Cow
15 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
5 min bike
via downtown streets
1167 m / 3829 ft
straight-line distance
90 places
within a 5-min walk
Cow is one of the attractions near 311 South Wacker Drive, located in downtown Chicago, about 1167 m (15 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.
Cow sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is State/Lake (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 4-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 17 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 (1167 m · ~15 min walk).
Getting to Cow
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head northeast — it's about 1167 m on foot (15 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to State/Lake (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines); from the platform exit it's roughly a 4-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 17 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 North Garage, 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
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 146 m | 2 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 329 m | 4 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 428 m | 5 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 622 m | 8 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 874 m | 11 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 974 m | 12 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 1044 m | 13 min walk |
| Union Station | 1384 m | 17 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 1634 m | 20 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Cow
| Nearest coffee | Intelligentsia Coffee | 2 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | Walgreens | 1 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | U.S. Bank | 2 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | Grant Park North Garage | 2 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 5 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 12 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Cow
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 35 hotels: Manilow Suites at Millennium Park Plaza, Premier Penthouses and Apartment with Captivating Views of Millennium Park, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Arlo Chicago (+31 more)
- 9 restaurants: Giordano's Pizzeria, Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe, The Gage, Garrett Popcorn Shops (+5 more)
- 6 cafes: Intelligentsia Coffee, Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea, Stan's Donuts & Coffee, Stan's Donuts & Coffee (+2 more)
- 3 bars: The Row Tavern, Elephant & Castle, Lobby Bar at Palmer House
- 8 entertainment: Chicago Cultural Center, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, AMC Dine-In Block 37 (+4 more)
- 3 health & wellness: Strobel Dentistry, Kraff Eye Institute, First Ascent Block 37
- 6 parking: Grant Park North Garage, Wabash-Randolph Parking Garage, Millennium Garage, 60 East Lake Self Park (+2 more)
- 3 banks: U.S. Bank, Chase, Bank of America
- 5 pharmacies: Walgreens, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy (+1 more)
- 1 print shops: The UPS Store
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 Cow
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 9.2/10 · 10 reviews · 2 min walk from here
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★ 8.2/10 · 221 reviews · 2 min walk from here
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Build a Mini-Itinerary
Make a half-day of it: combine Cow with We Will Chicago → Cloud Gate → Museum of Illusions — 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 Cow from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Cow is about 1167 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 15-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Cow? +
The closest 'L' stop is State/Lake (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 359 m away — a 4-minute walk.
How long should I plan for Cow? +
Most visitors combine Cow with other stops nearby — Willis Tower's Skydeck is 13 min away on foot and several museums and river-cruise docks are within walking distance.
More Attractions & Tourism Nearby
We Will Chicago
Downtown Chicago
15 min from 311 S Wacker
Cloud Gate
Downtown Chicago
15 min from 311 S Wacker
Museum of Illusions
25 East Washington Street
13 min from 311 S Wacker
American Writers Museum
180 North Michigan Avenue
16 min from 311 S Wacker
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
104 South Michigan Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Large Interior Form
Downtown Chicago
14 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Cow
Walgreens
30 North Michigan Avenue
14 min from 311 S Wacker Pharmacies
Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington Street
15 min from 311 S Wacker Entertainment
The Row Tavern
17 North Wabash Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker Bars
Grant Park North Garage
25 North Michigan Avenue
15 min from 311 S Wacker Parking
Intelligentsia Coffee
53 East Randolph Street
15 min from 311 S Wacker Cafes
U.S. Bank
25 East Washington Street
13 min from 311 S Wacker Banks