The Museum of Contemporary Photography
Photo: Audreypillow at English Wikipedia · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons — see photo credits
13 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
4 min bike
via downtown streets
1053 m / 3455 ft
straight-line distance
76 places
within a 5-min walk
The Museum of Contemporary Photography is one of the attractions near 311 South Wacker Drive, located in downtown Chicago, about 1053 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.
The Museum of Contemporary Photography sits in South Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Harrison (Red line), about a 3-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 18 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 (1053 m · ~13 min walk).
Getting to The Museum of Contemporary Photography
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head east — it's about 1053 m on foot (13 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Harrison (Red line); from the platform exit it's roughly a 3-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 18 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 Auditorium Parking, 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
| Buckingham Fountain | 498 m | 6 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 604 m | 8 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 772 m | 10 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 951 m | 12 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 1079 m | 13 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 1291 m | 16 min walk |
| Union Station | 1401 m | 18 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 1537 m | 19 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 2352 m | 29 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near The Museum of Contemporary Photography
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 5 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | CVS Pharmacy | 4 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Bank of America | 8 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | Auditorium Parking | 2 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | FedEx Office | 3 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 5 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of The Museum of Contemporary Photography
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 46 hotels: Travelodge Chicago, The Blackstone, Autograph Collection, Congress Plaza Hotel, Wabash 4BR - Pool Free In & Out Parking 2 (+42 more)
- 5 restaurants: Wingstop, Panda Express, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Dunkin' (+1 more)
- 1 cafes: Starbucks
- 1 bars: Kitty O’Shea’s
- 4 entertainment: Merle Reskin Theatre, Buddy Guy's Legends, Auditorium Theatre, Studebaker Theater
- 5 health & wellness: Athletico Physical Therapy, Planet Fitness, Paradise Unisex Spa, Knuckleheads Boxing & Family Fitness (+1 more)
- 5 parking: Auditorium Parking, Hilton Parking, Impark, Plymouth Court Garage (+1 more)
- 1 pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy
- 1 dry cleaners: Plymouth Court Cleaners
- 1 print shops: FedEx Office
- 1 corporate services: Spaces
The Neighborhood: South Loop
The South Loop stretches from the railroad-era warehouses of Printers Row down to the Museum Campus, where the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium line the lakefront. Grant Park, live-music clubs and student energy from nearby colleges give it a relaxed, local feel.
Staying Overnight? Hotels Near The Museum of Contemporary Photography
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 The Museum of Contemporary Photography with Equestrian Indians (The Spearman) → Magdalene → Equestrian Indians (The Bowman) — 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 The Museum of Contemporary Photography from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
The Museum of Contemporary Photography is about 1053 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 13-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to The Museum of Contemporary Photography? +
The closest 'L' stop is Harrison (Red line), about 265 m away — a 3-minute walk.
How long should I plan for The Museum of Contemporary Photography? +
Most visitors combine The Museum of Contemporary Photography 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
Equestrian Indians (The Spearman)
Downtown Chicago
14 min from 311 S Wacker
Magdalene
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Equestrian Indians (The Bowman)
Downtown Chicago
14 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
Buckingham Fountain
301 South Columbus Drive
18 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near The Museum of Contemporary Photography
Travelodge Chicago
65 East Harrison Street
12 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
The Blackstone, Autograph Collection
636 South Michigan Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Congress Plaza Hotel
520 South Michigan Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Merle Reskin Theatre
62-66 East Balbo Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker Entertainment
Auditorium Parking
525 South Wabash Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Parking
Wabash 4BR - Pool Free In & Out Parking 2
626 South Wabash Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels