Chicago · Events
Event and venue transfers in Chicago
McCormick Place is the largest convention floor in North America.
| Route | Off-peak | Allow in peak | Sedan all-in | SUV all-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD to The Loop | 30–40 min | 60–85 min | $149.00 | $189.00 |
Weekday afternoon examples from our quote engine, as of Oct 2026. Includes 20% chauffeur gratuity, tolls, parking, airport fees, surcharges and taxes. Your quote is confirmed in writing and held for 72 hours.
- Gratuity and airport fees included
- Rate agreed in writing, no surge pricing
- Free cancellation up to 2 hours before pickup
- Free waiting: 60 minutes at airports, 15 minutes elsewhere
The Chicago venues we run to
McCormick Place is the largest convention floor in North America. On a big show week it is the single thing shaping traffic on the whole South Side. Chicago’s venues are spread around the city rather than clustered, which helps — but each has a departure pattern worth knowing before the night rather than during it. We stage clear of the gates, come to you on a call and tell you where to walk. On a Wrigley night or a McCormick move-out that is not a refinement, it is the difference between leaving and sitting.
Conventions, arenas and stadiums. McCormick Place is the largest convention centre in North America and on a major show week it reshapes traffic across the whole south side of downtown. Group work here is staged, not dispatched.
Culture, dining and the region. Evening work runs to the restaurant rooms in Fulton Market and River North and to the lakefront cultural institutions. Winter is the variable that changes everything about how these are scheduled.
McCormick Place
Near South Side
Four connected buildings on the lakefront and the largest convention centre on the continent. During a major show the access roads and Lake Shore Drive carry far more than they were built for, and move-in and move-out weeks add heavy freight to that. We work from an agreed point north of the complex and time against the hall closing.
United Center
Near West Side
West of the Loop with large surrounding lots, which genuinely helps — there are workable staging positions a short walk from the gates, unlike most arenas of this size. The Madison Street approach fills first and clears last, so we use the side streets.
Wrigley Field
Lakeview
Wedged into a residential neighbourhood with almost no stopping anywhere near it and street parking that is permit-only for blocks around. This is the most constrained pickup in the city. We agree a corner several streets out before the game rather than negotiating it afterwards.
Soldier Field
Museum Campus
On the lakefront next to the museum campus, sharing approaches with McCormick Place and the Field Museum. A game and a convention on the same day compound each other badly. Lake Shore Drive is the constraint in both directions.
Guaranteed Rate Field
Bridgeport
On the South Side with better road access and more space than Wrigley by a wide margin, and an expressway immediately alongside. One of the easier large venues here. Departures work well from the agreed lots rather than the gate itself.
The Chicago Theatre
The Loop
On State Street in the middle of the Loop, letting out into streets that are already carrying evening traffic and theatre crowds from several other houses. State itself is impractical at curtain. We collect from Wabash or Dearborn a block away.
Lyric Opera House
The Loop
On Wacker at the river, a fast road with no stopping and a large simultaneous departure when the curtain falls. The Madison Street side is the workable one. Performances here run long and finish later than most, which suits hourly hire.
Symphony Center
The Loop
On Michigan opposite the Art Institute, in the stretch where stopping is least practical in the entire city. We work from Adams or Jackson rather than the avenue. Frequently ends close to the theatre houses, producing one combined Loop departure.
Getting to the Chicago venues
Door to venue, ordinary conditions. The right-hand column means an event night rather than a rush hour, and at Wrigley the two together are worse than either.
| Route | Approx. distance | Off-peak | Allow on an event night |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Loop to McCormick Place | 3 miles | 10–15 min | 25–45 min |
| The Loop to the United Center | 3 miles | 10–15 min | 25–40 min |
| The Loop to Wrigley Field | 7 miles | 20–30 min | 45–70 min |
| The Loop to Soldier Field | 3 miles | 10–15 min | 30–50 min |
| Magnificent Mile to Navy Pier | 1 mile | 8–12 min | 20–35 min |
How Chicago event work is priced
Event transfers are quoted per route, and event nights are usually better booked hourly — a performance does not end to a timetable and a vehicle released at the start of the evening has to be found again at the worst moment. All of it is quoted per route and confirmed in writing before you travel, with no surge pricing at any hour.
For a corporate hospitality night we plan the departure as a single staged movement and give you one point of contact rather than several drivers to chase across the South Side.
Prefer to speak to someone? Dispatch is staffed 24 hours a day.
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