Buckingham Fountain
Photo: not specified · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons — see photo credits
18 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
6 min bike
via downtown streets
1460 m / 4790 ft
straight-line distance
4 places
within a 5-min walk
Buckingham Fountain is one of the attractions near 311 South Wacker Drive, located at 301 South Columbus Drive, about 1460 m (18 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.
Buckingham Fountain sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 9-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 22 minutes away on foot — so reaching it without a car is easy.
Learn more: Chicago Park District — Buckingham Fountain ↗
Map & Location
Dashed line shows the straight-line route to 311 South Wacker Drive (1460 m · ~18 min walk).
Getting to Buckingham Fountain
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head east — it's about 1460 m on foot (18 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 9-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 22 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 Grant Park South Garage, about 6 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
| Buckingham Fountain | 6 m | 1 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 576 m | 7 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 848 m | 11 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 1137 m | 14 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 1295 m | 16 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 1445 m | 18 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 1582 m | 20 min walk |
| Union Station | 1797 m | 22 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 1968 m | 25 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Buckingham Fountain
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 8 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | CVS Pharmacy | 7 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Bank of America | 10 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | Grant Park South Garage | 6 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | FedEx Office | 8 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 10 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Buckingham Fountain
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 1 entertainment: James C. Petrillo Music Shell
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 Buckingham Fountain
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
Build a Mini-Itinerary
Make a half-day of it: combine Buckingham Fountain with Equestrian Indians (The Spearman) → Equestrian Indians (The Bowman) → Magdalene — 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 Buckingham Fountain from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Buckingham Fountain is about 1460 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 18-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Buckingham Fountain? +
The closest 'L' stop is Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 701 m away — a 9-minute walk.
How long should I plan for Buckingham Fountain? +
Most visitors combine Buckingham Fountain with other stops nearby — Willis Tower's Skydeck is 18 min away on foot and several museums and river-cruise docks are within walking distance.
More Attractions & Tourism Nearby
Equestrian Indians (The Spearman)
Downtown Chicago
14 min from 311 S Wacker
Equestrian Indians (The Bowman)
Downtown Chicago
14 min from 311 S Wacker
Magdalene
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Hector Guimard Metro Entrance
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Sir Georg Solti Bust
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker
The Museum of Contemporary Photography
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Buckingham Fountain
James C. Petrillo Music Shell
251 South Columbus Drive
17 min from 311 S Wacker Entertainment
Grant Park South Garage
325 South Michigan Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker Parking
Studebaker Theater
410 South Michigan Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Entertainment
Congress Plaza Hotel
520 South Michigan Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Spaces
332 South Michigan Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Corporate Services
Auditorium Theatre
50 East Ida B. Wells Drive
12 min from 311 S Wacker Entertainment