Downtown Evanston - Getting Here

Welcome to the City of Evanston! We're located just north of Chicago, along the shores of Lake Michigan and adjacent to Northwestern University. Our dynamic and diverse community is easily accessible by train, bus, car, and bicycle. Come visit us in downtown Evanston! Annual Events.

Trains

The City of Evanston is served by two train systems:
  • The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Purple Line elevated trains make seven (7) stops across Evanston. The CTA trains (also called the "L") stop in downtown Evanston at Davis Street, which is a also a main connection point for buses. During peak commuting times, there are special "express" trains to and from downtown Chicago, so you can get to downtown Evanston even faster.
    • If you’re coming to Evanston from O’Hare airport (Blue Line train) or Midway airport (Orange Line train), you’ll need to take your first train into downtown Chicago, then transfer to the Red Line train, and then the Purple Line train, heading north to Evanston. A reminder that there are seven CTA Purple Line "L" train stops within Evanston's city limits.
  • Metra is the suburban commuter rail system for the Chicagoland area. The Union Pacific North (UP-N) line makes three stops across Evanston, including one in Downtown Evanston at the Davis Street Station. View the UP-N Line here.

Buses

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has 4 bus routes to help you get to the busiest parts of Evanston:

You can track buses with the CTA Bus Tracker.

Pace, the suburban system, also has 5 routes: View the routes here.

  • Route 213 - Green Bay Road 
  • Route 215 - Crawford/Howard 
  • Route 250 - Dempster Street 
  • Route 422  - Linden CTA/Glenview/Northbrook Court 
  • Route 208 - Green Bay Road 

You can track buses with the Pace Bus Tracker.

Biking

Whether you enjoy leisurely biking or are a biking enthusiast, you will find numerous bike-related amenities in downtown Evanston. There are ample bike racks on sidewalks and in the parking garages, dedicated bike lanes, a bike tune-up station at Byline Bank (820 Church St.) and Wheel & Sprocket (1027 Davis St.), a very resourceful bike shop. Downtown Evanston is also home to a Divvy Station on Benson Ave. nearby the CTA Station. 

If you are interested in learning more about biking in Evanston, reach out to Evanston Transit Alliance or Evanston Bicycle Club, organizations that promote biking, bike safety and more in Evanston. The City of Evanston has information about biking including a map, bike registration and bike parking. Learn more here. You can also get more involved in the local cycling community through Evanston Rides!

Please be considerate when you are in Downtown Evanston by walking your bike on sidewalks. Biking on sidewalks is not allowed in the downtown business district. 

Taxis

These companies are licensed by the City of Evanston. They offer fixed rates to and from the airports.

Parking Tips:
  • Download the Park Evanston app for easier parking at street meters.
  • Parking in City garages is less expensive than metered street parking.
  • On Sundays (and on certain holidays), parking is FREE at street meters, in City garages, and on surface lots!

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