Parking & Directions

Welcome to Chicago Shakespeare! However you plan to arrive, we have you covered with directions.

Chicago Shakespeare is located at 800 E. Grand Ave. On Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is easily accessible by vehicle and Chicago Shakespeare Theater patrons enjoy guaranteed discounted parking in Navy Pier garages. Our Dedicated Parking Entrance opens two hours prior to curtain time. To access, drive down the north side of Grand Ave about halfway down Navy Pier to Entrance 1 or the Mid Parking Circle. Enter through the dedicated gate for Chicago Shakespeare and take a ticket.

With validation, the discounted rate is $22 for up to 6 hours. Take a ticket at the parking garage gate and bring it with you to validate in the Theater lobby to receive the parking discount. Make sure to pay at one of the parking garage pay stations before returning to your vehicle.

If you arrive more than 2 hours prior to the show, you may park in the West Garage (closest to the main entrance of Navy Pier) and will still receive the theater discount with validated ticket.

Before the Show

Using Lyft or Uber, set your destination to Navy Pier, then when prompted to specify drop-off location, choose CTR Parking Circle or Mid Parking Circle. Direct your driver down the north side of Navy Pier and request a drop-off at the Theater’s dedicated parking entrance at Entrance 1, about halfway down the Pier. Turn right and walk west on the Pier until you reach Kilwins. At that point, either proceed ahead  up the stairs or take the elevator to the right to Level 2 of Navy Pier to reach the Theater’s lobby.

After the Show

Taxis pick-ups are regularly available at the front of Navy Pier. At the foot of the Theater stairs, turn right and and proceed down the hall to the main entrance (by Reunion restaurant).

Rideshare (Uber & Lyft)

We encourage you to make use of Navy Pier’s designated rideshare pick-up and drop-off areas. For the closest pick-up to the Theater, set your pick-up location to Navy Pier: CTR Parking Circle or Mid Parking Circle. When you reach the Main Level of Navy Pier from the elevator or stairs outside of the Theater’s lobby, turn right and walk until you reach Billy Goat Tavern. At that point, turn right and exit to the pick-up point. 

• Central (Entrance 1 Parking Circle at the Theater’s designated parking entrance, and closest to our front doors)
• West (Navy Pier Main Entrance)
• East (East Parking Circle near Sable Hotel)

Chicago Transportation Authority has several routes that access Navy Pier. All buses are equipped with bike racks and are ADA accessible. For detailed instructions and schedules, visit transitchicago.com or call 312.836.7000.

Bus Routes with Pickup at Navy Pier Terminal

• #2 Hyde Park Express (Rush Hours, M-F)

• #29 State

• #65 Grand

• #66 Chicago

• #124 Navy Pier Express

When you reach Navy Pier Terminal, cross the street and proceed to the South Dock of Navy Pier (past the Main Entrance and Reunion restaurant), turn right and walk east toward the Chicago Shakespeare marquee.  

If you would prefer to walk inside, enter via Navy Pier’s Main Entrance and proceed east on the Pier. When you reach Ciccio’s Italian Beef, either turn right to take the stairs or proceed ahead to take the elevator to Level 2 of Navy Pier to reach the Theater’s lobby. 

 The walk from the Main Entrance of Navy Pier to the Theater is approximately 10 minutes.  

Walking to biking are great eco-friendly ways to get to Navy Pier and avoid traffic congestion. Bikes racks are available near the Main Entrance of Navy Pier. Please note that due to safety concerns, bikes are prohibited to be ridden on Navy Pier, and you must park your bike at a bike rack before coming on to the Pier.

To reach the Theater, proceed to the South Dock of Navy Pier and walk east toward the Chicago Shakespeare marquee.

If you would prefer to walk inside, enter via Navy Pier’s Main Entrance and proceed east on the Pier. When you reach Ciccio’s Italian Beef, either turn right to take the stairs or proceed ahead to take the elevator to Level 2 of Navy Pier to reach the Theater’s lobby.

Shoreline Water Taxi service begins in May and runs through September, with additional service throughout the fall and for special events. All taxi service is weather dependent. There are two water taxi routes that both access Navy Pier: Lake and River. Visit shorelinesightseeing.com or call 312.222.9328 for more information.