Chicago: Bus or Cab to Shedd from train

[mcurphy]

My wife and I are taking our kids, plus a few friends to the Shedd Aquarium tomorrow for my daughter's birthday. There will be 2 adults and 5 kids. We are taking the Metra train from Harvard down to the Ogilvie train station.

Would it be better to take a bus, or a cab to the Shedd from the train station? Considering we have 2 adults, 5 kids and there isn't a direct bus from the train to the Shedd.

I did a little research, and if we want to bus it, then we need to get to the 146 bus on State St. How far of a walk will that be from the train station on Canal / Madison?

There is a connecting bus to State St., how much of a hassle will it be jumping from bus to bus? I've never ridden a bus line before.

And lastly, if we do take a cab, what do you think the fare would be? $15 or so?

I'm thinking it might be worth a few extra dollars to avoid the hassle of the bus and just get a cab for the direct route.

 

[Vic Vega]

...

 

[mcurphy]

Walk. Take the train to 11th St. Metra‎ and walk.

Hmm, I'm not familair with the 11th st. stop. It was my understanding that the Ogilvie station was the closest to the Shedd. And a walk from there would be way too far for the kids. Most are 10-11 but our son is only 6. Plus, it would eat up too much time that we could be spending in the aquarium.

 

[SKORPI0]

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-...CQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CBUQ_BI

Ogilvie Transportation Center
500 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60661

Canal & Madison Stop ID: 5027 60

Bus towards Randolph/Harbor Dr
(6 mins, 5 stops)

Washington & State Stop ID: 448
Walk to State & Washington
About 1 min (9 mins to make transfer)

State & Washington Stop ID: 1425 146

Bus towards Museum Campus
(13 mins, 11 stops)

Solidarity Drive & Aquarium Stop ID: 4591
Walk to 1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
About 2 mins (0.1 mi)

Ride and walk should take 26 minutes.

 

[Vic Vega]

...

 

[mcurphy]

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-...CQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CBUQ_BI

Ogilvie Transportation Center
500 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60661

Canal & Madison Stop ID: 5027 60

Bus towards Randolph/Harbor Dr
(6 mins, 5 stops)

Washington & State Stop ID: 448
Walk to State & Washington
About 1 min (9 mins to make transfer)

State & Washington Stop ID: 1425 146

Bus towards Museum Campus
(13 mins, 11 stops)

Solidarity Drive & Aquarium Stop ID: 4591
Walk to 1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
About 2 mins (0.1 mi)

This is similar to a route I was considering, with taking a connecting bus from the train to State St, and then on the the Shedd. If we are taking 2 busses, would we then pay 2x the fees? If so, then I think a cab might be the better option.

Even Union is closer (further South) than Ogilvie and that puts you right down town on Adams a block or so from the Sears tower. You can walk East to the museums, Adams runs into the art museum. Where are you coming from?

Well Ogilvie and Union are 2 different rail lines. We are taking the Metra, which I think is the UP North rail. I'm not sure what all is involved with switching to another train line. I am pretty sure Ogilvie is the last stop on the Metra and does not connect to Union...or 11th. We are comming from Harvard, IL, which is in N. IL.

 

[unokitty]

If it were all adults. And if the weather was good. I would probably walk the eight, or so, blocks down to Michigan and catch a bus that would run south to the Museum Campus....

With a six year old, I suspect that it would be better to take a cab. And while you are at the Museum Campus you can judge whether or not you would like to cab, bus, or walk back to the station. I would expect to be able to get a cab at the train station. I wouldn't expect it to be too costly. Though, I'm not sure what Chicago cabs charge now.

You can find some more information about the bus here.

You should have a great time!
Uno

 

[IronWing]

If you have the money, just take a cab (or two, sounds like a big group). You get there quick with no worries. It's just money.

 

[mcurphy]

Thanks for the replies all, I am pretty sure we will be taking the cab,

 

[SKORPI0]

Thanks for the replies all, I am pretty sure we will be taking the cab,

Good better safe than sorry. Enjoy the Shedd Aquarium, I did. :awe: