Would like suggestions on getting to Chicago from Cleveland for the Empire Builder with out leaving Cleveland at 2:30am on the LateShore or Capital. Is there a place to park a vehicle long term (couple weeks) cheap in the Chicago area that would be conveniant to Union Station? Any suggestions would be appreciated
I don’t think you are going to find anything cheap in Chicago near Union Station. There might be parking at or near a Metra station. Most Metra trains arrive at Union Station. Guess your other option is a bus. What about a train from the Detroit area? Best of luck.
I took the Empire Builder from Milwaukee to Portland last December. I took the Texas Eagle from Dallas to Chicago and a Milwaukee Service train from Chicago to Milwaukee. I stayed over night in Milwaukee, as opposed to Chicago, because the cost of a hotel room in downtown Milwaukee was much cheaper than a similar hotel room in downtown Chicago.
You might check out parking at the Milwaukee Airport. If it is anything like most airports, the long term parking would probably cost $6 - $8 a day. Amtrak has a station that serves the Milwaukee airport. You could drive to the airport, park the family buggy in long term parking, and take a Milwaukee Service train into Milwaukee, where you could catch the Empire Builder.
I live in Georgetown, Texas. When I want to take Amtrak from Austin, I drive to the Austin Airport, where I park for $6 a day. Parking at the Austin Amtrak Station is a bad idea, unless you have an old car that you want the thieves to take off your hands. Then I take a city bus to the Amtrak Station, where I catch the Texas Eagle. If the train is late returning to Austin from the north, I catch a cab to the airport. I don’t like being downtown in any Texas City late at night.
I have a much better suggestion. Drive to the South Bend Airport and use their distant lot for economical guarded long-term parking. Use the South Shore to the Van Beuren Street Station, and get a cab on Michigan Avenue for Union Station or use a city bus if you are traveling light. Be sure to check the South Shore timetable, though, mid-day and reverse rush hour trains are not very frequent. Or does anyone know a South Shore Indiana suburban station parking lot that doesn’t fill up and is economical?
I like what daveklepper says. Same idea as mine but a much better location. Plus you get to ride the South Shore.