From/to airport
Hyde Park is ~45 minutes from the O’Hare International airport and ~30 minutes from Midway International Airport. If coming from Midway, we do not recommend taking a straight shot to Hyde Park on city streets (along W. 55th st/W. Garfield blvd - this exists, but you will drive through unsafe neighborhoods, and it is just as fast to drive from Highway 50 to I-55 to South Lakeshore Drive (Highway 41), which will drop you into Hyde Park.
Please use this link for CTA (public transportation) options and price comparisons: https://www.transitchicago.com/airports/
Taxis, rideshares, and trains all exist, but please note that Hyde Park is 20-30 minutes (driving) south of downtown depending on traffic, so costs will be marginally higher no matter what option you choose.
Taxis / Driving / Rideshares
Taxis are safe, albeit expensive. We recommend Lyft/Uber if you want to take a private vehicle around Chicago. A rideshare on the other hand will cost between USD$20-$45 depending on time of day and traffic. These are often 15-30 minutes faster to get around the city than public transportation (excluding downtown, where public transportation is the better option). Driving is fine from the airport to Hyde Park (Hyde Park has garages and a ton of free street parking), but driving within the downtown area and other neighborhoods can be a bit of a nightmare if you don’t know where you are going or are looking for street parking as garages can sometimes run you $30-60 dollars. Do not rent a car unless you only plan on using it from airport to UChicago and back.
Metra
One of the best ways to get around Chicago from Hyde Park is the Metra. You will have to walk 15 minutes to the nearest station (located on 59th St), but the trip to downtown stops are about 30 minutes, and you won’t have to look for parking. Plus, it’s the most affordable way to get downtown. The most local train to UChicago from downtown Millennium Station is the Metra Electric (ME) line that stops at the 59th St. (UChicago) station (https://metra.com/train-lines/ME). This will cost USD$3.75 (one way) and $7.50 for a day pass. You must purchase tickets using the Ventra app on a cellular device.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a safe neighborhood. During your visit, feel free to walk around in the evening, but do keep in mind that this is an urban environment and you should be aware of your surroundings at all times as crime does happen here. Do not look at your phones at night, and keep your head on a swivel - there are emergency beacons located throughout Hyde Park, so if needed, there will be an emergency button on these that you can access. The busiest street is 53rd street, where there are many restaurants and stores. 57th street also hosts various storefronts and restaurants, including an excellent wine shop (57th Street Wines) and bookstore (57th Street Books, whose more academically rigorous sister store, Seminary Coop, is located across the street from campus along S. Woodlawn). Walking to and from the hotels in Hyde Park to campus is very safe and will take you through the neighborhood. August is a quiet time of year as students are on Summer break, so please take advantage of the spaciousness and quiet.
Chicago
Chicago often has a bad reputation in the press. It is not the lawless, violent city that it is portrayed to be. Most neighborhoods you will want to visit are incredible spaces filled with amazing people who will gladly welcome you to their city. If you are looking for funky, eclectic and artsy spaces, check out Wicker Park. Downtown and the South Loop host world class museums and theaters; plus, the architecture is phenomenal. Chicago even has boat tours that explore this architecture if that sounds appealing! Wherever you choose to go, Chicago will welcome you with open arms.
