Travelers arriving at Chicago Union Station on Amtrak or Metra need a place to stay that cuts down on transfer time and luggage hauling. Every hotel on this list sits within a manageable distance of the station, with verified CTA transit routes, taxi times, and guest ratings factored into the ranking. The candidate pool came from real inventory near River North and the West Loop, filtered by star rating, guest score, and how straightforward the trip to Union Station actually is.
How we ranked hotels near Chicago Union Station
Walking distance to Union Station came first. Chicago Union Station sits at 225 S. Canal St., and the hotels on this list are all in River North, roughly 1 to 1.5 miles north of the station. That puts the walk at 20 to 30 minutes depending on the exact address, which is manageable with light luggage but worth knowing before you book. Within the same distance range, higher star ratings ranked above lower ones, and guest review scores broke ties. Transit convenience, meaning how many CTA options connect the hotel to the station, served as a secondary factor throughout.
Getting from River North to Union Station
- The CTA Blue Line runs from Chicago station (800 W. Chicago Ave.) to Clinton station (600 W. Washington St.), one stop south, putting you about a 5-minute walk from Union Station's Canal Street entrance.
- A taxi or rideshare from River North to Union Station takes 9 to 12 minutes in normal traffic and costs less than most airport rides.
- If you're traveling with checked bags, give yourself at least 30 minutes before your Amtrak departure to clear the station's ticketing area.
- The CTA Bus 156 runs along LaSalle Street and connects River North to the Loop, where you can transfer to buses that stop near Union Station on Canal Street.
Quick comparison: hotels near Chicago Union Station
| Hotel | Stars | Guest Score | Nearest CTA Station | Taxi to Union Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chicago Hotel Collection River North | 3 | 8.6 | Chicago (Blue Line) | 9 min |
| Kasa River North Chicago | 4 | 9.4 | Chicago (Blue Line) | 10 min |
| 811 N. Sedgwick | 3 | 7.0 | Sedgwick (Brown/Purple) | 12 min |
| 858 Orleans | 3 | 6.0 | Chicago (Blue Line) | 10 min |
| Azhar Pirzada | 2 | 4.0 | Chicago (Blue Line) | 11 min |
Selection criteria for this list
Every hotel here came from a verified inventory pool. Properties with zero star ratings, unrated short-term rentals, and apartment-style listings with no guest review history were excluded because they don't give transit travelers the reliability they need. The five hotels below represent the only traditionally rated, bookable properties in the candidate pool, ranked by the criteria above.
Our Picks
Top Hotels
811 N. Sedgwick
811 N Sedgwick St, Chicago, Illinois, 60610, Chicago
858 Orleans
858 N Orleans St, Chicago, Illinois, 60610, Chicago
Azhar Pirzada
356 W Superior Street, 2nd FL, Chicago, Illinois, 60654, Chicago
Kasa River North Chicago
808 N Wells St, Chicago, Illinois, 60610, Chicago
The Chicago Hotel Collection River North
312 W. Chestnut St., Chicago
FAQs
Common Questions
Most River North hotels sit 1.5 to 1.8 miles north of Chicago Union Station at 225 S. Canal St. That translates to a 30 to 43 minute walk depending on your exact starting address. Travelers with luggage will find a taxi or the Blue Line more practical.
The Blue Line is the most direct option. Board at Chicago station (800 W. Chicago Ave.), ride one stop south to Clinton station, and walk about 5 minutes to Union Station's Canal Street entrance. The Brown and Purple lines from Sedgwick station also work, but require a longer walk from Quincy station to the station entrance.
None of the hotels on this list have confirmed shuttle service to Union Station. Kasa River North and The Chicago Hotel Collection River North both have parking available if you're driving to the station, and taxis or rideshares from any of these properties reach Union Station in under 12 minutes.
Clinton station on the Blue Line is the closest CTA L stop to Union Station, sitting about 0.3 miles north on Canal Street. Quincy station on the Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple lines is roughly 0.4 miles east on Wells Street and also within walking distance of the station entrance.
The West Loop and South Loop neighborhoods sit within a 10 to 15 minute walk of Union Station and have a wider range of full-service hotels. We have a separate page covering hotels in the West Loop for travelers who want to minimize transfer time entirely.
In normal traffic, a taxi or rideshare from River North hotels to Union Station takes 9 to 12 minutes. During weekday rush hours, particularly between 7 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m., add 5 to 10 minutes for congestion on Canal Street and the approaches to the Loop.
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