Owning a car in Chicago is not the easiest thing to do, but some Chicagoans do it anyways. When looking for a home, it’s best to know what neighborhoods might be the easiest place to navigate your metal friend through town. Here is a guide to Chicago neighborhoods that are more accommodating to car owners than others:
- South Loop
Traffic: The South Loop is a neighborhood that is close enough to all that’s happening downtown, but far enough away to avoid most of the congestion. Of course you are going to run into some traffic here and there, but this neighborhood gives you some of the quickest access to the main expressways in the area. The South Loop is conveniently located near Chicago’s major highways and car owners have an option between cruising along Lake Shore Drive, traveling down the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), or heading towards the Stevenson Expressway (I-55).Parking: If you need somewhere to park your vehicle, you can either pay for street parking or leased-garage parking. Plus, the South Loop has plenty of parking garages or pay-to-park lots around the neighborhood for your visitors.Driver’s note: Remember to avoid using your car when the Bears are playing a game at Soldier Field and during rush hour. Traffic can get pretty bad around those times. - West Loop
Traffic: Just like the South Loop, the West loop enjoys the benefits of being slightly outside Chicago’s congested downtown area but not too far from all the fun. With limited traffic, this neighborhood is great for car owners trying to access the Eisenhower or the Kennedy Expressway, making it easier to smoothly navigate through the city.Parking: Car owners will get a similar parking experience as in the South Loop. When looking for a home, you have the option for leased garage parking or permit street parking.Driver’s note: The Kennedy Expressway gets congested during high traffic hours and weekends are no exception to that. If you need to navigate on your downtime, avoid getting stuck on the expressway during these times. - Bucktown
Traffic: If you need a neighborhood that can get you around the city with ease, Bucktown might be the place for you. With the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) running through this area, you can easily travel to different Chicago neighborhoods. This highway even connects you to the other two major interstates, the Stevenson and Eisenhower Expressways. With Bucktown right off the Kennedy, there’s some congestion with Chicagoans hopping on and off the interstate. But when avoiding the highway, the traffic isn’t as crazy as one would expect in the areas closer to the lake.Parking: Parking is mostly available on the street. This neighborhood is a great place to park your vehicle if you’re not interested in garage parking. Plus, some of the streets require permit parking so you don’t have to battle with visitors for a spot.Driver’s note: Just because Bucktown has street parking, it doesn’t mean that finding a spot is an easy task. It may be tricky, but it’s totally doable.
Traveling through Chicago can be a hectic and aggravating experience. But if you’re a car-lover like many Chicagoans, make sure to understand your driving and parking options before you make the move. If you need more guidance, contact us today to put you in touch with one of our Chicago real estate agents that specializes in the areas you’re interested in.
