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Getting Around

Instagram photo of biking on the Lakefront Trail
Chicago’s Lakefront Trail runs from Hyde Park to downtown and beyond. Follow us on Instagram.

Accessing all of the parks, beautiful architecture, and cultural institutions of Chicago is a breeze for UChicago students. Via their U-Pass, students have unlimited access to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) trains and bus lines during the school year.

The CTA trains—collectively known as the “L“—are among the easiest and most common ways to navigate the city of Chicago. The lines are distinguished by color, and all of them run through the Loop, where they meet other lines in the heart of Chicago for easy transfers. A series of CTA buses connect Hyde Park and the University of Chicago to the train lines, Midway Airport, and downtown.

Other options for navigating the city include the Metra, a commuter train that runs downtown and to the suburbs, and Divvy, a bike-share system that has locations throughout campus the city and that offers discounts to UChicago staff and students. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the University of Chicago also provides a convenient South Loop Shuttle to ferry students to and from campus to downtown.

Two airports handle Chicago’s air traffic. Midway International Airport, the closest to the University of Chicago, is located roughly eight miles from campus and is easily accessible via CTA lines. O’Hare International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, is located approximately 25 miles northwest of Hyde Park and can also be accessed via the CTA.