Getting Around the Village of Oak Park

Directory

Getting Around

Draw a circle on a map, with Oak Park at the hub. Within half an hour, you can be almost anywhere - downtown Chicago, O'Hare or Midway Airports, over 25 sports facilities, countless suburbs, thousands of restaurants, theatres, hospitals, medical centers, schools, universities. Oak Park is within reasonable commuting distance of 1.6 million jobs. According to a study issued in 2000 by the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Surface Transportation Policy Project, Oak Park residents have the lowest estimated transportation costs of any suburb in the Chicago region, due to its location, design, and access to transportation options.

And you do not even have to own a car. Surrounding this enviable location is an abundance of public transportation, letting you get into, out of and around Oak Park effortlessly. Two Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) elevated rail lines (Blue and Green), the Metra (Union Pacific West Line) train, ten PACE bus lines, and eight CTA bus lines serve Oak Park.

Driving? Interstate I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway, runs directly through Oak Park, linking you with major highways into Chicago, the suburbs and beyond. This great location and superb transit system put neighborhoods within walking and bicycling distance of multiple transportation access points. This enables college students and business professionals to commute downtown to school or work. It makes Oak Park's businesses and attractions accessible to employees, tourists and shoppers well beyond the Village's boundaries.

Map of Oak Park Area

• Distance To:
O'HARE AIRPORT: 10 miles - 25 minutes
MIDWAY AIRPORT: 8 miles - 28 minutes
DOWNTOWN CHICAGO LOOP: 9 miles - 20 minutes - via Eisenhower Expressway or public transportation (Austin & Harlem expressway exits & entrances are on the LEFT side)

• Parking:
On street parking is banned between 2:30 and 6 a.m. except in certain permit areas. Parking Clearinghouse information and permits for more than 100 Village parking lots and parking areas are available at Village Hall. Parking Office Phone: 708.358.PARK (7275)

• Vehicle Stickers:
$45 per year ($35 for seniors & disabled citizens)

• Public Transportation:
- 2 rapid transit lines
- 1 commuter rail line
- Several bus routes
- 2 taxi-cab companies
- Senior citizen bus service

• Tourist Information:
Oak Park Visitors' Center (Lake Street at Forest Avenue) Phone: 708.848.1500

• Points Of Interest
- Cheney Mansion
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio**
- 2 Historic Districts**
- Ernest Hemingway Birthplace
- Ernest Hemingway Museum
- Pleasant Home**
- Unity Temple**

** Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

• Places Of Worship:
- 4 Jewish congregations
- 45 Protestant churches (23 denominations)
- 4 Roman Catholic parishes

Parking & Parking Areas

Residential Permit Areas (111kb)

Download the Residential Permit Parking Information Guide and Map in PDF format

Parking in Oak Park's Business Districts

North Avenue Business District, Chicago-Harlem Business District, Chicago-Austin to Ridgeland Business District

Downtown Oak Park, South Marion Street Business Distrtics

Avenue Business District, Lake Street Business Districts

Madison Street Business District, Southtown Business District

Harlem-Garfield Business District, Harrison Street Business District, Roosevelt Road Business District