Visiting Chicago

The weekend of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of Chicago's busiest travel weekends of the year, attracting thousands of travelers from across the country and around the world. If you are traveling to Chicago, we encourage you to make your plans well in advance of race weekend, as hotel rooms and flights fill up quickly. During your stay in Chicago, take advantage of public transportation and special race weekend transport services and parking, and don't forget to take in the sights, sounds and flavors that make Chicago so unique.

Hotels and Airline
Public Transportation
Race Day Parking
Restaurants
Chicago Tourism 

Hotels
Experient is the Official Travel and Housing Partner of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, offering official rates at the city’s most desirable hotels. You can book hotel accommodations and manage your reservation through Experient. More information will be available shortly.

The Hilton Chicago is the Official Headquarters Hotel of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Located just across the street from Grant Park, the Hilton Chicago is a hub of activity on race weekend.

Click here to view distances from major Chicago hotels to the Marathon start line, finish line, Health & Fitness Expo, airports, public transportation, city landmarks, destinations and more. 

Airline
American Airlines, the Official Airline of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, has made available a 5% discount off any applicable fare or 10% off full Coach, Business or First Class fares. Race participants (or families and friends) may also utilize the discount when traveling on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection. The discount is valid only for travel that occurs from October 6, 2010 - October 14, 2010 and may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer.

Reservations on American Airlines and American Eagle may be booked on aa.com or by contacting our toll-free number at 1.800.433.1790.  Please follow the procedures listed below for booking the available discounts and enter or mention 81H0AR as the aa.com promotion code when booking your reservation:

5% Discount (applies to any applicable fare): Flights may be booked by contacting American Airlines toll-free at 1.800.433.1790 or by visiting aa.com. Flights booked through the toll-free number will be assessed any applicable administrative charges.

10% Discount (applies only to Full Coach, Business or First Class Fares): Flights may only be booked by contacting American Airlines toll-free at 1.800.433.1790 and currently cannot be fulfilled on aa.com. The administrative charge for booking through the toll-free number will be waived.

AAdvantage members may accrue mileage on American Airlines for tickets purchased subject to the rules of the AAdvantage program. Electronic and monetary upgrades to Business or First Class are allowed after ticketing.

Airline Group Travel
American Airlines Group & Meeting Travel offers special fares and discounts* for 10 or more passengers traveling to a common destination. Use the links below to get information on fares and discounts and to determine if Group & Meeting Travel is right for you. Contact Group & Meeting Travel at 1.800.221.2255, e-mail aagmt.internet@aa.com, or visit the Web site at aa.com/group.

Public Transportation
Participants and spectators are encouraged to use public transportation throughout race weekend. Check back for special race weekend availability and services.

Metra Rail Service
1.312.322.6777 or visit metrarail.com.

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
1.888.YOUR.CTA or transitchicago.com

Regional Transit Authority (RTA)
1.312.913.3200 or rtachicago.com 

Race Day Parking
All participants and spectators are strongly encouraged to use public transportation to the start and finish areas in Grant Park, as well as to locations along the course. If you drive, allow sufficient time for heavy traffic congestion and street closures due to the race.

Millennium Garages offer the closest and most convenient parking on race day, with more than 9,200 spaces; the garages are listed below:

East Monroe/Millennium Park Garage - 5 S. Columbus Dr. (6,100 parking spaces):
Enter the garages by heading southbound on Columbus Dr., just south of Randolph St. You can access Randolph St. from Lake Shore Dr. or Michigan Ave. before 7 a.m. only.

For access to Millennium Park Garage all day, and to avoid major traffic congestion, use the entrance on lower Randolph St. To access lower Randolph St., follow Lower Wacker Dr. to Lower Columbus Dr., turn left and go down ramp into the lower Millennium Park Garage Entrance (look for directional signs).

Grant Park North Garage - 25 N. Michigan Ave. (1,750 parking spaces):
The entrances to Grant Park North Garage, both from the north and south, are in the center of Michigan Ave., between Randolph St. and Madison St.

Grant Park South Garage - 325 S. Michigan Ave. (1,350 parking spaces):
The entrances to Grant Park North Garage, both from the north and south, are in the center of Michigan Ave., north of Congress Pkwy. and south of Jackson Blvd.

More detailed directions and event-specific information about the garages can be found at millenniumgarages.com or by calling 1.312.616.0600.

Restaurants
Park Grill is the Featured Restaurant of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Park Grill is located at the entrance of Chicago's Millennium Park and steps from Michigan Ave. Visit parkgrillchicago.com for more information.

Chicago Tourism
Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau
1.877.CHICAGO or choosechicago.com

Illinois Bureau of Tourism
1.800.406.6418 or enjoyillinois.com 

Metromix Chicago
Restaurants, Bars, Music, Movies and Entertainment
metromix.com

The Art Institute of Chicago
In honor of your amazing 26.2 mile accomplishment, the Art Institute of Chicago would like to extend a membership discount of $26 off Member, Member Plus or Premium Member levels.  Simply bring your marathon bib to the museum October 9 through October 12 to receive your discount.
artinstituteofchicago.org

Chicago Country Music Festival
Kick off Marathon weekend with the Chicago Country Music Festival, Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 in Millennium Park! The festival is FREE and hours are from Noon to 9:00 p.m. both days. The Chicago Country Music Festival features three music stages to satisfy any country fan—the Best Buy Honky Tonk Stage, the Americana Stage and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. The Chicago Country Music Festival is presented by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events.

For a complete schedule and line-up visit www.chicagocountrymusicfestival.us or call 1.312.744.3317.