Best route from O'Hare to Ryan Field?

[Alaskawildkat]

I see on NUSports.com there is a caution warning, "Avoid Old Orchard Road" when coming to Ryan Field. Coming off the tollway I usually take Dempster which runs into the campus itself. To end up closer to Central Street and Ryan Field is there a more direct route that will avoid Old Orchard Rd? I assume I would just take whatever exit is north of Dempster? Is that Golf?

 

[the wonder cat]

There is no exit at Golf. The next exit north of Dempster is Old Orchard.
Hope some other posters will offer advice on your best route option. I live in Evanston which makes the commute to stadium way easy

 

[PlowKing2]

Waze is your friend.

 

[shakes3858]

I drove from Ann Arbor to Detroit after the game last week. I crashed with some friends there hung out for half a day on Sunday. On the way back to Chicago on Sunday, I ran directions on the IPhone and Siri, told me the way to go. We hit traffic due to construction and she asked me if I prefered the alternate route that would save me 18 minutes. I took it and got home safely


Moral of my story is I can give you directions or you can ask your phone which takes into consideration lots of factors like traffic,
Construction... On literally a real time basis.




Anyway where are you tailgating and will you have some raspberry jam?

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Anyway where are you tailgating and will you have some raspberry jam?

No raspberry jam this time since I will not be checking luggage in order to cut the time to make it to Ryan Field. Airport Security considers jam a liquid or jell.

However I will be bringing Alaska Reindeer Sausage and Alaska Smoked Salmon, as well as some of the Obama made-famous Pecan Sticky Buns that he picked up for his entire staff when he was here last month.

My intent is to leave some of each at No Chores/Willycat's Rolling Rock Tent Tailgate (pictured below), Turk's CatPack Tailgate, and Ubercat's white tent Tailgate. All are in the West Lot close to the fence and in the vicinity of the Player Friends and Family Tailgate if it is still where it used to be located about midway along the West Fence.

Given my flight's arrival time it may not be until 10:30 AM before I get to the tailgates so check back after the game if you have to head into the stadium early.

.... RE: The Pecan Sticky Buns:

As a post script to the President's visit, here are some photos relating to his visit to an Anchorage eatery just up the block from my office and which was the subject of late night talk show fodder.

Here is the referenced joke by Jimmy Fallon:

"While he was in Alaska, President Obama stopped at a cafe and bought out all of their cinnamon rolls for his staff. The staff was like, "Thanks, Obama." And the guy behind him in line was like, "Yeah, thanks Obama.""



As to the best way to get to the Stadium since I will only have wifi on my mobile device all I need to know is which exit to take off of the tollway. Old Orchard would seem to make the most sense except for the warning on the NUSports website to avoid it. Anyone know why?

Otherwise I guess I will just exit on Dempster and head East until I reach Ridge and then head north on Ridge until I get to Central.

 

[wildcat229]

As to the best way to get to the Stadium since I will only have wifi on my mobile device all I need to know is which exit to take off of the tollway. Old Orchard would seem to make the most sense except for the warning on the NUSports website to avoid it. Anyone know why?

Otherwise I guess I will just exit on Dempster and head East until I reach Ridge and then head north on Ridge until I get to Central.[/QUOTE]

You could also turn left at Potter, which I believe is the first light after getting off at Dempster, and take it to where it dead ends with Golf. Golf is usually faster than Dempster.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

You could also turn left at Potter, which I believe is the first light after getting off at Dempster, and take it to where it dead ends with Golf. Golf is usually faster than Dempster.

Thanks! That is very helpful.

 

[corbi296]

As to the best way to get to the Stadium since I will only have wifi on my mobile device all I need to know is which exit to take off of the tollway. Old Orchard would seem to make the most sense except for the warning on the NUSports website to avoid it. Anyone know why?

Otherwise I guess I will just exit on Dempster and head East until I reach Ridge and then head north on Ridge until I get to Central.

You could also turn left at Potter, which I believe is the first light after getting off at Dempster, and take it to where it dead ends with Golf. Golf is usually faster than Dempster.[/QUOTE]

That is the way to go. Take the Dempster exit, head East, make a left at the first light which is Potter, and the n make a right at Golf.

 

[Cardiacagoan]

It depends on what time you are going. I live in Norwood Park which isn't far from O'Hare.

I take the non-highway route which would be easy for you.

O'Hare - get to Devon, take Devon East to Central, take a left (North) on Central. Central to Pratt, take a right on Pratt to head East. Pratt To McCormick, McCormick to Green Back Road, left on GB, right on Central.

I agree with the above posters on 94, but if there is traffic, go with this route.

Safe travels

 

[nu greek]

I see on NUSports.com there is a caution warning, "Avoid Old Orchard Road" when coming to Ryan Field. Coming off the tollway I usually take Dempster which runs into the campus itself. To end up closer to Central Street and Ryan Field is there a more direct route that will avoid Old Orchard Rd? I assume I would just take whatever exit is north of Dempster? Is that Golf?

I live in Wilmette and my suggestion is take 294 North to Dempster East to Waukegan Rd. Turn left going North to Lake St in Glenview, Turn right heading East approximately 5 miles to Green Bay Rd., Turn right heading South for about 2 miles to Central St. in Evanston. Turn left to the stadium. Lake has less traffic than other East/West streets. Hope that helps. Go Cats.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I'll be in town this weekend...looking forward to seeing some familiar faces in the West Lot.

Expecting Victory!

Coral Springs Cat

 

[ubercat]

It depends on what time you are going. I live in Norwood Park which isn't far from O'Hare.

I take the non-highway route which would be easy for you.

O'Hare - get to Devon, take Devon East to Central, take a left (North) on Central. Central to Pratt, take a right on Pratt to head East. Pratt To McCormick, McCormick to Green Back Road, left on GB, right on Central.

I agree with the above posters on 94, but if there is traffic, go with this route.

Safe travels

Definitely partial to the (eastbound 90 to north Cumberland) to Devon, Central, Pratt, McCormick route. I also live in Norwood Park and it seems to work the best.

 

[Deeringfish]

I live in Wilmette and my suggestion is take 294 North to Dempster East to Waukegan Rd. Turn left going North to Lake St in Glenview, Turn right heading East approximately 5 miles to Green Bay Rd., Turn right heading South for about 2 miles to Central St. in Evanston. Turn left to the stadium. Lake has less traffic than other East/West streets. Hope that helps. Go Cats.

I drove it twice last weekend and this sounds good especially for game day, except perhaps for Wisconsin games as that crowd could be coming from the North.

 

[nu greek]

I drove it twice last weekend and this sounds good especially for game day, except perhaps for Wisconsin games as that crowd could be coming from the North.

True Deeringfish, but if you leave early enough it's still not bad. Hope you're doing better!!!

 

[stpaulcat]

I see on NUSports.com there is a caution warning, "Avoid Old Orchard Road" when coming to Ryan Field. Coming off the tollway I usually take Dempster which runs into the campus itself. To end up closer to Central Street and Ryan Field is there a more direct route that will avoid Old Orchard Rd? I assume I would just take whatever exit is north of Dempster? Is that Golf?

294 to Dempster to Green Bay Road (more or less--I think you have to get on ridge or something to get on to GB) to Central. This is the most direct unless there is construction.

However, if you want a longer, but more leisurely route with less traffic take 294 north to Willow Road, west to Milwaukee Avenue south to Lake Avenue east to Green Bay Road south to Central.

 

[NJCat83588]

294 to Dempster to Green Bay Road (more or less--I think you have to get on ridge or something to get on to GB) to Central.

I've made the trip from ORD many Saturday mornings before games, and this is by far the best route. No traffic at that hour........actually even better is to go to McCormick and make a left to the north to Central.

 

[GlideCat]

I've made the trip from ORD many Saturday mornings before games, and this is by far the best route. No traffic at that hour........actually even better is to go to McCormick and make a left to the north to Central.

If you are traveling in on Friday afternoon, there is no good route. Give yourself lots of time and be patient.

 

[Deeringfish]

True Deeringfish, but if you leave early enough it's still not bad. Hope you're doing better!!!

Thanks! Hope to graduate from a walker to a crutch in a week or so.

 

[Mr. Stupor]

294 to Dempster to Green Bay Road (more or less--I think you have to get on ridge or something to get on to GB) to Central. This is the most direct unless there is construction.

However, if you want a longer, but more leisurely route with less traffic take 294 north to Willow Road, west to Milwaukee Avenue south to Lake Avenue east to Green Bay Road south to Central.

Better yet, turn south from Willow onto the first light (can't remember the name) and go to Lake Steet. That's the fastest way, IMO. ALWAYS attack the stadium from the north.

 

[d'son d]

The only reason to avoid Old orchard Road is the traffic lights that populate this very short stretch (Harms to Crawford) of about 1-2 miles, and its narrowing to one lane for the last 3-4 blocks(which would be packed on game day). Any of the route mentioned are good although the scenic route using Devon is good if you know where you are going. Lake is probably the fastest since it is well north of the usual direct routes, but you can take lake all the way to Green Bay and then south the Central (is it really 2 miles??) but that gets you onto a jam packed Central. If you stay on Lake all the way to Sheridan, that goes directly into Ridge Ave which is 2-3 blocks from the stadium. Once on Ridge, though, you can turn right and start looking for parking. But any way you travel, leave plenty of time to allow for the traffic which jams the nearby major routes on game day with teams that travel well.