it's backed up getting close to downtown, you can get off at Fullerton (47A), make a left then a right onto Damen, and take that to the west edge of the UC.

If you get into the car and the radio talking heads (780AM is the easiest) say it's a disaster, the slow way is NOT to get onto 190 but head towards the international terminal and get on Mannheim south, then go east on Irving Park for a number of miles, then south of Damen. But you only want to do that if there's something like a ten-car pileup with helicopter crews or something.

I wouldn't go 90 back to 290 on a friday or saturday night - being both crowded and a back track.

294-290 would work if you want to stay on the interstate as long as possible, another option is to get off at Fullerton (52A) to get to Western Avenue or Exit 50A to get to ogden (Google Maps' choice). Both are wide, fast streets.

But any of these routes (even with 90-290 with a jam on 90) should get you there in plenty of time.

If you are staying downtown, there are CTA buses from the loop, and a cab is less than many UC parking spaces.

I would drive ONLY if you are not staying downtown.

If staying downtown, public transportation is the way to go.

If staying by the airport or elsewhere, then I would rent a car.

To answer your question if driving, take 90 to Ogden.

Thanks for the info everyone. It sounds unanimous on which way to go, I appreciate the help. I was thinking of taking the train but remembered I will have my luggage and not have time to go to the hotel first.

I live here and often take my luggage on the train with no probs. If staying downtown, an option would be to take the train into the city, drop the bags at the hotel, and then cab to United. If staying near the airport, drop bags first, then take the Blue Line in. The train is 45 minutes ORD to downtown, driving could be much more. Also consider the time it takes to rental shuttle and pick up / checkout rental car, too. Could be 2 hours and up.....

You can also just take the Forest Park Blue Line, get off at the Medical Center and walk to the UC.

The cost of the rental car + parking would outweigh the cab fares for the whole trip no doubt.

Note that 780 has traffic reports every ten minutes on the "8". (5:08, 5:18, 5:28, etc).
Also, at the extreme left or right of the AM dial you can usually get traffic reports (I think it's at about 530 and 1610 on the dial, give or take a few clicks).

On line traffic is at http://www.gcmtravel.com/gcm/maps_chicago.jsp

Given 290 EB between Wolf and Austin at any time of moderate traffic, that could be a rather close call time-wise. If you were going to do that, you'd want to approach it from the north, probably Mannheim - Irving Park - River - (stop at Gene N Judes for a hot dog if traffic has been light) - First - Madison - Des Plaines. Not something I'd recommend to somebody who isn't familiar with the area.

?? I haven't been able to convince a CTA train driver to take a detour yet. Something to do with the lack of tracks on my preferred route.