American Mensa has partnered with the YTB Travel Network to provide an entire website to handle all of your travel-related needs. Book your flight, airport transportation, and more through Mensa Travel.
Whether you’re arriving by plane, train, or automobile, you’ll find ample modes of transport to blaze a trail to this year's Annual Gathering at the beautiful and historic Hilton Chicago!
Your main two choices for commercial flights to the Windy City are Chicago O’Hare Airport and Chicago Midway Airport. Both offer easy access to downtown Chicago and the hotel. There is also an airport in Gary, Ind., for private jets and cargo.
Once off the plane, you can get to the Hilton by public transportation, ride share, or car rental.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The CTA Blue Line leaves from the lower level of Terminal 2. It gets you to the Loop in about 45 minutes and is $5.00 for a one-way ticket. With your smartphone you can load the Ventra app in advance and buy tickets that way, including multi-day passes if you plan to explore the city. If you prefer, you can use cash or a debit/credit card to buy a one-way ticket before getting on the train. This is the only subway train leaving O'Hare.
The Jackson stop on the Blue Line is ADA compliant and good for anyone with mobility issues or rolling luggage. You’ll come out at Jackson and State Streets, then walk four blocks south on State Street to Balbo, turn left, then 1.5 blocks east on Balbo to the Balbo side entrance of 720 S. Michigan Ave.
If you don’t mind climbing stairs but want to walk fewer blocks, your other option is to change to the CTA Red Line at Jackson and go one stop south to the Harrison stop. From there it’s a half block south and 1.5 blocks east to the hotel. Changing to the other line doesn’t require a second ticket.
RIDE SHARE
Chicago still has local taxis and a taxi stand at each terminal on the lower level outside Baggage Claim. At every terminal there is a ride-share waiting area, usually at the highest lettered exit door, but not every service operates in every terminal, so check with your service of choice as to where they will meet you. Lyft operates in Chicago, and Uber has a “local taxi” option in addition to private cars. There are also two apps from which Chicago taxis can be ordered: Curb and Arro. Local taxis have fixed rates and no surge pricing.
CAR RENTAL
There are shuttles to the car rental facilities outside Baggage Claim in each terminal. Driving directions: Eastbound Kennedy Expressway (I-190/90/94) to I-290 East. Turn right at State Street and drive two blocks south to Balbo Drive. Turn left onto Balbo, heading east, and the hotel parking garage entrance will be on your right in 1.5 blocks.
(Distance from hotel: 18 miles/drive time: 45 minutes)
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The CTA Orange Line leaves from behind the main terminal parking garage. It gets you to the Loop in about 30 minutes and is $2.50 for a one-way ticket. With your smartphone you can load the Ventra app in advance and buy tickets that way, including multi-day passes if you plan to explore the city. If you prefer, you can use cash or a debit/credit card to buy a one-way ticket before getting on the train. This is the only subway train leaving Midway.
The Roosevelt stop on the Orange Line is ADA compliant and good for anyone with mobility issues or rolling luggage. You’ll come out at Roosevelt Road between State and Wabash Streets. Go half block east to Wabash, then walk four blocks north to Balbo, and a half block east to 720 S. Michigan Ave. The hotel has an entrance on the Balbo side.
If you don’t mind climbing stairs but want to walk slightly less, your other option is to change to the CTA Red Line at Roosevelt and go one stop north to the Harrison stop. From there it’s a half block south and 1.5 blocks east to the hotel. Changing to the other line doesn’t require a second ticket.
RIDE SHARE
Chicago still has local taxis and a taxi stand at each terminal at Midway. The ride share waiting area is across from Door 4. Lyft operates in Chicago and Uber has a “local taxi” option in addition to private cars. There are also two apps from which Chicago taxis can be ordered: Curb and Arro. Local taxis have fixed rates and no surge pricing.
CAR RENTAL
There is a shuttle bus to the car rental facility outside Baggage Claim. Driving directions: Take I-55 North to Chicago to I-90/94 West to I-290 East. Turn right at State Street then go two blocks south to Balbo Drive. Turn left, heading east, and the hotel parking garage entrance will be on your right in 1.5 blocks.
(Distance from hotel: 12 miles/drive time: approx. 25 minutes)
Centered in America’s heartland, Chicago Union Station is the Midwestern corridor gateway to a national network of trains connecting the continental United States. Amtrak’s Midwestern hub connects passengers not only to major cities in Illinois and to the surrounding states of Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin, but from coast-to-coast as well. Take a look at the full list of Amtrak's Midwest train routes for the essential details on amenities, accommodations, menus, local guides, route highlights, and much more.
Once you have arrived at Union Station, you can get to the Hilton via public transportation, ride share, or walking.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The CTA J14 bus leaves from the southwest corner of Washington and Canal Streets, which is two blocks north of Union Station. The bus runs every 20 minutes and goes directly to the hotel at Michigan Avenue and Balbo. It may end up a block or so away once the area is set up for the Nascar races. This information will be updated when the city publishes the routing information. The fare is $2.50 for a one-way ticket. With your smartphone, you can load the Ventra app in advance and buy tickets that way, including multi-day passes if you plan to explore the city. The same app is used for the bus or the subway/el trains. If you prefer, you can use cash to pay your fare on the bus.
RIDE SHARE
Lyft operates in Chicago and Uber has a “local taxi” option in addition to private cars. There are also two apps from which Chicago taxis can be ordered: Curb and Arro. Local taxis have fixed rates and no surge pricing. At Union Station there is a taxi stand on the west side of Canal Street, north of Jackson St., if you prefer not to use an app.
WALKING
It’s 13 blocks walking from Union Station to the Hilton at 720 S. Michigan Ave. Head east on Jackson Street to State Street, turn right, go four blocks south to Balbo, then turn left/east and travel 1.5 blocks to the Balbo entrance to the hotel on your right.
Road tripping? Chicago is served by many major highways, including interstates I-55, I-80, I-88, I-90, I-94, and I-290. These highways are also known by their expressway names. Whichever highway you take to get here, please note that the hotel entrance on the Balbo side, west of Michigan Avenue, is where the hotel parking garage is. Also note, Balbo Drive east of Michigan Avenue will be closed for Nascar setup during the week of the AG.
The Hilton Chicago offers onsite self-parking for $46.80/day and valet parking for $88/day, but there are other options that may be less expensive. There are two smartphone apps (SpotHero and Parkwhiz) where you can book discounted parking in advance at several other parking garages within a few blocks of the hotel. You can also use these apps to book parking at lots along the CTA Blue Line, such as Rosemont or Cumberland Avenue, then take the CTA into the city from there (full directions are above as part of the ARRIVE BY PLANE information). Before booking, consider whether you are storing your car for the duration of your AG visit, or if you plan to use the car while you are at the AG, as not every lot booking allows for in/out privileges.