South Shore Line to Chicago (Gary, Hammond: safe area, cost, versus)

[Fin36]

Coming from Indy, is this a reasonable way to travel to Chicago for a weekend getaway?

More specifically, is it possible/safe to leave a car at a station in order to avoid Chicago tolls/traffic/parking fees and just take a train to downtown.

If so, which of these stations would be best, or should be avoided: Gary, East Chicago, or Hammond?

TIA

[valpofan11]

The Dunes State Park stop in Porter is great to leave your car and take the train to the city. Portage/Ogden Dunes is also fine.

[Bitey]

Traffic through the south side is not really an issue on weekends. I-90 is the only tolled section between here and Indy so you can easily avoid tolls by taking 65 to 94 instead of 65 to 90 to 94. That will add about 6 minutes to your drive -- well worth it since the loll on the Skyway is outrageous.

If there's two of you, you'll be spending $36 on train tickets. Add another $18 for each kid 14 or older or $9 for each kid under 13.

In short, the train might take some stress off the final leg of your journey, but it will cost you time and you won't save you any money versus parking unless you're coming by yourself.

[svillechris]

Agreed, during the weekend there's really no reason to take the train. If anything, you'd want to drive into the city during the weekend and take the train during the week. If you'd still like to take the train, coming from Indy presumably up 65 I don't see any reason to go further east to the Ogden Dunes or Dune Park stops of the train, that would be out of your way. While not the nicest town itself, the East Chicago train stop would be plenty safe for you to use. You'd get off on 94 westbound, north on Cline, and west on Route 20 and you'll be there quickly. That would make for a shorter train ride as well. I used that station for commuting to the city for about a decade and never had any issues.

[PJSaturn]

I second the motion to Park at the Ogden Dunes / Portage station. I've left my car overnight there a couple of times and had no problem. It's a well-lighted, safe area.

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[Fin36]

Thank you everyone for the great advice! Originally, I was thinking of going to Chicago for a weekend getaway which is why I created this post. I'm still thinking of that, but also I would like sometime to have my son fly into Chicago and meet me for a hiking trip around Indiana Dunes. The train might be a good way for him to do that as well!

[Bitey]

Originally Posted by Fin36

Thank you everyone for the great advice! Originally, I was thinking of going to Chicago for a weekend getaway which is why I created this post. I'm still thinking of that, but also I would like sometime to have my son fly into Chicago and meet me for a hiking trip around Indiana Dunes. The train might be a good way for him to do that as well!

That will be a very tedious trip by public transportation from the airport (no matter which one) to downtown on one train and then out to the Dunes on another -- especially after having just sat in a flying soup can for however long.

If your son is flying in to meet you for a Dunes trip, do him a favor and pick him up at the airport. Highly recommend flying into Midway for such an excursion.

[Nema98]

I remember when I was visiting Chicago this last February, I took the South Shoreline to Michigan City, Indiana and explored the little town. I found the train to be cheap and on-time.

[gus2]

We have never had any issues with the Hammond station.