Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage
2 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
1 min bike
via downtown streets
141 m / 463 ft
straight-line distance
55 places
within a 5-min walk
Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage is a public parking facility at 321-337 South Franklin Street, about 141 m (2 min walk) from 311 South Wacker Drive. It is a multi-storey facility, operated by SP+. A practical alternative when the 311 South Wacker garage is full.
Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Quincy (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 2-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 6 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 (141 m · ~2 min walk).
Getting to Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head east — it's about 141 m on foot (2 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Quincy (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines); from the platform exit it's roughly a 2-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 6 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 Traders Self Park, 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
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 209 m | 3 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 211 m | 3 min walk |
| Union Station | 487 m | 6 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 955 m | 12 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 1115 m | 14 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 1130 m | 14 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 1201 m | 15 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 1325 m | 17 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 2703 m | 34 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 3 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | Walgreens | 3 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Fifth Third Bank | 2 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | FedEx Office | 6 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 7 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 15 hotels: Loop 1BR w Fitness center nr W Loop the L CHI-194, Loop 1BR w Gym Roof Lounge same block as L CHI-668, Loop 1BR wGym Roofdeck WD nr W Loop the L CHI-200, Loop 1BR w Lounge Gym Roof nr L CHI-693 (+11 more)
- 14 restaurants: Giordano's Pizzeria, Dunkin', Panda Express, Qdoba (+10 more)
- 5 cafes: Starbucks, Corner Bakery, Peet's Coffee, Corner Bakery (+1 more)
- 3 bars: The Living Room Bar W Chicago City Center, Little Toasted, Chicago Union Station Metropolitan Lounge
- 6 attractions: Color Factory, SkyDeck Chicago Willis Tower, Money Museum, San Marco II (+2 more)
- 1 health & wellness: One Medical
- 4 banks: Fifth Third Bank, Bank of America, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank
- 2 pharmacies: Walgreens, Walgreens
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-Van Buren Parking Garage
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
If This Garage Is Full — Alternatives
| Traders Self Park | 326 South Wells Street | 1 min from here |
| Tower Self Park | 211-217 West Adams Street | 3 min from here |
| 430 S Clark Street | 430 South Clark Street | 4 min from here |
| Monroe & Wells Parking | 183 West Monroe Street | 5 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-Van Buren Parking Garage from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage is about 141 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 2-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage? +
The closest 'L' stop is Quincy (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 178 m away — a 2-minute walk.
Is Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage a good option for visiting 311 South Wacker? +
At about 2 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
Traders Self Park
326 South Wells Street
2 min from 311 S Wacker
Tower Self Park
211-217 West Adams Street
3 min from 311 S Wacker
430 S Clark Street
430 South Clark Street
6 min from 311 S Wacker
Monroe & Wells Parking
183 West Monroe Street
5 min from 311 S Wacker
318 South Federal
318 South Federal Street
7 min from 311 S Wacker
The Poetry Garage
201-223 West Madison Street
6 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Franklin-Van Buren Parking Garage
Loop 1BR W Fitness Center Nr W Loop the L CHI-194
330 S Wells St
3 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Loop 1BR W Gym Roof Lounge Same Block as L CHI-668
330 S Wells St
3 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Loop 1BR wGym Roofdeck WD Nr W Loop the L CHI-200
330 S Wells St
3 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Loop 1BR W Lounge Gym Roof Nr L CHI-693
330 S Wells St
3 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Loop 1BR W Deck Gym WD Nr W Loop the L CHI-220
330 S Wells St
3 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Giordano's Pizzeria
223 West Jackson Boulevard
2 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants