Franklin-Lake Self Park
11 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
4 min bike
via downtown streets
883 m / 2897 ft
straight-line distance
58 places
within a 5-min walk
Franklin-Lake Self Park is a public parking facility at 174 North Franklin Street, about 883 m (11 min walk) from 311 South Wacker Drive. It is a multi-storey facility. A practical alternative when the 311 South Wacker garage is full.
Franklin-Lake Self Park sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 4-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 10 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 (883 m · ~11 min walk).
Getting to Franklin-Lake Self Park
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head north — it's about 883 m on foot (11 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Washington/Wells (Brown, 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 10 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 210 N Wells Self Park, 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
| Chicago Riverwalk | 537 m | 7 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 703 m | 9 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 721 m | 9 min walk |
| Union Station | 828 m | 10 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 880 m | 11 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 1084 m | 14 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 1196 m | 15 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 1765 m | 22 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 2368 m | 30 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Franklin-Lake Self Park
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 2 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | CVS Pharmacy | 7 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Old Second National Bank | 1 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | FedEx Office | 3 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Shiny Cleaners | 7 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Franklin-Lake Self Park
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 27 hotels: Best skyrise in downtown Chicago, Linea Luxury Living with Indoor Pool and Rooftop Views in The Loop, Blueground The Loop pool gym nr Willis CHI-1176, Blueground The Loop pool gym nr Willis CHI-1179 (+23 more)
- 9 restaurants: Small Cheval - Riverside, Naf Naf Grill, Luke's Lobster City Hall, Gibsons Italia (+5 more)
- 3 cafes: Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks
- 2 bars: Monk's Pub, Bar Allegro
- 3 attractions: Constellation, Museum of Broadcast Communications, Monument With Standing Beast
- 2 entertainment: Cadillac Palace Theatre, Civic Opera House
- 3 banks: Old Second National Bank, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank
- 1 shoe repair: Leathercare Shoe Repair
- 2 print shops: FedEx Office, The UPS Store
- 1 corporate services: TechNexus
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 Franklin-Lake Self Park
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 8.6/10 · 59 reviews · 1 min walk from here
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★ 8.4/10 · 1314 reviews · 3 min walk from here
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If This Garage Is Full — Alternatives
| 210 N Wells Self Park | 210 North Wells Street | 2 min from here |
| Standard Parking Garage | 150 North Wells Street | 2 min from here |
| Lake/Wells Self Park | 177 North Wells Street | 2 min from here |
| Washington Franklin Self Park | 230 West Washington Street | 3 min from here |
Good to Know: Local Tips
Downtown Chicago parking is almost always cheaper reserved ahead through an app than driven up — often by half. Watch event pricing on Bears, Bulls and festival days, check your garage's clearance if you drive an SUV, and remember Lower Wacker entrances can be easy to miss on a first pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Franklin-Lake Self Park from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Franklin-Lake Self Park is about 883 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 11-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Franklin-Lake Self Park? +
The closest 'L' stop is Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 336 m away — a 4-minute walk.
Is Franklin-Lake Self Park a good option for visiting 311 South Wacker? +
At about 11 minutes on foot from 311 South Wacker Drive, it can be a solid backup when the building's own garage (262 spaces, entrances on Lower Wacker and Franklin) is full — compare rates before you drive in.
More Parking Garages & Lots Nearby
210 N Wells Self Park
210 North Wells Street
12 min from 311 S Wacker
Standard Parking Garage
150 North Wells Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker
Lake/Wells Self Park
177 North Wells Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker
Washington Franklin Self Park
230 West Washington Street
9 min from 311 S Wacker
Washington-Madison-Wells Self Park
172 West Madison Street
8 min from 311 S Wacker
The Poetry Garage
201-223 West Madison Street
6 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Franklin-Lake Self Park
Best Skyrise in Downtown Chicago
323 W Wacker Dr
12 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Linea Luxury Living with Indoor Pool and Rooftop Views in The Loop
215 West Lake Street
11 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Old Second National Bank
333 West Wacker Drive
12 min from 311 S Wacker Banks
Blueground The Loop Pool Gym Nr Willis CHI-1176
West Lake Street 215
11 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground The Loop Pool Gym Nr Willis CHI-1179
West Lake Street 215
11 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Blueground The Loop Pool AC Nr Willis Tower CHI-1175
West Lake Street 215
11 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels