Soldier Field Parking Guide: Lots, Shuttles and Getting Out After the Game

Where can you park for a Bears game at Soldier Field?

Soldier Field sits on Chicago's Museum Campus (see all stadium and arena parking guides or the other football stadium guides), and nearly all parking is run for events by the team and the parking operator. The Chicago Bears' official guide splits it into two groups: lots that need a prepaid pass, and lots where you pay on arrival ^[1].

Prepaid lots near the stadium. The Lexus North Garage, Waldron Deck, South Lot, East Museum Lot and Adler Planetarium Lot are the closest options. The Bears guide says lots immediately around the stadium require a prepaid pass, and passes are sent electronically so you can print them or scan them from your phone. Many of these spaces go to full-season coupon holders, and only a limited number of single-game passes are sold in advance through the parking operator, SoldierFieldParking.com. The stadium's own directions page adds that coupons must be displayed on the rear-view mirror and that cash will not be accepted at those entrances ^[2].

Drive-up lots farther out. The Bears guide lists these as posted-rate or cash options:

Lot	Shuttle	Tailgating
Millennium Garage and Millennium Lakeside Garage (off Columbus Drive)	Free GEICO shuttle	No
Grant Park North and South	None	No
McCormick Place Lot B (31st Street)	Yes	Yes, before games
McCormick Place Lakeside Garage (Lot C)	None	No
18th Street Lot (cars only)	Not listed	Yes
Adler Planetarium Lot (cars, RVs, buses)	Not listed	Yes

The Soldier Field page notes that McCormick Place shows can limit cash spaces on game days, so a drive-up spot at Lot B or Lot C is not guaranteed. Treat drive-up as a plan with a backup, not a promise. Heading to the arena instead? Our United Center parking guide covers the West Side, and arena guides list more.

How do you choose between prepaid and drive-up parking?

The simplest rule is to decide before you leave home. If you want to park beside the stadium, you need a prepaid pass, and the supply is limited. If you could not get one, the choice is between a drive-up garage with a shuttle, a farther lot, or leaving the car altogether.

How do the free shuttles work?

Two shuttles matter on Bears game days, per the official guide.

• GEICO Gameday Shuttle. It is free and open to all fans, whichever lot you used. It boards at the Millennium Garages (Lower Randolph, reached by elevators to Level 2.5) and runs from three hours before kickoff until two hours after the final whistle. After the game, pickup and drop-off are at the 18th Street turnaround.
• 31st Street Lot B Shuttle. It starts two hours before kickoff, with limited return service during the game, and runs until two hours after the game ends.

The shuttle schedules are tied to kickoff time, so arriving close to the start is the riskiest way to use them. If you park at Lot B for a night game, plan to leave a longer buffer than you would for a day game.

For fans who need accessible service, the Soldier Field directions page says ADA-accessible shuttles run from Level 3 of Millennium Park Garage, and the ADA drop-off is at the circle drive outside Gate 14. An ADA placard or plate must be visible and the registered holder must be in the vehicle. After the game, the page asks drivers not to return to the Gate 14 drop-off, and to use the courtesy cart from Gate 14 to reach the vehicle.

Can you take transit to Soldier Field instead?

Yes, and for many fans it is the least stressful choice. The Bears guide lists several routes ^[1]:

• CTA #128 Soldier Field Express runs non-stop from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station. Buses leave from two hours before game time until 30 minutes after kickoff.
• CTA Red, Orange and Green Lines stop at Roosevelt Station. From there, transfer to the #146 bus or walk east on Roosevelt Road through Museum Campus. The Soldier Field page puts the walk at about three quarters of a mile.
• Metra has 11 lines and four downtown stations (LaSalle Street, Union Station, Ogilvie and Millennium). The 18th Street Station is a short walk for fans from the South Side and south suburbs.
• South Shore Line riders get off at the McCormick Place stop at 18th Street and walk one block north.

After the game, CTA buses #128 and #146 board on the west side of the Transportation Center (East Museum Lot). Use the CTA's trip planner ^[3] for current departures, and the Metra site for schedules and fares.

Not sure whether driving beats a ride from downtown? Try the parking vs rideshare calculator, which uses your own numbers because rideshare prices vary by time and demand.

Where do rideshare and taxis pick up?

Drop-off and pickup is at Columbus Drive and Balbo Drive, just north of the stadium, according to the Soldier Field directions page. The Bears guide lists the same location as the only rideshare and taxi point.

The stadium also asks fans not to rely on navigation apps on event day, saying apps like Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps do not account for closures or assigned access routes. Follow posted signs and official instructions instead.

Buses, taxis and limousines face a restriction on campus that begins 90 minutes after kickoff and lasts until one hour after the game, per the Bears guide. Buses may only drop off or pick up on Columbus Drive north of Balbo. If you plan to be picked up near the end of the game, check the official guide for how the restriction applies to rideshare.

What are the rules for tailgating?

Tailgating is part of the day for many Bears fans, but the rules differ by lot. The Bears guide says tailgating is allowed in the Museum Campus surface lots, the upper level of Waldron Deck, and McCormick Place Lots B, D and E before games only. It is prohibited during games and after night games in the Museum Campus lots, and after any game in McCormick Lots B, D and E.

Grills are not allowed in enclosed garages or the lower level of Waldron Deck, but open-air surface lots are fine. Open containers are not allowed outside the lots, on surrounding parkland, or on shuttles. Fire pits, tents or canopies, deep fryers, drones, fireworks and saving spaces are on the prohibited list too. Overnight parking is not permitted. Violators may be cited by Chicago Police, and coupons can be revoked for unruly behavior. Family friendly lots, where alcohol is prohibited, are south of the Adler Planetarium, at 18th Street Lot D, and at the 31st Street Beach Lot.

What is the best way to get out after the game?

Traffic is heavy after events, and the official guidance is to plan extra time. The Soldier Field page says lots close one hour after night events end. The Bears guide adds that lots close three hours after day games, tailgating ends two hours after the game, and lots may close earlier.

A few ways to make the exit easier:

1. Know your lot and your walking route before the game ends.
2. If you took the GEICO or Lot B shuttle, head to the 18th Street turnaround, where both return.
3. If you use transit, board at the East Museum Lot for the #128 and #146 buses.
4. If you are being picked up by rideshare, walk to Columbus and Balbo rather than asking the driver to meet you elsewhere.

Parking tickets and towing are also a risk if you leave a car in a restricted area. The Bears guide says parking is prohibited in the residential area bordered by Roosevelt Road, Cermak Road, DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Clark Street. For more on tickets in general, see our guides and our editorial policy.