Happening Places & Entertainment the Chicago Loop

Auditorium Theatre

Photo: JW Taylor,, photographer. · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons — see photo credits

12 min walk

from 311 S Wacker

4 min bike

via downtown streets

939 m / 3081 ft

straight-line distance

65 places

within a 5-min walk

Auditorium Theatre is an entertainment venue at 50 East Ida B. Wells Drive, about 939 m (12 min walk) from 311 South Wacker Drive. Check current schedules for shows and events during your visit to downtown Chicago.

Auditorium Theatre sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Harrison (Red line), about a 4-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 (939 m · ~12 min walk).

Getting to Auditorium Theatre

From 311 South Wacker Drive

Head east — it's about 939 m on foot (12 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 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 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 Auditorium Parking, about 1 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	416 m	5 min walk
Buckingham Fountain	529 m	7 min walk
Chicago Board of Trade	626 m	8 min walk
Millennium Park (Cloud Gate)	758 m	9 min walk
Willis Tower & Skydeck	936 m	12 min walk
Chicago Theatre	1078 m	13 min walk
Union Station	1280 m	16 min walk
Chicago Riverwalk	1323 m	17 min walk
Navy Pier	2224 m	28 min walk

Everyday Essentials Near Auditorium Theatre

Nearest coffee	Starbucks	3 min walk
Nearest pharmacy	CVS Pharmacy	3 min walk
Nearest bank branch	Bank of America	5 min walk
Nearest public garage	Auditorium Parking	1 min walk
Nearest print/ship shop	FedEx Office	6 min walk
Nearest dry cleaner	Plymouth Court Cleaners	4 min walk

Within a 5-Minute Walk of Auditorium Theatre

Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.

22 hotels: Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking 5, Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking-2, Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking 3, Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking 4 (+18 more)
12 restaurants: Panda Express, Dunkin', Wingstop, Exchequer Restaurant & Pub (+8 more)
3 cafes: Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks
1 bars: 2Twenty2 Tavern
9 attractions: Magdalene, Equestrian Indians (The Bowman), Hector Guimard Metro entrance, Equestrian Indians (The Spearman) (+5 more)
3 health & wellness: Planet Fitness, Athletico Physical Therapy, Knuckleheads Boxing & Family Fitness
6 parking: Auditorium Parking, Grant Park South Garage, Hilton Parking, Adams-Wabash Self Park (+2 more)
1 banks: Bank of America
2 pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy
1 dry cleaners: Plymouth Court Cleaners
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 Auditorium Theatre

The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.

Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking 4

★ 9/10 · 1 reviews · 1 min walk from here

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Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking 6

★ 10/10 · 1 reviews · 1 min walk from here

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Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking 1

★ 9/10 · 2 reviews · 1 min walk from here

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Browse all 327 places to stay →

Good to Know: Local Tips

For shows and live music downtown, buy ahead — Broadway in Chicago runs and weekend concerts sell out regularly. Rush and day-of lotteries can yield serious discounts if your dates are flexible, and pre-theatre dinner reservations around the district go fast from 5:30pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Auditorium Theatre from 311 South Wacker Drive? +

Auditorium Theatre is about 939 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 12-minute walk through downtown Chicago.

What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Auditorium Theatre? +

The closest 'L' stop is Harrison (Red line), about 304 m away — a 4-minute walk.

More Happening Places & Entertainment Nearby

Studebaker Theater

410 South Michigan Avenue

12 min from 311 S Wacker

Merle Reskin Theatre

62-66 East Balbo Avenue

13 min from 311 S Wacker

Symphony Center

220 South Michigan Avenue

12 min from 311 S Wacker

Buddy Guy's Legends

700 South Wabash Avenue

12 min from 311 S Wacker

James C. Petrillo Music Shell

251 South Columbus Drive

17 min from 311 S Wacker

Jazz Showcase

806 South Plymouth Court

11 min from 311 S Wacker

Other Places Near Auditorium Theatre

Auditorium Parking

525 South Wabash Avenue

12 min from 311 S Wacker Parking