The Poetry Garage
6 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
2 min bike
via downtown streets
490 m / 1608 ft
straight-line distance
77 places
within a 5-min walk
The Poetry Garage is a public parking facility at 201-223 West Madison Street, about 490 m (6 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.
The Poetry Garage sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 2-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 7 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 (490 m · ~6 min walk).
Getting to The Poetry Garage
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head north — it's about 490 m on foot (6 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 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 7 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 Washington-Madison-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
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 323 m | 4 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 442 m | 6 min walk |
| Union Station | 585 m | 7 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 733 m | 9 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 744 m | 9 min walk |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 914 m | 11 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 928 m | 12 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 1437 m | 18 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 2417 m | 30 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near The Poetry Garage
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 1 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | Walgreens | 3 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | First Northern Credit Union | 1 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 3 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Paramount Cleaners | 9 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of The Poetry Garage
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 14 hotels: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chicago Downtown, Hyatt Place Chicago/Downtown - The Loop, Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Loop, THE MIDLAND HOTEL, Chicago, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (+10 more)
- 23 restaurants: Dunkin', Jimmy John's, Noodles & Company, Chipotle (+19 more)
- 6 cafes: Starbucks, Peet's Coffee, Starbucks, Corner Bakery (+2 more)
- 4 bars: Roanoke Restaurant, The Living Room Bar W Chicago City Center, South Branch, Bar Allegro
- 6 attractions: The Ledge, SkyDeck Chicago Willis Tower, Miro's Chicago, Color Factory (+2 more)
- 2 entertainment: Civic Opera House, Cadillac Palace Theatre
- 1 health & wellness: One Medical
- 8 banks: First Northern Credit Union, Fifth Third Bank, U.S. Bank, Chase (+4 more)
- 2 pharmacies: Walgreens, Walgreens
- 1 shoe repair: Leathercare Shoe Repair
- 4 print shops: The UPS Store, FedEx Office, FedEx Office, FedEx Office
- 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 The Poetry Garage
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 8/10 · 3736 reviews · 1 min walk from here
Check Rates
★ 8.3/10 · 479 reviews · 2 min walk from here
Check RatesIf This Garage Is Full — Alternatives
| Washington-Madison-Wells Self Park | 172 West Madison Street | 2 min from here |
| Monroe & Wells Parking | 183 West Monroe Street | 2 min from here |
| Washington Franklin Self Park | 230 West Washington Street | 3 min from here |
| Tower Self Park | 211-217 West Adams Street | 4 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 The Poetry Garage from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
The Poetry Garage is about 490 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 6-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to The Poetry Garage? +
The closest 'L' stop is Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 129 m away — a 2-minute walk.
Is The Poetry Garage a good option for visiting 311 South Wacker? +
At about 6 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
Washington-Madison-Wells Self Park
172 West Madison Street
8 min from 311 S Wacker
Monroe & Wells Parking
183 West Monroe Street
5 min from 311 S Wacker
Washington Franklin Self Park
230 West Washington Street
9 min from 311 S Wacker
Tower Self Park
211-217 West Adams Street
3 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
Other Places Near The Poetry Garage
Dunkin'
201 West Madison Street
6 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
Jimmy John's
201 West Madison Street
6 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chicago Downtown
1 South Franklin Street
6 min from 311 S Wacker Hotels
Noodles & Company
Downtown Chicago
6 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
First Northern Credit Union
230 West Monroe Street
5 min from 311 S Wacker Banks
Chipotle
230 West Monroe Street
5 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants