Amtrak Cleveland to Chicago

[#0009]

Would like suggestions on getting to Chicago from Cleveland for the Empire Builder with out leaving Cleveland at 2:30am on the LateShore or Capital.  Is there a place to park a vehicle long term (couple weeks) cheap in the Chicago area that would be conveniant to Union Station? Any suggestions would be appreciated

[Expresslane]

 

    I don't think you are going to find anything cheap in Chicago near Union Station. There might be parking at or near a Metra station. Most Metra trains arrive at Union Station. Guess your other option is a bus. What about a train from the Detroit area?  Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

I took the Empire Builder from Milwaukee to Portland last December.  I took the Texas Eagle from Dallas to Chicago and a Milwaukee Service train from Chicago to Milwaukee.  I stayed over night in Milwaukee, as opposed to Chicago, because the cost of a hotel room in downtown Milwaukee was much cheaper than a similar hotel room in downtown Chicago.

You might check out parking at the Milwaukee Airport.  If it is anything like most airports, the long term parking would probably cost $6 - $8 a day.  Amtrak has a station that serves the Milwaukee airport.  You could drive to the airport, park the family buggy in long term parking, and take a Milwaukee Service train into Milwaukee, where you could catch the Empire Builder.

I live in Georgetown, Texas.  When I want to take Amtrak from Austin, I drive to the Austin Airport, where I park for $6 a day.  Parking at the Austin Amtrak Station is a bad idea, unless you have an old car that you want the thieves to take off your hands.  Then I take a city bus to the Amtrak Station, where I catch the Texas Eagle.  If the train is late returning to Austin from the north, I catch a cab to the airport.  I don't like being downtown in any Texas City late at night.   

 

 

[daveklepper]

I have a much better suggestion.   Drive to the South Bend Airport and use their distant lot for economical guarded long-term parking.  Use the South Shore to the Van Beuren Street Station, and get a cab on Michigan Avenue for Union Station or use a city bus if you are traveling light.  Be sure to check the South Shore timetable, though, mid-day and reverse rush hour trains are not very frequent.   Or does anyone know a South Shore Indiana suburban station parking lot that doesn't fill up and is economical?

[Expresslane]

 

  I like what daveklepper says. Same idea as mine but a much better location. Plus you get to ride the South Shore.