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Amtrak Question - Lincoln Line between St Louis and Chicago
Posted on 2/19/20 at 2:56 pm
Posted on 2/19/20 at 2:56 pm
Anyone here familiar with this route? I'm going to see some family near Bloomington, Illinois this summer and thought it'd be fun to take the kids to Chicago on the train. I know Amtrak reliability can be all over the place and is route dependent, and didn't want a 2 hour itinerary to turn into a 9 hour one if delays on that route is a common thing. Google really isn't providing me much info.
Should I just drive into the city? The plan was to do this on Wednesday or Thursday morning, so I'd imagine traffic would be heavy on I-55 that time of day.
Should I just drive into the city? The plan was to do this on Wednesday or Thursday morning, so I'd imagine traffic would be heavy on I-55 that time of day.
5
Posted on 2/19/20 at 3:15 pm to The Spleen
Nevermind. I thought you were traveling St Louis to Chicago like your thread title states.
This post was edited on 2/19/20 at 3:20 pm
Posted on 2/19/20 at 3:26 pm to The Spleen
I did that route once in the winter and there was a long snow delay when we were on the train. It ended up taking like 5 hours...I have absolutely no idea how routine it is, we left basically on time. I don't remember the exact issue, but I think there was bad snow drifts on the lines or something like that.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 3:34 pm to The Spleen
I go from STL to chicago about once a year, ive never had an issue.
That being said, its close, just drive.
That being said, its close, just drive.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 5:11 pm to mizslu314
quote:
That being said, its close, just drive.
Just trying to think of something different to do for the kids. They're not real excited about a trip to central Illinois as it is, but it's a wedding we can't skip so gonna make a longer trip out of it.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 8:50 pm to The Spleen
It’s pretty cool to pull into Union Station and walk out into the big arse city, I’m not gonna lie. I missed where you had kids, it would probably be a pretty cool experience for sure.
Are you staying in a hotel? You won’t want a rental car if so.
Are you staying in a hotel? You won’t want a rental car if so.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 7:16 am to baldona
Yeah, hotel most likely. Probably just one night in Chicago. Train into town one morning, tourist stuff all day, train back midday the next day. May just spend the day and take the last train back that night. Think it leaves around 8.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 9:27 am to The Spleen
quote:I believe that
They're not real excited about a trip to central Illinois as it is,
Posted on 2/20/20 at 9:48 am to mizslu314
quote:
I believe that
My daughter is kind of excited about going to Springfield to see some Abe Lincoln stuff. I've been there though and have tried to temper her expectations a little. The house my grandmother grew up in is a few houses down from a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house(Dana Thomas House) as well, but the kids don't know who Frank Lloyd Wright is.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 9:58 am to The Spleen
but to help more with OP, you dont have too many stops. Id say worse case you may see an hour delay, so if time isnt a major issue you should take the train.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 10:18 am to mizslu314
That's where I'm leaning. Would rather not have to worry about parking, traffic, etc.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 10:31 am to The Spleen
Hotel parking is $35-50+ a day usually FYI. There maybe some cheaper options. Renting a car is probably cheaper then a family on the train so the cost may be moot. Just letting you know.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 10:59 am to baldona
Not too overly concerned with cost. We are driving up there from Bham, so we'll have a car if we decide to drive into Chicago. I'm comfortable enough with public transportation once there that we wouldn't need to rent a car. Besides, we'll only be there for 24 hours, at most, and everything we'd do would be in the Loop and downtown area. Train tickets right now are $39 per person, each way, so about $320. More wanting to do it for the experience.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 5:49 pm to baldona
quote:
Hotel parking is $35-50+ a day usually
And $70 around Michigan Ave.
Train will be a cool experience but you’d see more if you drove. I55 dumps you onto Lakeshore Dr and you’d pass Soldier Field, The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium.
I’d recommend a boat tour and staying near Magnificent Mile. You can walk across the river, see the Wrigley Bldg(boat tours launch there), Hancock Building Observation deck if you’re not afraid of heights.
Numerous hotel options around Michigan Ave.
And your original question about the train, it doesn’t have frequent delays, but you just never know. I don’t find traffic that bad heading into the city on I55 about 9am.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 7:11 pm to BengalBen
quote:
The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium.
These are all things the kids would likely enjoy. Mine are particularly fond of the Field Museum. I'd also throw in the Museum of Science and Industry. It has an actual German U boat inside.
I can't help with the Amtrak, as I've never taken it into town.
Posted on 2/20/20 at 8:30 pm to The Spleen
quote:
Train tickets right now are $39 per person, each way, so about $320. More wanting to do it for the experience.
Couple quick notes:
- If you’re only in Chicago for 24 hours, I’d just drive.
- No matter the direction you come into the city, there are some great views of the skyline. From I-55, your GPS will, likely, take you to I-90 from 55, but you can take 55 to LSD, as someone else mentioned.
Posted on 2/21/20 at 7:49 am to hoopsgalore
Coming up 55 almost always has you go down LSD
Posted on 2/21/20 at 8:14 am to The Spleen
quote:
so about $320.
No way I’d pay that much. I’d spend the extra on your hotel and other activities. Money better spent.
Posted on 2/21/20 at 8:29 am to baldona
quote:
No way I’d pay that much. I’d spend the extra on your hotel and other activities. Money better spent.
You're probably right. Hotels around the Loop and Miracle mile are around $300 per night the week we'll be there. Still would like to check out the pool at the Langham(I think?) everyone raves about, so may just drive and stay there. Not that we'll spend any time at the pool, just would like to check it out.
This trip is cheap already though since we're staying at a family member's house the weekend of the wedding, and driving instead of flying up there, so I'm not sweating an extra expense all that much though. I do have some points though I can probably get a hotel room with as well. Haven't checked though.
Posted on 2/21/20 at 8:33 am to The Spleen
How old are your kids?
Eta: you can always ride the El so they can get a train in.
Also, I’d probably try hard to get a 2nd night in if at a possible. One day is not much.
Eta: you can always ride the El so they can get a train in.
Also, I’d probably try hard to get a 2nd night in if at a possible. One day is not much.
This post was edited on 2/21/20 at 8:36 am
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