Where to stay to visit Wrigley Field

An important note about luggage strategy

Such a huge part of your lodging decision will have to do with your travel plans. If you’re trying to catch a game on the same day that you are arriving or departing, being able to quickly store/retrieve your bags could make a huge difference in both your hotel decision as well as what flights you can book. As you’ll read below, there are only two hotels right near Wrigley, and if you don’t stay at one of those, you’ll likely be staying several miles away in Downtown or River North. If you have to return to your hotel after a game to retrieve your bags, it could take you an extra hour – which is enough time to prevent you from catching that last desired flight.

But … we have great news for you. There are TWO luggage storage locations within one block of Wrigley Field where you can check your bags, go to the game, grab them afterwards, and head directly to the airport! We have personally validated both of these locations with on-site inspections, and we can tell you that we find them to be completely legit places to leave your things. And even better, the price is perfectly reasonable.

The first place is the Wrigleyville Oasis, located inside of a converted brownstone less than one block north of Wrigley Field. They’re super nice people, and we spent time talking to them about their gameday/event day operations (FYI: they store bags for both Cubs games AND concerts at Wrigley). 

• Monday-Friday they’re open from 9am-5pm. On days with events, they extend their hours so that they are open three hours prior to the event, and close one hour after the event ends.
• Saturday-Sunday: they’re open three hours prior to event time, until one hour after the event ends.
• Bags under 50lbs are $10, while bags over 50lbs are $15.
• You can make a reservation here. Walk-ins are allowed, and they typically have plenty of space, but we say if you know you’re going to store your bags, make the reservation so you don’t get slowed down with having to pay when you’re there.

The second place is XGolf, located a few stops south of Wrigley’s Sheffield Avenue entrance. It’s a golf simulator venue and small bar, but they accept luggage reservations through UseBounce.com. 

• They charge $5.90 per day for all bags.
• Their normal operating hours keep them open until either 11pm or 12am Mon-Sat, and 8pm on Sunday. If a game runs late, or there’s a Sunday night event, they’ll stay open for an hour past the event so everyone can get their bags (even if UseBounce doesn’t show that on their site — we’ve confirmed it).
• One warning: they only accept a maximum of 25 reservations for any day due to limited storage space, so don’t expect to just waltz in and drop your bags off. If you want to do this, we strongly recommend that you make a reservation on UseBounce.com.

Seriously – luggage storage is a game changer. It will allow you to catch a 1:20pm game on a Sunday at Wrigley, grab your bags, hop in a rideshare, and make it to either O’Hare or Midway in time for a 7pm flight (as long as traffic isn’t unusually bad). If you have to return to the Loop or River North first, you’d have to push that time back by 30-60 minutes. Trust us: storing your bags is the way to go!

Oh … and you can also avoid having to spend $700/night to stay at the Hotel Zachary just to store your bags. But more about that below.

And now … on to your lodging options.

The Hotel Zachary

The Zachary, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel, is directly across the street from the ballpark, and is actually owned by the Cubs. Opened in 2018 as a part of the bigger Wrigley renovation project, the 173-room hotel has rooms that look right at the ballpark, and from door to door, it’s as short of a hotel-to-ballpark walk as any in MLB. 

The problem is that the rates can be crazy. Go ahead – take a look. If you can even find availability for game days (which you often can’t), the rates tend to run anywhere from $400-$700/night for basic rooms. And yet it’s often sold out.

Lakeview

Distance to Wrigley Field: 0.2-1.5 miles, 5-30 mins walking, 2-10 mins by car, N/A by subway
What’s there: the lake, the park, walking/running/bike paths, neighborhood restaurants

Once you get beyond Wrigleyville, the rest of Lakeview is still a great neighborhood to stay in if you want a very local sort of feel to things. But the hotel options up here are also limited, and they are all smaller 2 and 3-star properties. So you’ll get proximity to the ballpark (if you’re a walker, you can certainly walk to Wrigley from these), but you’ll trade off a little in terms of hotel quality.

One hotel that we personally reviewed is the Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham. It’s located at the corner of Clark St. and Diversey Pkwy, which is right in the heart of Lakeview. There’s a Trader Joe’s across the street, an Original Pancake House down the block, tons of other restaurants and local retail, and you will really get a sense for what it’s like to live on the north side of Chicago. You’re also right on two bus lines (22 and 36), both of which will take you downtown, and both of which are very safe and completely appropriate for tourists. And the L is just a .4 miles / 10 minute safe walk. 

River North

Distance to Wrigley Field: 5-6 miles, 20-30 mins by car, 20-25 mins by subway (once you’re on the train, including walk to ballpark)
What’s there: Magnificent Mile shops, tons of restaurants, the Wrigley Building, John Hancock observation deck, Water Tower

River North is the heart of Chicago’s tourism industry, with the greatest concentration of hotels in any of our hotel zones, and most of them will be convenient to the Red Line subway which runs right to Wrigley Field. All of the hotel brands you’d expect to see are there, including everything from budget level properties to luxury brands. You’ll also be located near tons of restaurants, bars, retail shops, and tourist attractions, including the original Pizzeria Uno and Lou Malnati’s, Portillo’s Hot Dogs, Eataly, Water Tower, the architectural boat cruises, the Wrigley Building, Magnificent Mile, and the John Hancock building.

There is simply a ton to do in River North, including just walking around. And there’s no question that it’s the most popular and most obvious hotel zone for a visit.

In terms of transit, there are two Red Line stations in River North: one at Grand Avenue and one at Chicago Avenue. We need to be honest: the area around the Chicago station can be a little sketchy. It’s not the entire neighborhood – it’s literally just the block around that entrance. There’s a McDonald’s there that has historically been the center of some trouble, and there have been other random instances of crime there.

Now … I’m not saying you need to avoid the station completely. And during daylight it’s much less of an issue. But at night, if you’re getting off at the Chicago stop, you should be vigilant and attentive. Pay attention to your surroundings, and walk with purpose. This is not the right place for leisurely strolling after coming back from a Cubs game. 

In terms of getting to the airport, River North is not convenient to either the Blue (O’Hare) or Orange (Midway) lines – those both run from The Loop. You can take the Brown line into the Loop, or hop on any number of buses, which are absolutely safe and appropriate for tourists, and then transfer from there. It’s not particularly difficult – the Chicago subway system is hardly overwhelming in terms of trains and its map, and as long as you know what bus you’re getting on, it’s not that hard either. It’s just that it can be intimidating to people who are unfamiliar with it, and carrying luggage makes it even more trying. 

If you do want to do this, Google or Apple maps can help you figure out what trains or buses to take, and they are both accurate. You can also download the free Citymapper app, which is also quite good.

Pros

• All the foods
• All the shops
• Tons of hotels
• It’s the pretty part of downtown

Cons

• Hotels can be more expensive
• Not directly connected to airports via subway

Gold Coast

Distance to Wrigley Field: 4-5 miles, 20-25 minutes by car, 10 minute walk to Red Line station and then 15-20 minutes to ballpark, including walk
What’s there: Oak Street shops, great restaurants (Lou Malnati’s Pizza, Gibson’s Steakhouse), Oak Street Beach, high-end hotels

Gold Coast is a beautiful area of the city. It has plenty of upscale restaurants, classic dive bars and luxury retail shops. Rush and Division Streets are home to a bunch of cheesy bars that you’ve probably seen featured in cheesy movies about Chicago, going all the way back to 1986’s “About Last Night.” Oak Street is Chicago’s mini-version of Rodeo Drive (I’m being very generous here), and the heart of Gold Coast has one of Chicago’s most famous steakhouses, Gibson’s. 

You’re going to pick up on more of a local flair up here as it’s an area that people actually live in. It’s an easy walk to the shops and restaurants in River North, and a great spot if you want to access the walking path along Lake Michigan that heads up towards Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo.

In terms of getting to Wrigley Field, both the Chicago and Division Red Line stops are close by.

For getting to the airports, like River North, you’d have to head down to the Loop to transfer to the Orange Line for Midway, but from this far north, you’d likely head west to pick up the Blue Line at the Division stop in Wicker Park to O’Hare. Honestly, if you’re staying in Gold Coast, take a rideshare and save the hassle.

Pros

• Great area
• Great restaurants
• Close to the lake, shopping

Cons

• Hotels here are pricey
• Not good for getting to the airport via subway

Streeterville

Distance to Wrigley Field: 6-7 miles, 20-30 mins by car, 10-15 minute walk to Red Line station and then 20-25 minutes to ballpark (including walk to ballpark)
What’s there: Museum of Contemporary Art, Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive walking/running/bike path

Streeterville is a completely fine area to stay in, but it has fewer restaurants, bars, and retail shops than River North. It’s home to Northwestern University’s Hospital campus, as well as Navy Pier and the Museum of Contemporary Art. It will be quieter and have less foot traffic than River North, which can either be good or bad, depending on what you’re looking for. Streeterville is also going to be a further walk to the subway than River North. 

On the other hand, if you’ve decided to take rideshares or taxis to the ballpark, it’s actually an easier trip than from River North because you’re right at Lake Shore Drive, which is often the fastest route to the stadium.

But Streeterville is also right up against Lake Michigan, and the walking/running/bike path that goes along the entire lake. It’s a fantastic area, and one we’d highly recommend checking out. You can start from Streeterville and walk all the way up to Lincoln Park to check out the Lincoln Park Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Oak Street Beach, and North Avenue Beach. If you’d like to bike it, Chicago’s Divvy bike share program is easy to use – download the app and you’ll see the locations and fare info.

Note: when we call this a “different neighborhood” than River North, understand: you’re a 5-10 minute walk from being in the heart of River North. If you can find a good hotel option in Streeterville, don’t hesitate to take it.

Pros

• Proximity to Lake Michigan and River North
• Quieter than River North

Cons

• Further walk to the Red Line
• Quieter than River North

The Loop / Downtown

Distance to Wrigley Field: 6-7 miles, 20-30 mins by car, 20-25 mins by subway (once you’re on the train, including walk to ballpark)
What’s there: Willis Tower, theater district, Millennium Park, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute, Riverwalk

Downtown Chicago, which is also known as “The Loop,” is the city’s central business district. It’s home to plenty of points of interest, including: most of Chicago’s major performing arts centers (Nederlander Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, Chicago Theater, Auditorium Theatre, the Lyric Opera), the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, Millennium Park and the “Bean,” Grant Park, Maggie Daley Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Riverwalk, and Macy’s on State Street. The Loop will have fewer restaurants than River North or the West Loop, but it will also be closer to Chicago’s Museum Campus (Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field). 

The Loop is bustling during the day, but much quieter at night, as there isn’t a ton of residential housing in the area. There’s nothing wrong with staying in The Loop – it’s easily accessible to the subway, and a quick walk across the bridge to River North as well. 

There are three Red Line subway stations in The Loop: Lake Street, Monroe Street, and Jackson Blvd. Lake Street is the closest to the river and the bridges leading to River North, so if you’re someone who likes to walk and wants to explore on foot, staying at a hotel closer to the river and the Lake Street station will be the best call.

Lincoln Park

If we can jump back up north a bit, there’s one more area that we can suggest to you, and that’s Lincoln Park. This is the north side’s nicest neighborhood, and is home to all of the best lakefront attractions. The Lincoln Park Zoo is not only North America’s fourth oldest, but is also one of the only free admission zoos in the country. And it’s literally sitting right on the lake in one of Chicago’s most popular neighborhoods. There’s also a petting zoo for the kids.

Next to the Zoo is the South Pond, which is essentially a nature preserve (for fans of MLB mascots, I’ve seen both Orioles and Cardinals there, but we’re trying to get rid of the Cardinals – they’re boring), and past that is the Lincoln Park Conservatory. On Saturdays, the park hosts a weekly farmers market, where you can grab pastries, sandwiches, or souvenirs to bring back home.

Finally, North Avenue is the largest of the north side beaches, so if you wanted a beach day, this would be a very convenient spot to be able to walk to.

But like Lakeview, there just aren’t many hotels here. But there’s one right on the park itself – the Hotel Lincoln. It’s a Hyatt boutique hotel, and while I won’t tell you that it’s the fanciest hotel in the world, it’s perfectly decent, and the location can’t be beat – halfway between downtown and Wrigley Field. The subway is a bit of a walk, but the 22 bus stops right in front of the hotel, and in 20-25 minutes you’d be at the doorstep of the ballpark. 

Lincoln Park is also a great neighborhood for vacation rentals.

Pros

• Absolutely beautiful part of the city
• Right on the park, lake, and beach

Cons

• Very few hotels
• Less convenient for subway