Should I rent a car in Chicago/Evanston?

September 7, 2008 7:38 AM

Flying into Chicago with my daughter to check out colleges. Should I rent a car?

I'm flying into Chicago (Midway) on a Thursday evening to check out University of Chicago and Northwestern. We're staying in downtown Chicago for two nights; visiting U of C on Friday, Northwestern on Saturday, and flying back home on Saturday evening.

I'm not concerned about getting to U of C on Friday; what concerns me is getting to Evanston on Saturday morning, and then getting back to the airport. I want my daughter to be able to see the area around Northwestern, so is it best if we rent a car? Or are the logistics of getting in/out of the city too much of a hassle in a rental to justify that choice?

Any insight from Chicago-area residents (or former students) would be appreciated!

posted by Flakypastry to Travel & Transportation around Chicago, IL (26 answers total)

Lots of road work around Northwestern right now. Get pretty confusing.

You can use public trans, but not if you're pressed for time.

A lot depends on where you're staying as well, near Midway?
posted by Max Power at 8:02 AM on September 7, 2008

I'd rent a car. Chicago's an easy city to drive. Public transport is good, but if you've got limited time you'll be able to see more with your own.

Also, as a UofC alum and husband of an alum, I hope your daughter prefers Northwestern :) I have no regrets attending, but it wasn't what I'd call an enjoyable experience. Other schools offer a rigorous academic program without the head trauma.
posted by roue at 8:03 AM on September 7, 2008

Evanston to Midway, via the L on a Saturday is a very very long trip, requiring two transfers. Tripsweb says you need to leave Evanston at 5:30 pm to be at Midway at 7:00pm (I find tripsweb pretty accurate; others will disagree). The commuter train is not a much better option on Saturday. As much as I hate to recommend renting a car--particularly if your daughter won't have one while she's at school--I think it's your best option. You might try arranging a limo, but you'd have to accommodate your luggage, which would be awkward.

I have no idea what the travel time / route options are best between Evanston and Midway, but someone will probably chime in. You might even consider leaving the car at your hotel and doing a mixed bag of CTA / RTA and the car. FWIW, a cab between my house (Addison & Lake Shore Drive) which is 15 miles after midnight usually runs between $35 & $40. NU to MDW is about 30 miles. Factor in traffic at early evening and you're looking at at least double that (Evanston to Midway is a straight meter fare, not a flat airport fare rate or the meter-and-a-half for other suburbs).
posted by crush-onastick at 8:07 AM on September 7, 2008

My impression of Evanston and the Northwestern campus (the one time I was up there, seven years ago) is that the "downtown" area, with all the shops and such, is pretty close to campus. Logistically, you'll be taking the Red and Purple lines to get from downtown to Northwestern; it'll probably take you a little over an hour each way.

That said, it's not that much of a nightmare to drive from downtown Chicago to Evanston on a Saturday, especially if you're used to big-city traffic. Driving at that time would take a half-hour barring any bizarro traffic delays, so that would give you some extra time on campus. Just be sure to take the cost of parking into account; it can really add up, especially downtown.

Oh, and in case you weren't already planning to do so, the best way to get from downtown to Hyde Park on public transport is the Metra Electric Line. Taking CTA trains works, but some of the routes take you through some rather dodgy neighbourhoods, and I'd hate for your daughter's first impression of the U of C to be unduly influenced by that.
posted by Johnny Assay at 8:17 AM on September 7, 2008

I actually visited Northwestern my senior year of high school (ten years ago); flew up there by myself and took a very expensive cab ride from the airport to Evanston. I would definitely rent a car if the mass transit options don't look easy and fast.

Downtown Evanston is fairly close to campus, but a car would still be much easier than trying to walk it all. The stress of getting out of the city will be considerably less than the stress of being stuck somewhere on mass transit without enough time to get to your flight.
posted by shinynewnick at 8:26 AM on September 7, 2008

If your schedule was reversed I would say skip the car, but since you're flying out of Midway and going to Northwestern on Saturday that's a real haul to make on pub transpo in one day.
posted by The Straightener at 8:40 AM on September 7, 2008

It's a crap shoot which will cost more: cab fares or rental + gas + parking.

Parking is pretty straight forward around town - just pay attention to parking signs, etc. You'll either be at meters or pay lots. Traffic isn't horrible during the weekends, especially getting from Northwestern to U of C and back. You'll get fairly acquainted with Lake Shore Drive, a blight on the city expressway that runs the length of the city.

If you rent, check with the agency to see if they have any branded parking lots in the city. I think Enterprise may allow you to park for free around town - that could save you $20 a pop or more.

Make sure your kids knows that Chicago (and Evanston) are places where she can get around fine without a car. Chicago hates cars.
posted by wfrgms at 9:42 AM on September 7, 2008

Get the car.

It will solve the problem of getting back to Midway (getting to Evanston from downtown isn't hard, but getting back to Midway will be tougher/longer).

I don't know how much of the place you will want to see, and though the main downtown area of Evanston is adjacent to the NU campus, Evanston itself isn't tiny (its population is more than 10% of the size of the population of the state Alaska!).

If you want to do more than walk from the campus along the lakefront then walk downtown for lunch you will need transport. Yes, it seems like every road in Evanston is being dug up or repaved at the moment (Sherman, Ridge, the bridge on Emerson, and more) but driving around on a Saturday won't be a problem.

Hyde Park is nice, but it is like an island in a very urban sea; Evanston isn't really like that. If you want to get a sense of how it is situated and how the campus relates to the rest of its surroundings, you may want to move around a bit more than walking would permit.

As wfrgms points out Evanston is very livable without a car, both for students and others: highly walkable with intermingled commercial centers, decent public transport, pretty bike friendly and so on. But that's not really your current issue.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 9:57 AM on September 7, 2008

chicago has a pretty decent public transportation system but the problem with mass transit is that it's always better suited to getting you from point-to-point than to roaming an area. mass transit is also very nearly always slower than taking a personal vehicle, forcing you to explore a far smaller area -- you just can't ask the bus driver to make a left turn for you and they usually don't wait for you if you just want to pull over and get out for a second. this may not be an issue during friday rush hour but on weekends and evenings it quickly will become a hassle.

finding your way around from midway isn't too difficult and getting a car shouldn't be too expensive either. (I hear good things about the budget people at midway.)

considering that you have a limited amount of time and are trying to get a feel for the area, I'd recommend the vehicle. since chicago is a large city and people drive accordingly, I'd recommend you take the optional insurance or use a credit card that covers you. a little ding here can happen quickly and you are an out-of-towner.

have fun.
posted by krautland at 10:15 AM on September 7, 2008

Weekend (noon Thursday through noon Monday) car rentals are very affordable. Should not be more than $25 a day if you rent a small car. That's easily the same as cab fare between the airport and Evanston. Only downside that I can see is finding parking places. Is it a football home game day? If it is, then plan to have to look a little longer for parking and for things to be, in general, more crowded than usual.
posted by Xurando at 10:16 AM on September 7, 2008

You might try arranging a limo, but you'd have to accommodate your luggage, which would be awkward.

meh. I did that once (lincoln town car, nothing stretchy) and it came out to $60 from midway to the gold coast. I don't think a midsize car for the whole weekend will run OP more than $70, making that a much better deal.
posted by krautland at 10:17 AM on September 7, 2008

Get a car. Northwestern-Midway is a very long drive and an incredibly expensive cab ride (at least for me, a student there -- it runs about $60ish each way). I'm sure you know this, but the school will be close to empty on Saturday since we haven't started yet, and anyone on campus will probably be at the football game -- just as a word of warning, the campus isn't usually that quiet!

I would say once you get to Evanston, don't try to park on campus because unless you have a parking pass (which you may) the parking police are anal about giving out tickets. Plus, Evanston (as others have said) is a VERY walkable city. You could drive around to get a feel of the rest of Evanston and to eat on Main Street or somewhere further than walking distance, but honestly I wouldn't recommend it. As a student there, she won't go much further than Dempster & Chicago (about 6? blocks south of campus), so there's really no need to leave that area when checking out the campus. Do take a look around--Evanston is the "dining capital of North Shore" and has a lot of great shops.

Oh, and enjoy Northwestern--it's a great school. So is U of Chicago, but, uh, we're better. And if she/you have any further questions about the school, feel free to contact me!
posted by elisabethjw at 10:20 AM on September 7, 2008

Oh, I noticed you said a Thursday evening, not this Thursday.
posted by elisabethjw at 10:20 AM on September 7, 2008

I don't even drive, and I say avoid public transit for the Downtown-Evanston-Midway trip.

Reverse these directions to get to Midway from Evanston. Just so you know, Sheridan Road can be very confusing, since it turns a lot. (You may want to take Lake Shore to Sheridan from downtown to Evanston, so when you have to drive the reverse it's already familiar, and any detours won't surprise you.)

Also, campus parking is free at NU on weekends.
posted by limeswirltart at 10:22 AM on September 7, 2008

I'd rent the car to get from Evanston to the airport, but I wouldn't drive to the U of C on Friday. Parking can be a bit of a pain on weekdays, and once you're in Hyde Park you won't want it. Take the Metra or the #6 bus. Get off at 57th street and walk down 57th to campus.
posted by craichead at 10:22 AM on September 7, 2008

I went to Northwestern and spent a lot of time doing research at UofC. The former is a happier place, the latter is a smarter place, the former is a healthier place, the latter is a more ambitious place. But compared to Yale or Arizona State they are practically identical.

The train to Evanston is not difficult at all, especially compared to taking the El to UofC (which I don't recommend either) and the walk from the Davis Street station to the Northwestern Student Center takes you right through the neighborhoods where she will spend most of her time if she lives on South Campus. I find the El a very peaceful, relaxing way to get around Chicago (before midnight).

If she's going to school in Chicago, she should experience public transportation, since that's how she's going to get around everyday. For your sake, if you don't want the headache of waiting on trains and transferring, get a car and deal with construction and traffic, which can be a pain from downtown to Evanston. With a car you will see more of the area, although it would be stuff that she's rarely going to see while at school if she doesn't have a car.

You can rent a cab from Evanston to Midway that would be comparable to getting a car for the weekend, and you wouldn't have to worry about maps and directions.
posted by billtron at 10:41 AM on September 7, 2008

btw, like elizabethjw, I'm available for any questions you have.
posted by billtron at 10:42 AM on September 7, 2008

I hate it when people answer Some Other Question, but the obvious solution to save you from having to rent a car is to swap the days. You can public transit to Evanston easier on a weekday and not worry about when you get back. On Saturday, UofC is a very compact campus and very easy a) to get to from downtown b) to get to midway from. UofC to midway is one bus ride, 40 minutes. Runs every 15 minutes.

Renting a car would be a viable solution, but something that you Want To See if you're going to send your daughter here for four years is the public transit to/from each campus. Some people think that the transit options around UofC (green line stop at 55th or 63rd, or the 55th bus to midway) are scary; others disagree (I do), but you want to see for yourself.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 10:54 AM on September 7, 2008

Make sure your kids knows that Chicago (and Evanston) are places where she can get around fine without a car. Chicago hates cars.

Going to the U of C and accessing the North Side after dark strictly on public trans is brutal, my experience totally changed for the better after I got a car. I spent a number of nights standing in freezing winds waiting for a late bus in front of the Empty Bottle; catching a band should not be a Jack London novel, but in February in Chicago it is if you do not have a car and are very bad about drinking your cabfare.
posted by The Straightener at 11:15 AM on September 7, 2008

Don't rent a car. Parking and traffic are a hassle, and you can take the Metra from downtown to both Nortwestern and U of C. Much faster than taking the El. On Saturday, take the Union Pacific District North Line from the Chicago station to Davis. Here is the schedule. It takes about 25 minutes. Northwestern provides instructions, too. Take the train back downtown and then either take a cab or the subway to Midway. Taking the subway from downtown to Midway is about 30 minutes. Taking a cab from the downtown Metra station is $35. Just make sure you check the schedules, and you should be fine. Worst case scenario, you take a cab, which would be equal to the amount you spent on renting and filling up gas on a car.
posted by hooray at 11:20 AM on September 7, 2008

btw, I would still highly advocate getting a car. but do check out the public transportation.
posted by elisabethjw at 11:25 AM on September 7, 2008

Add me to the "skip the car" crowd. Two comments:

Nothing wrong with the Metra Electric, but for maximum flexibility, your best bet to get down to U of C and Hyde Park from downtown is the 6 Jackson Park Express bus. And knowing this will prevent future hand wringing about the supposed brutality of traveling between HP and the north side after dark.

NU to Midway really isn't so bad via transit, but if you're worried about it, you could look into an Airport Express shuttle (about $60 for two) or even cab it (which will probably run you 25-30% more).

I have a certain expertise on carlessness (avoiding a self-post, here), so feel free to MeFi mail me if I can help.
posted by j-dawg at 11:55 AM on September 7, 2008

I once took that No. 6 bus every single day, as well as the El to 63rd St., on occasion and the No. 1 bus when all other options were gone.

All I can say is: Rent the car.

Living in Hyde Park without a car is absolutely no fun and very isolating. Northwestern (and by extension, Evanston) is a bit better, but having a car really gives you flexibility that adds tremendous quality to your daily life.

So yes, get the car and think of having a car during that weekend as a template for how her college life might be.
posted by yellowcandy at 12:05 PM on September 7, 2008

As a U of C undergrad, and later as a visitor attending conferences at Northwestern and downtown, I had no problems using a combination of El, Metra, and CTA and PACE buses to get everywhere I needed to go, downtown or the North Side or the far South Side or the suburbs. Many of my classmates complained endlessly about how hard it was to get out of Hyde Park without a car, but many of them had never actually tried. It's totally possible to be car-free in Chicago, especially as a student, but you have to have the attitude that it's an adventure, not privation.
posted by nonane at 12:44 PM on September 7, 2008

I just want to clarify that I was so adamant about walking down 57th street, not because other streets are dangerous or scary or ugly, but because 57th is where the shops and restaurants are. The other streets you could walk down are more residential and not very interesting.
posted by craichead at 12:49 PM on September 7, 2008

your best bet to get down to U of C and Hyde Park from downtown is the 6 Jackson Park Express bus. And knowing this will prevent future hand wringing about the supposed brutality of traveling between HP and the north side after dark.

Agreed. I also agree with nonane who says that most of the people complaining about the difficulty of transit to Hyde Park, in my experience, were using it as an excuse, either to 1) get a car because they just wanted one, 2) not go anywhere, or 3) complain about something because they got bored of complaining about their classes. The six rocks, and so does a fall walk down 57th street. And getting to downtown from Midway on the Orange line is dead easy.

Unfortunately I never took public transit to Evanston so I can't speak to that, but if this were my trip this would be the only leg I'd consider a car (either rental or cab). From what I understand the trip from downtown to Evanston on the Red & Purple line isn't bad, but it might take you ages to get back to Midway, especially on a Sunday (Purple to Red to Orange).

(Also, an aside: in February at 4 AM, should your daughter be standing outside of the Empty Bottle and need to get to Hyde Park, she should just take a cab. It'll cost her less than it would to fill up her hypothetical gas tank if she had that car and be loads more convenient.)

Lastly I'll add to the general chorus: if you or your daughter have any questions about being a student in Chicago or at UofC specifically, I'd be thrilled to answer them. Have fun on your trip!
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 1:55 PM on September 7, 2008