Begin Route 66
Photo: David Winkler · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons — see photo credits
13 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
4 min bike
via downtown streets
1009 m / 3310 ft
straight-line distance
68 places
within a 5-min walk
Begin Route 66 is one of the attractions near 311 South Wacker Drive, located at East Adams Street, about 1009 m (13 min walk) from 311 South Wacker Drive. It pairs well with a visit to the Willis Tower Skydeck, the Chicago Riverwalk and the rest of the Loop's sights.
Begin Route 66 sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 1-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 16 minutes away on foot — so reaching it without a car is easy.
Map & Location
Dashed line shows the straight-line route to 311 South Wacker Drive (1009 m · ~13 min walk).
Getting to Begin Route 66
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head east — it's about 1009 m on foot (13 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines); from the platform exit it's roughly a 1-minute walk. A Ventra card or contactless bank card works on all CTA trains and buses.
From Union Station (Metra / Amtrak)
Exit toward Jackson Boulevard and walk 16 minutes; taxis and rideshare pickups are on Canal Street.
From the Airports
O'Hare: CTA Blue line to the Loop (~45 min) or 30–60 min by car. Midway: CTA Orange line to the Loop (~25 min) or about 20–30 min by car.
If You're Driving
The nearest public garage in this directory is Adams-Wabash Self Park, about 2 min away on foot — reserve ahead through a parking app for the best rate, or see the 311 S Wacker parking guide.
Walking Times to Chicago Landmarks
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 77 m | 1 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 361 m | 5 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 637 m | 8 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 672 m | 8 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 705 m | 9 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 937 m | 12 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 974 m | 12 min walk |
| Union Station | 1303 m | 16 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 1891 m | 24 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Begin Route 66
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 1 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | CVS Pharmacy | 2 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Bank of America | 3 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | Adams-Wabash Self Park | 2 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 2 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 8 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Begin Route 66
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 17 hotels: University Club of Chicago, The Palmer House Hilton, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, LIVN Millennium Park Downtown Chicago Superior 1BR (+13 more)
- 12 restaurants: Russian Tea Time, Dunkin', Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, Brightwok Kitchen (+8 more)
- 6 cafes: Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks, Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea (+2 more)
- 3 bars: 2Twenty2 Tavern, Lobby Bar at Palmer House, The Row Tavern
- 5 entertainment: Symphony Center, Studebaker Theater, CIBC Theatre, James C. Petrillo Music Shell (+1 more)
- 2 health & wellness: Strobel Dentistry, Kraff Eye Institute
- 3 parking: Adams-Wabash Self Park, Grant Park South Garage, Grant Park North Garage
- 2 banks: Bank of America, U.S. Bank
- 4 pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Walgreens
- 1 print shops: The UPS Store
- 1 corporate services: Spaces
The Neighborhood: The Chicago Loop
The Loop is Chicago's beating heart — the elevated trains that give the district its name rattle overhead past century-old skyscrapers, LaSalle Street's canyon of banks, State Street's flagship stores and the Theatre District's glowing marquees. By day it hums with office workers; by evening the riverfront, Millennium Park and dozens of restaurants keep it alive.
Staying Overnight? Hotels Near Begin Route 66
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 8.2/10 · 221 reviews · 3 min walk from here
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★ 9.4/10 · 17 reviews · 3 min walk from here
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★ 8.5/10 · 44 reviews · 3 min walk from here
Check RatesBuild a Mini-Itinerary
Make a half-day of it: combine Begin Route 66 with Lion "on the prowl" → Lion “in an attitude of defiance” → Flying Dragon — all within walking distance of each other and of 311 South Wacker. Check each page for exact walking times between stops.
Good to Know: Local Tips
Chicago's big sights are busiest 11am–3pm and on summer weekends; first-hour-of-opening visits routinely halve your queue time. If you're hitting several attractions, look into the city's multi-attraction passes, and keep an eye on free-day calendars for Illinois residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Begin Route 66 from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Begin Route 66 is about 1009 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 13-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Begin Route 66? +
The closest 'L' stop is Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 119 m away — a 1-minute walk.
How long should I plan for Begin Route 66? +
Most visitors combine Begin Route 66 with other stops nearby — Willis Tower's Skydeck is 12 min away on foot and several museums and river-cruise docks are within walking distance.
More Attractions & Tourism Nearby
Lion "On the Prowl"
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Lion “in an Attitude of Defiance”
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Flying Dragon
Downtown Chicago
14 min from 311 S Wacker
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
104 South Michigan Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Cubi VII
Downtown Chicago
14 min from 311 S Wacker
Large Interior Form
Downtown Chicago
14 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Begin Route 66
Starbucks
200 South Michigan Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker Cafes
Russian Tea Time
77 East Adams Street
12 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
Symphony Center
220 South Michigan Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Entertainment
Dunkin'
31 East Adams Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
The UPS Store
17 East Monroe Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker Print Shops
University Club of Chicago
76 East Monroe Street
13 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels