Getting to the Obama Presidential Center
The RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace are encouraging riders to take public transit to the Obama Presidential Center. Learn more about the center or book your tour online.
The RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace are encouraging riders to take public transit to the Obama Presidential Center. Learn more about the center or book your tour online.
Regardless of whether they use CTA, Metra or Pace, riders can plan their trip using the below RTA Trip Planner and purchase their ticket via the Ventra app. Riders are encouraged to allow extra travel time, and check service alerts before leaving. The Obama Presidential Center officially opened to the public on June 19.
Metra’s Electric Line provides a direct connection to the new center from downtown and from the South Side and south suburbs.
Riders can board the Metra Electric Line downtown at the Millennium, Van Buren St. and 11th St./Museum Campus stations. Millennium Station is not currently ADA-accessible, so riders who require an elevator are advised to use Van Buren or 11th St. stations. The line’s 59th St./University of Chicago Station is closest to the center but is not ADA-accessible. ADA customers are advised to use the 55th-56th-57th St. Station, the closest accessible stop to the Center. The trip from downtown to Hyde Park takes less than 20 minutes.
One-Way Tickets ($3.75 to or from downtown) or Day Passes ($7.50 to and from downtown) can be purchased from ticket vending machines or via the Ventra app. Tickets should be purchased before boarding. If purchasing a ticket through the Ventra App, riders can add a Regional Day Pass for unlimited rides on CTA and Pace for 24 hours for only $2.50. This pass can be purchased directly after purchase of a Metra Day Pass.
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Riders can also use CTA bus service to reach the Obama Presidential Center, including the newly extended #10 Obama Presidential Center/Museum of Science and Industry Express Bus, which provides service from North Michigan Avenue. The route will operate daily with year-round service, improving access to both the Obama Presidential Center and the Museum of Science & Industry.
For riders taking CTA L service, take the Green or Red line to their respective Garfield stations. Then transfer to the #55 bus with service to the Museum of Science and Industry.
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Pace buses connect with both CTA and Metra rail lines, making it easy to reach the campus from across the region. Pace also operates I‑55 Bus-on-Shoulder Express service, which allows buses to bypass traffic congestion and provide faster, more reliable trips between the southwest suburbs and the city.
In addition to providing bus service across the region, Pace provides ADA paratransit service for riders with disabilities or health conditions that prevent them from using other bus or train routes. Riders must be certified by the Regional Transportation Authority to use ADA Paratransit. Riders who are traveling in the RTA region and need to use ADA paratransit service while visiting should contact Pace Customer Service at (312) 341-8000 and provide information on the dates you will be visiting.
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