Options for parking for train, skyline views

Question

I'll be going from Naperville towards Detroit on a Sat morning. I'd like to go to downtown by parking at a Metra station (near a bus stop) that's not too out of the way so I don't have to take train/bus back all the way and spend extra time. So, wondering what are some options.

Also what safe places to see the skyline view without going too far out of the way. Can I go up the lakeshore to places like Burnham park, Rainbow beach park, Oakwood beach, without spending lot of time on the detour?

Appreciate any input.

Thanks

Answer

If you are traveling from Naperville toward Detroit on a Saturday morning and want to visit downtown Chicago without spending extra time on returning from the train, here are some practical parking and viewing options:

Parking at Metra Stations: Since you want to park near a bus stop and minimize backtracking, consider stations on the BNSF Railway Line, which runs from Naperville directly into Union Station downtown. Some convenient options include:

Naperville Metra Station: Large parking lots, weekday permits not required on weekends, close to bus stops for local travel if needed.
Western Avenue or Ogilvie Transportation Center area: If you are closer to the city, these stations allow easy transfer downtown with minimal walking.
Elmhurst Metra Station: If you want slightly more options en route, Elmhurst has parking and bus connections, and the BNSF line gets you downtown in under 45 minutes.

Skyline Viewing Without Major Detours: If you want safe, scenic places to view Chicago’s skyline without going far off your route:

Burnham Park: Located along the lakefront south of downtown, Burnham Park offers great skyline views and is convenient if you’re heading south toward the Indiana border.
Museum Campus: Near Grant Park, this area provides iconic skyline views with easy parking nearby; can be reached quickly from downtown.
Navy Pier: Classic viewpoint of the city and lakefront, easy to access, but can be crowded on weekends.
Oak Street Beach: Provides a great lakefront skyline view near the Magnificent Mile; parking is available but limited.

For locations like Rainbow Beach Park or Oakwood Beach, these are farther south along the lakefront and may require a longer detour if you want to avoid heavy traffic or backtracking. Burnham Park is generally the most practical option for a quick, scenic stop without adding much travel time to your Detroit-bound route.

Overall, the best approach is to park at a Metra station that is convenient for your starting point (Naperville or a nearby station), ride into downtown to enjoy the skyline views from Burnham Park, Oak Street Beach, or Museum Campus, and then continue your journey south without major detours.

Options for parking for train, skyline views

More Chicago Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions