Possible to Commute from Chicago's North Side to Chicago Heights??? (Waukegan: neighborhoods, university)

[Irishtom29]

Living on the North Side and working in Chicago Heights would be a pain in the ass.

[urza216]

It takes maybe an hour and fiften minutes. Maybe an hour. Maybe even two hours. I have driven from Beacon Hill in Chicago Heights to the north side of Chicago after nightful many times.. Never during typical commuting hours though.

Btw, Vasily, Indiana actually touches Chicago so technically it's only 30 seconds away. Naperville is further away from the Loop than just about anywhere in Lake County, Indiana. Just an FYI.

[goldibabi]

I moved to the city in May to Bowmanville (slightly west of Andersonville). In August, I secured my first teaching job, down on 103rd in the West Pullman neighborhood. On a good day, it takes me 45 minutes to get down there in the morning, around 60 to get back in the evening. If it's raining, add 20-30 minutes. I hate to see what it will be like when it snows.

I love my apartment, love my neighborhood and like where I work. I hate my commute. Next year, I'll have a new apartment or a new job, but I won't do this again.

You're talking about a commute that's longer than mine. Don't do it.

[SarahKate104]

Hey guys! Thanks for the responses. I really wanted to live in the city. I'm coming from NYC, and I love being in an urban environment. Are any of the suburbs closer to Chicago Hts city-ish?

His shifts are usually 7 am-7 pm or 12 am to 9 pm.

[SarahKate104]

He also usually works only 4 days per week...and does like to drive.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by SarahKate104

Hey guys! Thanks for the responses. I really wanted to live in the city. I'm coming from NYC, and I love being in an urban environment. Are any of the suburbs closer to Chicago Hts city-ish?

His shifts are usually 7 am-7 pm or 12 am to 9 pm.

Chicago Heights itself is the most city-ish suburb in the immediate vicinity. In spite of what you may have heard, there are nice areas in the Heights (even if it's also home to some of the roughest suburban hoods in Chicagoland). Look north of Lincoln Highway and west of Halsted. Closer to the city, maybe you can look into the suburbs Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park or Hammond. They are all a lot more "urban" than what one usually expects of a suburb.

[jsk1983]

Originally Posted by urza216

Chicago Heights itself is the most city-ish suburb in the immediate vicinity. In spite of what you may have heard, there are nice areas in the Heights (even if it's also home to some of the roughest suburban hoods in Chicagoland). Look north of Lincoln Highway and west of Halsted. Closer to the city, maybe you can look into the suburbs Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park or Hammond. They are all a lot more "urban" than what one usually expects of a suburb.

I wonder how bad Hyde Park to Chicago Heights would be?

Google is saying about 40 minutes. But I'm under the impression Google assumes you'll actually be able to drive the posted speed limit which isn't always the case.

[chirack]

Originally Posted by SarahKate104

Hey guys! Thanks for the responses. I really wanted to live in the city. I'm coming from NYC, and I love being in an urban environment. Are any of the suburbs closer to Chicago Hts city-ish?

His shifts are usually 7 am-7 pm or 12 am to 9 pm.

7am would put him in rush hour. Local rushour is like from 6am-8a.m. then again from about 4pm till about 6p.m. However there isn't as much traffic going south on the dan ryan and there would be going into the loop from any direction.

Homewood is a nice burb. Hydepark is as far north in the city as I would dare to live.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by jsk1983

I wonder how bad Hyde Park to Chicago Heights would be?

Google is saying about 40 minutes. But I'm under the impression Google assumes you'll actually be able to drive the posted speed limit which isn't always the case.

40 minutes sounds about right. Without bad traffic, anyway.

Traffic on the Dan Ryan can be awful. But most of the really bad traffic is north of Hyde Park.

A commute from the Beverly neighborhood to Chicago Heights would be easy because you'd only have to take I-57.

[Larry Siegel]

I'll be a dissenting voice. I simply cannot live in a neighborhood where I don't feel comfortable. That pretty much means I will live on the north side or in Hyde Park. And Hyde Park can be a bore if you're not affiliated with the University of Chicago (and it's slightly dangerous).

The commute to Chicago Heights, which is really way, way out of town, south of the principal south suburbs which are south of the south side, is terrible. However, the OP may not work there forever; we haven't been told what her job is or what the prospects are for a different one.

So, live close to Lake Shore Drive so you can cruise past downtown onto 55, to 94 south, and out to Chicago Heights. You did say off-hours? Google Maps shows 44 minutes from 400 W. Fullerton in Lincoln Park to Halsted and Route 30 in Chicago Heights. (Allow much longer.)