Taking CTA Public Transportation to Soldier Field

Chicago’s Soldier Field is known for its vertical columns and striking skyline views. Beyond its architecture, fans identify Soldier Field with smash mouth Bears football and sold-out concerts. Of course, traffic slows to a crawl on nearby Lake Shore Drive, Roosevelt Road and I-55 during Soldier Field events. To save time and money, you should learn to take Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) public transportation to Soldier Field.

You Will Need

$1 bills and quarters

CTA map

Section 1 – Find Soldier Field

Step 1

Identify Soldier Field’s address as 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive in Chicago. This location is situated off Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood and Lake Michigan. The CTA Roosevelt Station is one-half mile west of the stadium. The CTA Red, Orange and Green lines all meet at the Roosevelt el station.

Step 2

Define Chicago’s main corridors that provide immediate access to the CTA Red, Orange and Green lines. On the North Side, the Red Line follows Sheridan Road, Broadway Avenue and Sheffield Avenue before heading into downtown as a subway. Downtown, the Red Line runs beneath State Street, until it emerges on the South Side within the I-90/94 Dan Ryan Expressway median. Meanwhile, the Green Line goes overhead Lake Street on the West Side before looping around downtown on Wabash Avenue. On the South Side, the Green Line parallels King Drive. Lastly, the Orange Line connects Midway Airport to the Chicago Loop via Archer Avenue.

Step 3

Locate CTA train transfer points for the Red, Orange and Green lines. For Soldier Field, important Loop transfer points are located at Clark-Lake, Jackson and Library. From the northwest side, you can pick up the Blue or Brown line into the Loop from the Kennedy Expressway, Milwaukee Avenue or Lincoln Avenue. From Oak Park and the West Side, you can take the Blue Line for downtown at the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway.

Section 2 – Take CTA Trains to Soldier Field

Step 1

Walk up to the CTA train station and buy your fare card. As of 2010, the CTA fare costs $2.25 for one way. You will need this exact amount because CTA machines do not make change.

Step 2

Read signs to determine the direction of travel for oncoming trains. Oncoming trains use overhead signs to post their last stop. CTA station el platforms are signed as “Loop” for trains heading into downtown Chicago.

Step 3

Transfer onto the Red, Orange or Green Lines in the Loop, if necessary. From the Loop, you will take the Red, Orange, or Green Line heading south for Soldier Field.

Step 4

Exit the CTA el train at Roosevelt Road. From there, you can walk east with other Bears fans and concertgoers into Soldier Field.

Tips

From the suburbs, you may take the Metra commuter rail into Chicago Loop. In the Loop, the Red Line runs beneath State Street and is a short walk from all downtown Metra stations. Downtown Red Line trains going to Soldier Field and Roosevelt will say “95/Dan Ryan.” The Metra Electric District Line from the south suburbs does stop at 11^th street, which is next to Soldier Field.