The Exhibitor's Travel Guide to Chicago

Chicago hosts more major trade shows than any city outside of Las Vegas. If you exhibit at industry events in food service, manufacturing, healthcare, or packaging, you will end up here. McCormick Place alone draws over 3 million attendees annually, and the city's convention infrastructure is built for serious business. This guide covers everything exhibitors need to know to travel smart, stay close, and make the most of their time in Chicago.

Convention Centers & Venues

McCormick Place

McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America at 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space across four interconnected buildings: the North, South, West, and Lakeside Center. It sits on Lake Michigan's shoreline in the South Loop, roughly two miles south of downtown. The venue hosts many of the country's largest trade shows, including the NRA Show (National Restaurant Association), IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show), RSNA (Radiological Society of North America), Pack Expo, and the Chicago Auto Show.

The sheer scale of McCormick Place means you need to plan which building your show occupies before booking a hotel. The distance between the North and South buildings is nearly half a mile. If your show spans multiple halls, comfortable walking shoes are not optional. Check the full list of Chicago trade shows on our directory for specific venue assignments and dates.

Navy Pier

Navy Pier hosts smaller trade shows, corporate events, and satellite conferences. It is located on the lakefront in Streeterville, about five miles north of McCormick Place. The venue works well for events under 170,000 square feet. If your show is at Navy Pier, your hotel strategy changes entirely: the Magnificent Mile and River North become your best bets.

Best Hotels Near McCormick Place

Hotel pricing in Chicago during major shows can spike 2-3x above normal rates. Book early. If your show is at McCormick Place, proximity matters more than brand loyalty. A hotel within walking distance saves you 30-45 minutes each way versus staying in the Loop during rush hour. Here are the best options, listed by distance from the convention center.

Best Neighborhoods to Stay

Getting There & Getting Around

Airports

O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the primary hub, located 17 miles northwest of downtown. It handles the majority of domestic and international flights. Most exhibitors fly into O'Hare. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is the secondary airport, 10 miles southwest of downtown. Southwest Airlines dominates Midway. If you are flying Southwest, Midway is often faster and cheaper to get to the convention area.

From O'Hare to Downtown / McCormick Place

• CTA Blue Line: $5 one way. Runs 24/7. Takes 40-50 minutes to downtown (Jackson or Monroe stops for the Loop). The cheapest option by far and often faster than a car during rush hour. No checked bags? Take the train.
• Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): $35-65 depending on traffic and surge pricing. During major show weeks, expect surge pricing at O'Hare arrivals. Budget 45-75 minutes.
• Taxi: Flat rate of approximately $40 from O'Hare to downtown. Tips not included. Taxis do not surge price — a genuine advantage during busy convention weeks.

From Midway to Downtown / McCormick Place

• CTA Orange Line: $5 one way. Takes 25-30 minutes to the Loop. Runs approximately 4am to 1am (not 24/7 like the Blue Line).
• Rideshare: $20-40 depending on traffic. Shorter distance than O'Hare, so costs are lower.

Getting to McCormick Place

• Metra Electric Line: The McCormick Place station is on the Metra Electric line, with frequent service from Millennium Station downtown ($3.75 one way). This is the fastest, most reliable transit option if you are staying in the Loop.
• McCormick Place shuttle buses: During major shows, free or low-cost shuttle buses run from partner hotels to the convention center. Check your show's official website for routes and schedules.
• Rideshare: $8-15 from the Loop. During show hours, the McCormick Place pickup/dropoff zones get congested. Allow extra time, especially at the end of the day when everyone leaves at once.
• CTA Bus #3 (King Drive): Runs from the Loop down Martin Luther King Jr. Drive with a stop near McCormick Place. Slower than Metra but useful if you are on the south end of the Loop.

Where to Eat & Entertain Clients

Near McCormick Place (South Loop)

• Eleven City Diner — Classic American diner with huge portions. Quick, reliable, and open late. Good for team dinners when everyone is exhausted from the show floor.
• Mercat a la Planxa — Spanish tapas inside the Blackstone Hotel on Michigan Avenue. Upscale enough for client dinners, casual enough for team gatherings.
• Wintrust Arena area food hall — Multiple casual options steps from McCormick Place. Best for quick lunches between booth shifts.

Deep Dish Pizza (Non-Negotiable)

• Lou Malnati's — The local favorite. Buttercrust is the move. Multiple locations including South Loop.
• Giordano's — Stuffed deep dish. Slightly more tourist-friendly but genuinely good. Location on South Michigan Avenue is closest to McCormick Place.
• Pequod's Pizza — Caramelized cheese crust that develops a cult following among repeat exhibitors. Lincoln Park location (plan a rideshare).

Steakhouses for Client Dinners

• Gibson's Bar & Steakhouse — The Chicago power-dinner institution. Gold Coast location. Book well in advance during show weeks.
• RPM Steak — River North. Modern, polished, and packed with a convention crowd during major shows.
• Chicago Cut Steakhouse — Riverwalk views, excellent dry-aged cuts. A strong close-the-deal dinner venue.

Chinatown

Chicago's Chinatown is just one mile west of McCormick Place — closer than most exhibitors realize. Dim sum at Ming Hin Cuisine or Phoenix Restaurant makes an excellent team lunch. Take a quick rideshare or walk south on Wentworth Avenue.

Exhibitor Packing Tips for Chicago

Chicago's weather is extreme and unpredictable. The lakefront wind is not a joke — locals call it the Windy City for political reasons, but the literal wind off Lake Michigan will test your wardrobe choices regardless. Pack accordingly based on when your show falls.

Winter Shows (November - March)

• Heavy winter coat, gloves, scarf, and warm hat. Temperatures regularly drop below 10 degrees F in January and February. The wind chill off the lake can push the "feels like" temperature to -20 degrees F.
• Waterproof boots with traction. Snow and ice on sidewalks are common. Dress shoes for the show floor, boots for everything else.
• Layers under your business attire. Merino wool base layers work well under a dress shirt.

Spring & Fall Shows (April - May, September - October)

• Layers are essential. Mornings can start at 40 degrees F and afternoons reach 70 degrees F. A packable jacket and a light sweater handle the swing.
• Rain gear. Spring in Chicago means rain. A compact umbrella and water-resistant outer layer are mandatory.

Summer Shows (June - August)

• Still bring a jacket. McCormick Place air conditioning runs aggressively. Spending eight hours on a show floor in heavy AC while wearing a short-sleeve shirt will leave you cold and miserable.
• Light, breathable fabrics. Humidity can be brutal in July and August. Linen blends and moisture-wicking materials make a difference.

Pro Tips from Experienced Exhibitors

1. McCormick Place is a city within a city. Budget extra time for everything. Walking from the parking garage or rideshare drop-off to your actual booth can take 15-20 minutes. The first time you see the West Building hallway stretching into the distance, you will understand. Arrive 30 minutes earlier than you think you need to.
2. Take Metra, not rideshare, during peak show hours. At the end of each show day, thousands of attendees hit the rideshare pickup zone simultaneously. Wait times spike to 20-40 minutes, and surge pricing kicks in. The Metra Electric Line departs McCormick Place station every 10-15 minutes and gets you to Millennium Station downtown in under 10 minutes. It is faster, cheaper, and stress-free.
3. Eat lunch before 11:30am or after 1:30pm. The food options inside McCormick Place are limited relative to the volume of people. Lines at noon are 30+ minutes. Bring protein bars and snacks to your booth as a backup. Better yet, rotate your team so someone can grab food during off-peak hours.
4. Use the show's official freight and logistics partners. McCormick Place has strict rules about material handling, drayage, and booth setup. Independent contractors are not allowed on the floor without union labor coordination. Budget for this. Fighting it wastes time and money.
5. Book restaurants the moment you confirm your show dates. During IMTS, NRA Show, and RSNA, every decent restaurant within three miles of McCormick Place fills up weeks in advance. Make reservations for client dinners before you book your flight. Cancel later if plans change — but securing the table first is critical.