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Transportation
Getting Here
As a major international transportation hub, Chicago offers Green Party delegates unparalleled options for getting to—and getting around—the city. In fact, the nation's transportation system converges on Chicago. It's no wonder the city has hosted 25 major political conventions over the years, far more than any other city.
Air travel
Chicago offers numerous non-stop flights to just about every city in the country. Between Chicago's two main airports, O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW), virtually every US carrier connects to Chicago.
Chicago is a focus city or hub for United and American at O'Hare and Southwest at Midway. In addition, both of the main airports are connected via CTA directly to downtown, with direct service on the L.
Another alternative is Milwaukee's Mitchell Airport (MKE). Mitchell is the hub of Midwest Airlines, and a focus city of AirTran Airways. There is direct service from a recently opened Amtrak station at the airport to Union Station in Chicago, a half-mile from the convention site.
Train
As a major Amtrak hub, Chicago offers direct rail service to the following cities: Albany, Albuquerque, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New Orleans, New York, Pittsburgh, Pontiac, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane, St. Louis, Washington DC, with many more stops along the way. For a full list of cities with rail service to Chicago, visit http://www.amtrak.com.
Bus
Greyhound's downtown Chicago terminal is a short subway ride away from the convention site. Visit http://www.greyhound.com for more information on schedules and fares.
In addition, MegaBus offers low-priced express bus service into Chicago from points across the Midwest, with fares starting as low as $1 one-way. Visit http://www.megabus.com for a list of destinations served and schedules.
Ride Sharing
If you are looking to meet other Greens and see the country on your way to Convention, you should check out our Ride Sharing Board.
Getting to Chicago by road is fairly easy. I-55, I-57, I-90, and I-94 enter the city proper, and I-65 and I-80 cut through the suburbs. However, gas prices in Chicago are amongst the highest in the nation, several major highways are undergoing major construction, and parking in downtown Chicago can approach $30 per day.
In The City
No need to rent a car
With extensive public transportation options and a highly "walkable" downtown, including convenient direct rail service from both O'Hare and Midway Airports, there's no need to rent a car during your stay in Chicago. For information on public transportation, visit http://www.transitchicago.com.
CTA buses and trains serve the whole of Chicago 24 hours a day. One, two, and three day passes are available that allow unlimited use of all CTA services starting at $5 for a one-day pass, and are available at both airport stations and around downtown.
Maps of the CTA system are available online at transitchicago.com, and will also be available on site with friendly volunteers who can help you to where you would like to go.
Bring your bike helmet
Chicago has an unparalleled network of bike paths, including the Lakefront Trail, which stretches 26 miles along the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan. The city recently opened a bike station in Millennium Park, which offers rentals, storage and even showers for bikers. For information on biking in Chicago, visit http://www.chicagobikestation.com.
Bikes are welcome on all city streets, and many streets have dedicated bike lanes, including major arteries. Chicago also features unique bike-oriented signage to aid bikers in navigation.
Carbon Offsets
We are exploring ways to limit the collective environmental impact of this convention. For now, we encourage you to use this carbon calculator to discover your individual travel footprint.
