Venue & Visitor Info

Address

McCormick Place Lakeside Center

2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616

Driving

McCormick Place is accessible via I-55, I-90/I-94, and I-290. Please visit Driving Directions on the McCormick Place website for more detail.

Parking

• Lot C (Lakeside Center) is the closest parking area.
• Rates and availability vary. Check the McCormick Place website for details.
• Find useful resources and apps for parking at Choose Chicago. 

Public Transportation

• CTA ‘L’ Train: Take the CTA Green Line train to the Cermak-McCormick Place station, then walk east, or pick up the #3 bus.
• Metra Train: The Metra Electric (ME) Line stops at McCormick Place, with direct access to the venue. With departures every hour, it is a 10-minute ride from downtown Millennium Station.
• CTA Bus: Hope on the CTA bus #3 (King Drive) with stations along Michigan Ave from The Loop every ~10 minutes and #21 (Cermak) with stations along Cermak from Chinatown every ~15 minutes stop near McCormick Place.

Flying to Chicago

Chicago is served by two major airports:

• O’Hare International Airport (ORD): Accessible via the CTA Blue Line to downtown, then transfer to the Green Line.
• Midway International Airport (MDW): Accessible via the CTA Orange Line to downtown, then transfer to the Green Line.

Taxis, Rideshare, Water Taxis, Shuttles and Car Services, and Bike Share

• Taxis: E-hail and e-pay are available with the apps ARRO and CURB.
• Ride Share: The Lyft and Uber apps are available throughout the city.
• Water Taxi: As you explore Chicago, consider hoping on a water taxi with Chicago Water Taxi or Shoreline Sightseeing. Nearest stops to McCormick Place are Chinatown and Museum Campus, respectively.
• Shuttles and Car Services: If you are traveling with a larger group or prefer premier services, check out available shuttle, car, and limousine services.
• Bike Share: Bike-sharing services, such as Divvy, are available throughout Chicago, with docking stations near McCormick Place.

Walking & Biking

For those who enjoy the outdoors, the Lakefront Trail provides a scenic and direct route to the Lakeside Center at McCormick Place from The Loop (~1 hr walk). This multi-use path stretches along Lake Michigan and is ideal for biking or walking between downtown hotels and the venue on a beautiful summer day!

Please visit Getting to McCormick Place and find more information about Public Transportation options on the McCormick Place website. Additionally, the Choose Chicago Getting Around webpage provides helpful information and links for getting around Chicago.

Hotels

While the Solar Farm Summit does not have a designated host hotel or room block, there are many convenient hotel options near McCormick Place, as well as in downtown Chicago, offering many options to fit different budgets and preferences. Popular areas include:

• Downtown Chicago & The Loop: A short train, bus, ride share, or bike ride away, with many options along the heart of downtown on the lakefront.
• South Loop: Close to the venue and easily accessible by public transportation and ride share or taxi service.
• West Loop & River North: Popular districts with a range of accommodations and dining options that require ride share or taxi service.

For easy transit to McCormick Place from the Loop via ride share, train or bus, we recommend looking into hotels along Michigan Avenue downtown in the Loop or South Loop where you can pick up the #3 bus or Metra Electric train that each have a stop at McCormick Place. 

Here are a few budget-friendly nearby hotels along Michigan Avenue include (distance is from the hotel to the McCormick Square entrance at McCormick Place):

• Best Western Grant Park Hotel – 1.5 miles
• Hilton Chicago – 1.7 miles
• Congress Plaza Hotel – 1.8 miles
• Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago – 1.9 miles

If you’re at a hotel near the CTA Green Line train (aka the ‘L’) or other 'L' train that you can transfer to Green from, the Green Line's Cermak-McCormick Place station is .5 miles west of McCormick Place.

Dining Options

• On-Site: Lunch concessions will be available on-site in the exhibit hall.
• Near McCormick Place: Check out these restaurants near McCormick Place.
• Nearby Neighborhoods: Chicago’s downtown restaurant scene is a vibrant blend of world-class dining and local favorites, offering everything from Michelin-starred experiences to beloved neighborhood gems. In the West Loop, Randolph Street’s “Restaurant Row” boasts award-winning eateries, from globally inspired tasting menus to gourmet burgers. River North is packed with sleek steakhouses, rooftop bars, and lively hotspots, while the Loop features a mix of classic Chicago institutions and modern food halls. Just south, the South Loop and Chinatown offer diverse flavors—authentic dim sum, hand-pulled noodles, and sizzling hot pots alongside upscale seafood and cozy cafés. Whether you’re after an innovative culinary adventure or a comforting classic, Chicago’s dining scene has something for everyone.