Flying and Transportation from Airports

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Getting to the Mechanical Engineering department at Northwestern University:

Chicago is a major airline hub and you should be able to get a non-stop flight from almost anywhere. Of the online booking sites Orbitz seems to be more reliable at finding convenient and inexpensive flights than the others (observation made 11/2001), at least for the major airlines. O'Hare is ORD, Midway is MDW, check both by using Chicago.

Ground transportation from O'Hare airport:

O'Hare is the closer (and larger) airport. It takes about 40 minutes, non-rush hour, and up to 60 minutes during rush hour, to drive between Evanston and O'Hare.The CTA train/subway route is 2 legs of a triangle, taking around 90 minutes.Taxi (recommended)
To take a taxi from O'Hare to Evanston: from the phones inside the airport, you can call either ofThree-O-Three Cab, 1-800-CALL303 (a toll-free call)
Norshore Cab, 1-800-244-9200 (a toll-free call)They ask that you call them after you get your baggage etc. (If I don't have checked baggage, I call them from the gate and tell them I'm already at baggage claim, which saves 5-10 minutes) They will arrange to pick you up by baggage claim, just outside the building. ("Prearranged rides", as such are called, drive by on the 2nd drive parallel to the building. So, you exit the building by the baggage claim, cross the first drive, then wait on the island before the 2nd drive for the cab.) The cab company will want to know what airline you are flying, where you are going (hotel in Evanston, or NU Campus) and your name; they will tell you the cab number, when it will arrive (usually about 5-10 minutes), and which baggage claim exit door number it will arrive at. The fare should be approximately $21 to Evanston, flat fee (no meter). When the cabbie arrives and wants to know exactly where in Evanston you are going, the hotel name should be sufficient; if you are coming to the engineering building on campus directly, tell them you need to go to the "Tech Building on NU Campus" - exact street address is 2145 Sheridan Road.The reason for calling a cab company is that most of the cabs prowling around the airport are Chicago cabs and they do not know the Evanston area. So, they will charge a high rate to go to Evanston AND they will probably get lost on the way! If for some reason you cannot reach 303 or Norshore Cab, you can also call American Taxi (847-256-0303) (also a north suburb cab); other cab phone numbers are listed inside the baggage claim area on a board.If you want a particularly pleasant ride and don't mind spending twice as much money ($40) call ABC Limo (800 258 4935) a day prior to arrival.Tip taxis 15% (gratuity).
Private auto or rental car
See maps below, and/or driving directions Figure it will add 30 minutes to your trip for rental check-in, airport shuttle, and car pickup. Taxi is the quick and economical way unless you need a car while you're here. It takes about 40 minutes, non-rush hour, and up to 60 minutes during rush hour, to drive between Evanston and O'Hare.
Light rail (CTA)
You can also get from O'hare to Evanston by CTA trains (a..k.a. "the el"), a 90-minute trip starting inside the terminal building and ending 2 blocks from Tech. Your destination is the Davis Street stop in Evanston (near hotels) or Noyes Street (near Tech).You can buy a farecard at any CTA station if you have $1 or $5 bills. Each trip costs $1.50 regardless of number of transfers between trains.

From Midway airport:

Midway airport is farther than O'Hare. It takes about 50 minutes, non-rush hour, and potentially much longer during rush hour, to drive between Evanston and Midway. The CTA train/subway route can be as fast as 40 minutes during rush hour.CTA (Light rail; recommended)
If you arrive during daylight hours, the best bet is to take the CTA train, "the El" (for "elevated train"). (Some people consider the CTA less safe at night, and it also runs less frequently) The orange line runs from Midway to "the loop" (downtown Chicago), then you can transfer to the purple line (the Evanston Express). The Evanston Express only runs during rush hours; at other times take the orange line to the loop, the red line to Howard (Evanston/Chicago boundary), and then the purple line continuing north into Evanston. There are paper maps of the CTA trains in the main part of Midway Airport at the information booth (before you head out to the train stop) or you can download info here. opens in new windowYour destination is the Davis Street stop in Evanston (near hotels) or Noyes Street (near Tech).You can buy a farecard at any CTA station if you have $1 or $5 bills. Each trip costs $1.50 regardless of number of transfers between trains.
Taxi
Fares are nearly double that from O'Hare. You can call for a cabThree-O-Three Cab, 1-800-CALL303 (a toll-free call)
Norshore Cab, 1-800-244-9200 (a toll-free call)Be sure to confirm that they have a cab "in the area" and you can be picked up within 15 minutes. If not, just use one of the cabs hanging around at the airport - the fare will be meter based, but differences from the $43 flat rate of 303/Norshore are less significant. Ask what the fare will be approximately (should be around $45).It takes a bit longer to drive between Midway and Evanston - 50 minutes non-rush hour and a good bit longer during rush hour. The CTA train is faster if you are traveling during Evanston Express operational hours.
Here are some maps you may find handy:
Map for driving from O'Hare to Evanston
Screen version (60KB) or Larger (600KB), Printable version (600KB)

For maps of the hotel & campus area of Evanston, see: