Public Transit
The Chicago and Evanston campuses are well-connected via public transport.
Find public transportation options to get where you need to go, including CTA trains and buses, Pace buses, Metra trains and combinations of these options.
To Evanston Campus
The Evanston campus is close to CTA Purple Line ('L') Davis, Foster, and Noyes stops. Davis station is a quick 15-minute walk to Weber Arch while the Foster and Noyes stops are both two and a half blocks west of Sheridan Road.
CTA Bus Service to the Evanston campus includes:
- #201 Central/Ridge bus operates from the Howard CTA Terminal along Ridge Avenue to Davis Street and then continues north on Sheridan Road to Evanston Hospital and Ryan Field.
- #147 Outer Drive Express bus operates through downtown Chicago, then express on Lake Shore Drive to Foster Avenue (in Chicago), ending at the Howard CTA Terminal.
- #22 Clark busalso runs from the Loop to the Howard CTA Terminal on Clark Street.
Pace Bus Service routes:
- #208 Golf Road bus provides daily service between Evanston and Schaumburg. Service operates primarily via Golf Road between the Davis Street CTA Purple Line/Metra Station and Schaumburg, serving the following major destinations: Evanston Township High School, Westfield Old Orchard, Golf Mill, Oakton Community College, Metra UP Northwest Line stations (Cumberland and Des Plaines), Pace Headquarters, Continental Towers, Meadows Corporate Center, Centennial Center, Hyatt, Woodfield Mall and Streets of Woodfield.
- #213 Green Bay Road bus operates weekdays and Saturdays between the Highland Park Metra Station, Davis Street CTA Purple Line/Metra Station and Howard CTA Terminal. The #213 has stops near Loyola Academy, New Trier High School (Northfield), Evanston Township High School and the Chicago Botanic Garden. This route parallels a portion of the Metra Union Pacific North Line.
- #250 Dempster Street bus has daily service from O'Hare to downtown Evanston. Service along this line includes the Davis Street CTA Station (Purple Line), the Skokie Swift CTA Station (Yellow Line), Notre Dame and Main East High Schools and Lutheran General Hospital.
To take Metra, use the Union Pacific North Line, which stops at Davis Street near the Evanston's Davis Street CTA Station.
Residents of Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Ravenswood, Rogers Park and other nearby neighborhoods who commute north to Evanston should consider a CTA/Metra combination. For many commuters, this alternative is faster than the Purple Line because of the reliability of Metra trains.
Take a CTA bus or 'L' train to Metra's Clybourn, Ravenswood, or Rogers Park Station; then take the Metra Union Pacific North Line to the Davis Street stop near Evanston's Davis Street CTA Station. Visit the Metra website for a current Union Pacific North Line schedule.
To Chicago Campus
The Chicago campus is closest to the CTA Red Line ('L') Chicago Avenue stop, which is three blocks west of Michigan Avenue.
A number of CTA Bus routes provide service near the campus. Check the CTA trip planner for finding your best option.
Travel between the downtown Metra train stations and the Streeterville campus is easy utilizing Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus routes. Northwestern and campus partners including Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab have worked closely with CTA to offer updated and enhanced safe options to travel between Metra stations and campus.
Ogilvie Transportation Center
If your Metra train terminates at Ogilvie Transportation Center, you can use CTA bus route #120 Ogilvie/Streeterville Express.
- Service hours: 6:05 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. and 2:39 p.m. to 6:29 p.m.
- Frequency: Every 7 to 15 minutes in the morning and every 8 to 30 minutes in the afternoon
- The boarding area at Ogilvie is a covered, off-street terminal. You can access the boarding area directly from the station on Canal Street. You can also wait indoors until the bus arrives.
Union Station
If your Metra train terminates at Union Station, you can use CTA bus route #121 Union/Streeterville Express.
- Service hours: 6:10 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and 2:38 p.m. to 6:28 p.m.
- Frequency: Every 8 to 15 minutes in the morning and every 8 to 30 minutes in the afternoon
- The boarding area at Union is a covered, off-street terminal with dedicated space for the #121 bus. You can access the boarding area directly from the track area without needing to cross a street.
Millennium Station
If your Metra train terminates at Millennium Station, the CTA offers several options:
- #3 King Drive: service on Michigan Ave., Chicago Ave. to Fairbanks Ct. / Erie St.
- #26 South Shore Express: service along Michigan Ave. to Chicago Ave. / Fairbanks Ct.
- #124 Navy Pier: service on Michigan Ave. to Fairbanks Ct. / Grand Ave.
- #147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Express: service along Michigan Ave.
- #151 Sheridan: service along Michigan Ave.
- #157 Streeterville/Taylor: service on Michigan Ave. and Fairbanks Ct.
LaSalle Station
If your Metra train terminates at LaSalle Station, the CTA offers several options:
- Red Line 'L'
- #36 Broadway: Service directly from the station to traveling along State St.
- #146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express: service along State St. to Michigan Ave.
- #151 Sheridan: service along Jackson Blvd. to Michigan Ave.