First Ascent
17 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
5 min bike
via downtown streets
1353 m / 4439 ft
straight-line distance
30 places
within a 5-min walk
First Ascent is a health & wellness spot at 100 South Morgan Street, about 1353 m (17 min walk) from 311 South Wacker Drive — convenient for Loop workers and downtown residents.
First Ascent sits in Greektown / West Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is UIC-Halsted (Blue line), about a 7-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 13 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 (1353 m · ~17 min walk).
Getting to First Ascent
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head west — it's about 1353 m on foot (17 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to UIC-Halsted (Blue line); from the platform exit it's roughly a 7-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 13 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 Presidential Towers Garage, about 9 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
| Union Station | 1013 m | 13 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 1372 m | 17 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 1674 m | 21 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 2023 m | 25 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 2157 m | 27 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 2377 m | 30 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 2426 m | 30 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 2816 m | 35 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 3849 m | 48 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near First Ascent
| Nearest coffee | Stan's Donuts & Coffee | 5 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | Walgreens | 6 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Chase | 6 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | Presidential Towers Garage | 9 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 4 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Morgan Cleaners | 2 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of First Ascent
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 20 hotels: W Loop 2BR w Gym Pool nr Fulton Mkt CHI-254, W Loop 1BR w Gym Pool WD nr Fulton Mkt CHI-213, W Loop 1BR w Pool Gym nr Restaurant Row CHI-297, W Loop 1BR w Pool Gym nr Restaurant Row CHI-274 (+16 more)
- 1 cafes: Stan's Donuts & Coffee
- 1 bars: Stelios Bottles & Bites
- 2 attractions: WNDR Museum, Kavi Gupta Gallery
- 4 dry cleaners: Morgan Cleaners, Monroe Cleaners, Clean As A Whistle Cleaners, Gen Cleaners
- 2 print shops: The UPS Store, FedEx Office
The Neighborhood: Greektown / West Loop
Greektown's stretch of Halsted Street has served saganaki and souvlaki since the 1960s, and the surrounding West Loop blocks add modern restaurants, bakeries and the National Hellenic Museum. It's a flavorful, walkable pocket just west of the expressway from downtown.
Staying Overnight? Hotels Near First Ascent
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 9/10 · 49 reviews · 5 min walk from here
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★ 5.5/10 · 2 reviews · 5 min walk from here
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★ 10/10 · 2 reviews · 5 min walk from here
Check RatesGood to Know: Local Tips
Most downtown gyms and studios peak before work (6–8am) and right after (5–7pm); midday visits are the quiet window. Many offer day passes or first-class-free deals for visitors staying at nearby hotels — worth asking before paying drop-in rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is First Ascent from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
First Ascent is about 1353 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 17-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to First Ascent? +
The closest 'L' stop is UIC-Halsted (Blue line), about 551 m away — a 7-minute walk.
More Health & Wellness Nearby
Midwest Express Clinic
779 West Adams Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker
Bluemercury
924 West Randolph Street
18 min from 311 S Wacker
Equinox
201 North Sangamon Street
19 min from 311 S Wacker
Family Planning Associates
659 West Washington Street
12 min from 311 S Wacker
TRAIN MOMENT
167 North Desplaines Street
13 min from 311 S Wacker
Fitness Formula Clubs (FFC)
10 South Clinton Street
8 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near First Ascent
Stelios Bottles & Bites
19 South Morgan Street
17 min from 311 S Wacker Bars
Morgan Cleaners
949 West Madison Street
17 min from 311 S Wacker Dry Cleaners
WNDR Museum
1130 West Monroe Street
21 min from 311 S Wacker Attractions
Monroe Cleaners
841 West Monroe Street
13 min from 311 S Wacker Dry Cleaners
Clean As A Whistle Cleaners
836 West Adams Street
13 min from 311 S Wacker Dry Cleaners
W Loop 2BR W Gym Pool Nr Fulton Mkt CHI-254
939 W Washington Blvd
17 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels