Get ready for DNC traffic: How to get around Chicago during the Democratic National Convention
The 2024 Democratic National Convention is only days away — bringing road closures, bus reroutes and more traffic disruptions.
The DNC has dedicated shuttles between the United Center, where some of the largest events will be held; McCormick Place, where official party business will be conducted; and convention hotels. But those are only for credentialed delegates, volunteers and media.
Here's what you need to know ahead of next week:
Where will DNC road closures be?
Around the United Center, the city says road closures will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday as part of the security perimeter:
- West Washington Boulevard from Damen Avenue to South Wood Street
- Damen Avenue from Jackson Boulevard to West Washington Boulevard
- West Warren Boulevard from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
- West Madison Street from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
- West Monroe Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
- West Adams Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
- South Honore Street from West Monroe Street to West Adams Street
- South Wood Street from West Washington Boulevard to West Jackson Boulevard
- South Seeley Avenue from West Madison Street to West Adams Street
Traffic will also be restricted on Jackson Boulevard in the area. Fencing has already started to go up along the security perimeter.
Street closures around McCormick Place start at 10 p.m. Friday:
- Indiana Avenue from 18th to East 24th Place
- Michigan Avenue from 21st to 25th Street
- Cermak Road from Wabash Avenue to Martin Luther King Drive
- 23rd Street from Wabash Avenue to Indiana Avenue
- Prairie Avenue from Cullerton Street to 24th Place
- 24th Street from Wabash Avenue to Indiana Avenue
- Calumet Avenue from Cullerton Street to 24th Place
- 24th Place from Wabash Avenue to Martin Luther King Drive
- Martin Luther King Drive from Cermak Road to 25th Street
- 21st Street from South Michigan Avenue to South Calumet Avenue.
Street closures downtown start Sunday, with some closures in effect through Friday:
- North Wabash Avenue from East Chestnut Place to East Delaware Place, Sunday, August 18 through Wednesday, August 21
- East Huron Street from North Michigan Avenue to North Rush Street, Sunday, August 18 through Friday, August 23
- East Chicago Avenue from North Michigan Avenue to North Rush Street, Sunday, August 18 through Friday, August 23
- East Delaware Place from North State Street to North Rush Street, Tuesday, August 20.
- North Rush Street from East Delaware Place to East Walton, Tuesday, August 20.
- East Walton from North State Street to North Rush, Tuesday, August 20.
- North State Street from East Delaware to East Walton, Tuesday, August 20.
Trucks won't be allowed on I-55 in the area of McCormick Place, and the South Martin Luther King Drive exit will have traffic restrictions.
There will also be rolling street closures due to DNC activity, the city says.
Where will DNC parking restrictions be?
Street parking will be limited around the United Center and McCormick Place during the DNC, according to a news release from the city. Parking restrictions will be posted 24 hours in advance, the city says.
Restrictions around the United Center begin Saturday:
- Lake Street from Ashland to Damen, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. south side of the street only, from Sunday through Thursday.
- Maypole Avenue from Hermitage to Damen, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., from Sunday through Thursday.
- Jackson Boulevard from Wood to Western, from Saturday through Friday.
- Washington Boulevard from Ashland to Paulina, from Sunday through Friday.
- Warren Boulevard from Ashland to Paulina, from Sunday through Thursday.
- Paulina Street from Washington to Lake, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., from Sunday through Thursday.
- Hermitage Avenue from Washington to Lake, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., from Sunday through Thursday.
- Wood Avenue from Washington to Lake, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., from Sunday through Thursday.
- Wolcott Avenue from Washington to Lake, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday.
Around McCormick Place, parking restrictions have already taken effect and last until Sunday, Aug. 25:
- 18th Street from Michigan Ave to Prairie Ave daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cullerton Street from Michigan to Calumet Avenue daily from 8 a.m. 10 p.m.
- 21st Street from Michigan to Calumet Avenue daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cermak Road from Michigan to Calumet Avenue, now until Sunday, August 25.
- 23rd Street from Wabash to Indiana Ave.
- 24th Street from Wabash to Indiana Avenue.
- 24th Place from Wabash to Indiana Avenue.
- Part of Calumet Ave south of 18th Street, daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Martin Luther King Drive from 22nd to 25th Street.
- Prairie Avenue from 20th to 22nd Street.
- Indiana Avenue from 18th to 25th Street.
- Michigan Avenue from 21st to 25th Street.
DNC impacts on the CTA, Metra
The city says that L disruptions are planned, but there may be unplanned events that disrupt rail service. A Chicago Transit Authority spokesperson told CBS News Chicago that the CTA is making "targeted service adjustments" on some lines to accommodate additional riders.
Several buses will be rerouted because of the security perimeter starting Friday:
- #1 Bronzeville/Union Station
- #3 King Drive
- #4 Cottage Grove
- #X4 Cottage Grove
- #20 Madison
- #21 Cermak
- #50 Damen
- #126 Jackson
You can find more details and sign up for text alerts at transitchicago.com/dnc.
Metra will also be running additional trains for DNC riders. There will be hourly shuttle trains between the O'Hare Transfer Station near O’Hare’s multimodal rental car facility and Union Station. A full schedule can be found on Metra’s website.
Planned DNC protests
A number of planned protests will also likely disrupt traffic and lead to rolling street closures.
The first protest of the weekend, held by the Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws Coalition, will happen downtown at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Coalition to March on the DNC has two large protests planned, one at noon Monday and another at 5 p.m. Thursday. Attorneys for the coalition, which has been locked in litigation with the city over the route of the protest, say as many as 25,000 could show up.
The route offered to the coalition by the city begins at Union Park and follows Washington west to Hermitage, then north to Maypole, west to Park 578 and then to Damen, north to Lake Street and then concludes at Union Park. A federal judge sided with the city earlier this week, saying it “allows them to speak near their intended audience.”
Also on Monday, at 4 p.m., the Poor People's Army will march to the United Center from Humboldt Park. A permit snafu by the city will allow them to march closer to the convention than other groups.
At 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups is also planning a protest at Union Park ahead of President Joe Biden's speech at the DNC.