• From downtown (or from south, east or west of Chicago), on I-90/94 West you would take exit #47B Damen Ave. Turn left on Damen and get into the right lane, then turn right on the very first street Webster Ave. Follow Webster west until it dead-ends (1/4 mile) at Leavitt St. and you will see the B&B.
• From O’Hare Airport (or from the north, Wisconsin, etc.) follow I-90 East toward downtown Chicago until after it merges with I-94. Continue to follow I-90/94, then exit #47A Fullerton. Turn left on Fullerton Ave., and at the next set of lights turn right on Damen Ave. Go 1/4 of a mile, and take a right on Webster Ave. (it’s right after the underpass). Follow Webster west until it dead-ends (1/4 mile) at Leavitt St. and then you will see the B&B.
• From Midway Airport, follow signs to Cicero Ave. Head north on Cicero for about 2 miles and get on I-55 North (Stevenson Expressway). Exit I-90/94 West (toward Wisconsin). Follow I-90/94 through the downtown area and exit Damen Ave (exit #47B). Turn left on Damen and get into the right lane, taking your very first right on Webster Ave. Follow Webster west till it dead-ends (1/4 mile) at Leavitt St. and you will see the B&B.

We have route maps available. You can find directions to anywhere in Chicago at www.rtachicago.com in the Trip Planner section.

Trains & Buses are both operated by the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and work together. City trains are referred to as the ‘L’ (for elevated), and each line is color-coded. We are located near the Western stop of the Blue Line that runs between downtown (referred to as The Loop) and O’Hare International Airport. Please be aware that there are two Western stops on the Blue Line. We are the Western stop of the Blue Line leg that runs between downtown and O’Hare. The Blue Line train runs 24 hours and bus times vary. Buses run on almost every major north-south streets (Damen Ave. and Western Ave. being the two closest to us), and major east-west streets (Armitage Ave. and Fullerton Ave.). For complete bus routes, consult a CTA Map, available at the B&B’s front desk or any ‘L’ Station.

Ventra is the name of the payment system for CTA fares. People can use the following methods to pay fares:

Cash: Can only be used on buses, or to purchase a Ventra fare card at the Ventra vending machines at train stations for trains.

Ventra Card: This is a prepaid transit debit card. You can buy or load money at the Ventra vending machines at rail stations (and many retail locations). You can also use your phone to download the app. They can also be ordered online or by phone. They cost $5, but this money is refunded upon registration. Go to https://www.ventrachicago.com to purchase in advance.

Ventra Tickets: Train stations have vending machines with single-ride ($3 for full fare w/2 transfers within 2 hours). There are also unlimited 1-Day passes ($5), 3-day passes ($15), and 7-day passes ($20). Unlimited Day Passes are way over-priced and usually you are better off just buying a Ventra Card. Ray’s B&B will also be happy to buy any remaining value on your Ventra Card before you leave town. Personal, contactless credit or debit cards: Any contactless credit/debit card can be used to directly pay fares at rail station turnstiles and on buses. Your card is contactless if it has the contactless wave symbol.

Warning: To avoid accidentally offering a different card for payment, and being charged twice, simply take your Ventra Card out of your wallet and wave over receptor when you board.

• Using CTA from O’Hare Airport ($5 – all other single train rides $2.50) You can get on the Blue Line (follow the signs at O’Hare for CTA/City trains—Blue line is the only CTA train at O’Hare). It runs 24 hours. Get off at the Western stop (between Damen and California). When you exit the Western stop (come down the steps in the middle of the platform – not at the end), walk north on Western Ave. (Take a right out of the station) past McDonald’s, then take a right (east) onto Armitage Ave. Walk two blocks to N. Leavitt St. (traffic light) and turn left (north). Continue on Leavitt for 4 1/2 blocks to 2144 N. Leavitt St. You will find the B&B on the left (west) side of the street where Webster St. dead-ends.
• Using CTA from Midway Airport, follow the signs for the CTA/City trains. Get on the Orange Line (the only CTA train that goes to Midway). Transfer from the Orange Line to the Blue Line at the Clark stop. Make sure you get on a Blue Line train headed to O’Hare. Transfers between train lines are free. Get off at the Western stop (between Damen and California). When you exit the Western stop, walk north on Western Ave. (Take a right out of the station) past McDonald’s, then take a right (east) onto Armitage Ave. Walk two blocks to N. Leavitt St. (traffic light) and turn left (north). Continue on Leavitt for 4 1/2 blocks to 2144 N. Leavitt St. You will find the B&B on the left (west) side of the street where Webster St. dead-ends.
• Using CTA from Amtrak (Union Station), you will be arriving at Union Station, which is just west of the Loop on Canal & Jackson. (A taxi is only about $12-15 to Ray’s FYI) You can exit Union Station on Canal Street and turn left (south) and walk to the corner (Jackson) street and turn right (west) and walk one block to Clinton. Turn left (south) on Clinton and walk about two blocks to the Clinton Blue line stop. Catch the Blue Line toward O’Hare and get off at Western Ave stop (between Damen and California). When you exit the Western stop, walk north on Western Ave. (Take a right out of the station) past McDonald’s, then take a right (east) onto Armitage Ave. Walk two blocks to N. Leavitt St. (traffic light) and turn left (north). Continue on Leavitt for 4 1/2 blocks to 2144 N. Leavitt St. You will find the B&B on the left (west) side of the street where Webster St. dead-ends.
• Another option on Blue Line ‘L’: although further away from the B&B, you can get off at the Damen stop, which puts you in the heart of the Wicker Park/Bucktown entertainment area (Damen/North/Milwaukee). This is a great area to wander, shop, kill some time, or find a unique restaurant. To get to the B&B from the Damen stop, take a left (North) out of the station and walk 3/4 of a mile (or catch the #50 Damen bus) to Webster St. (2200 N) and turn left. Walk 1/4 mile until Webster dead-ends. You will see the B&B’s yellow sign at 2144 N. Leavitt St. You will pass about 20-25 restaurants on Damen Ave alone if you get hungry on your walk. There are restaurants in all directions from the Damen/North/Milwaukee intersection.

The Metra Train is the system of commuter trains that go to the suburbs of Chicago. The Metra and the CTA are two completely separate systems. For more information about the Metra trains, visit: http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home.html