Question:

Chicago Parking - plan to take Metra or El to the Loop from I-294/I-57 area. What is the best option?
We are stopping in Chicago for Friday/Saturday night in a couple weeks and need to find a place to park our car. Don't really want to pay downtown rates, so figure I could ride the Metra or El from the suburbs and leave my car there for two nights. Anywhere on the south side near the Tri-State (I-294). I need to head down I-57 on Sunday so near that interchange would be best. Is there a Metra station in the area there with relatively safe parking? Can't take Amtrak or other public transportation since I am picking up stuff on Sunday. Any thoughts?

Answers:

A-Best: yes you can park some what near that interchange http://Metra.com the Electric line would be your option from the south  

A: time must not be an issue for you because this will take a lot longer instead of parking at millenium and enjoying more of downtown, but they all have park and rides  

A: How many people are there going to be, and will the cost (and time) of the Metra / L tickets offset the cost of parking downtown? Something to look into and consider.  

A: A secured lot is on 59th Street across from Midway Airport. About $12 per day. You can cross the street and hop on the Orange Line "L" train to get downtown.