# Chicago - free parking near L station **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439 "2017-04-28T14:36:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bike\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Bike\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bike_Rider)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/1 "2017-04-28T14:36:55Z")
Since I know there’s a significant Chicago contingent here, and I can’t find info on this through my google attempts, I thought I’d ask for opinions here. I am traveling to Chicago for the weekend and staying at the Intercontinental on Michigan and was thinking that I might be able to save on parking ($68 at the hotel) by finding a red line L stop that has free, non-zoned parking near the station. What would be the best option for this? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/2 "2017-04-28T14:42:20Z")
Haven’t lived and parked in Chicago for a couple of decades, so I know many locals will come in with specific suggestions. Parking is getting a lot tougher with neighborhood permits, but there are still plenty of areas where you can park for free on the street. Another alternative would be to look for a surface lot/garage outside the loop, where parking would be far cheaper than the hotel rate, and you might appreciate some slightly improved security. On edit - might try [this map](http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/chi-chicago-residential-parking-zones-bsi-map-htmlstory.html), and overlay w/ the el map. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/3 "2017-04-28T17:04:36Z")
I don’t think any of the parking near Rogers Park stops (Jarvis & Morse) is zoned or otherwise restricted. There’s a parking lot at Howard that might be worth checking into, too. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/4 "2017-04-28T17:45:20Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Another alternative would be to look for a surface lot/garage outside the loop, where parking would be far cheaper than the hotel rate, and you might appreciate some slightly improved security. If you are thinking along these lines, you might try Greektown or the South Loop somewhere. Not far, but not $35/day like parking garages can be in the Loop. I used to live in Andersonville (near the Berwyn/Bryn Mawr stops). No zoned parking around there, and you might get lucky on one of the side streets or along Ashland. It’s kind of a schlep from the Loop, though - depends how much inconvenience you are willing to subject yourself to in order to save a few bucks. I believe the lot at Howard is fairly inexpensive, but I’ve never parked there. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/5 "2017-04-28T22:35:35Z")
You can find some free parking in the vicinity of Loyola University, Red line runs right past it, but it’ll still be a crapshoot. Most of the side streets are permit over there as well, but if you can find a spot near the Foster/Kimball area, you can hop on the brown and switch to red for anywhere else you need to go. Sorry I can’t be more helpful, everywhere has permit parking or those damned “meters”. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/6 "2017-04-28T23:36:54Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I don’t think any of the parking near Rogers Park stops (Jarvis & Morse) is zoned or otherwise restricted. There’s a parking lot at Howard that might be worth checking into, too. That’s a 40-50 minute train ride from downtown. It wouldn’t be worth it to me. I mean, if you’re going to commute 40 minutes away from your car, why not stay at a hotel up there? Loyola has a hotel and parking garage, though I can’t say it’s any cheaper than staying downtown, and if your activities are downtown then there’s the 40 minutes each way still to consider. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/7 "2017-04-29T03:22:55Z")
Use [Spothero](https://spothero.com/) to find cheap (not free) parking. You may be able to find a space near your hotel. Try it! There are only 3 CTA stations with parking lots/garages that allow multi-day parking. I would recommend the garage at the Cumberland station on the Blue Line, $13/day. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/8 "2017-04-29T04:07:51Z")
SpotHero and ParkWhiz should show some of the South Loop garages around Harrison station at $8-$15 per day. Don’t overlook buses that will take you right to your hotel door. The 146, for instance, saves you the stairs and the walk at both ends. But I might instead find free street parking near Cambridge & Chicago, or near Evergreen & Sedgwick and taxi over. Seeing you’re at the Intercontinental, find on-street parking near Grand & Noble and ride the #65 bus east to the hotel. (You’ll end up on the lower level of Michigan Avenue.) ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/9 "2017-04-29T06:52:27Z")
Another thing to mention is that parking can be pretty competitive near El stations, even if it’s free / non-zoned. I know people who live in Rogers Park who have had to spend 45+ minutes toodling around to find an empty spot. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/10 "2017-04-29T11:26:25Z")
Do you want to park Friday, take your luggage on the train, and not see your car again until you are ready to leave, or do you want your car somewhere accessible? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/11 "2017-04-29T16:17:44Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > That’s a 40-50 minute train ride from downtown. It wouldn’t be worth it to me. I mean, if you’re going to commute 40 minutes away from your car, why not stay at a hotel up there? Loyola has a hotel and parking garage, though I can’t say it’s any cheaper than staying downtown, and if your activities are downtown then there’s the 40 minutes each way still to consider. Sure, it’s a ride. Some days and times, the train will be faster than driving to get downtown, too. OP asked for free, non-zoned parking on the Red Line. That’s going to get pretty tough closer to the Loop. If other train lines can be considered, we may have further recommendations. For example, I’ve parked in the neighborhood sidestreets before getting on the Blue Line at Jefferson Park. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/12 "2017-05-01T14:35:27Z")
Sorry I missed the deadline on this. I would have said try Cermak/Chinatown, two miles south of the Loop. The block or two east of the El station up to State Street is unzoned, and over the weekend, there were a number of free spots. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/13 "2017-05-02T04:07:58Z")
Chinatown is pretty mobbed on weekends by Chinese who now live in the suburbs. Even the pay parking lots are completely full during the daytime. Very little chance of free street parking until late in the day. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-free-parking-near-l-station/785439/14 "2017-05-02T13:25:52Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Chinatown is pretty mobbed on weekends by Chinese who now live in the suburbs. Even the pay parking lots are completely full during the daytime. Very little chance of free street parking until late in the day. I drove by on both Saturday around 11 am and noon on Sunday. There were at least three non-metered parking spots on Cermak between Clark and State free on both days. It’s worth a look.