Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois. Evanston is 45-60 minutes north of downtown Chicago by car or train.
Getting to Evanston from O’Hare International Airport
Public Transportation
The cheapest way to get to Evanston from O’Hare International Airport is by taking public transportation. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates busses and the elevated train system.
Option 1: Take the CTA metro trains straight from the airport terminals with at least one transfer near downtonwn (~2 hour).
Option 2: Take the O’Hare Airport Transit System to the Multi-Modal Facility/Rental Car Center. From outside of the Multi-Modal Facility, take the Pulse Dempster Line Bus straight to downtown Evanston (~1 hour and 20 minutes).
Taxi/Uber/Lyft
The fastest way to get to Evanston from O’Hare is by taking an Uber/Lyft/Taxi. Uber and Lyft drivers are authorized to pick up riders from designated pickup zones (viewable in the relevant app). Surge pricing may be in effect, but non-surge rates typically run around $60. The drive to CIERA can take anywhere between 25 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. Alternatively, American Taxi can be pre-arranged and offers a flat rate of $42 from O’Hare to Evanston. To pre-arrange a ride, please call (847) 673-1000.
Things to do in Evanston
Quick Bites/Takeout
Jimmy John’s, Koko Table Korean, Soulwich, Edzo’s, Elephant and Vine, Sweetgreen, Colectivo Coffee, Habibi Mediterranean Grill, 10Q Chicken, Dozika, Chipotle, Potbelly’s, Noodles & Co.
Sit Down/Dinner (many also offer takeout options) (^=more costly)
Bat17, Mumbai Indian Grill, Chili’s, Stacked and Folded, Tapas Barcelona, Kansaku, TOMO, Koi, Trattoria Demi, Peppercorn’s Kitchen, Taco Diablo, Compagnola^, Oceanique^, Mt. Everest, Lou Malnati’s, The Barn Steakhouse^, LeTour^, Fonda, NaKorn Urban Thai
Activities
Day at Lake Michigan, Northwestern University Block Museum, Dearborn Observatory, Grosse Point Lighthouse, and much more! Explore the Downtown Evanston events calendar.
Things to do in Chicago
Downtown Chicago is roughly a 45 min -1 hour train ride from CIERA. Take the Purple Line at the Davis Stop southbound (Loop Direction) straight there, or transfer to the Red Line at Howard (95th/Dan Ryan Direction).
See the Bean, the Sears (Willis) Tower, the Art Institute, Lake Michigan, an architectural boat tour from the Chicago River, and much, much more. More recommendations here: