Although Chicago has many famous buildings and beautiful attractions, Millennium Park is considered one of the most beautiful places to visit in Chicago. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Millenium park has so much to offer its visitors including the Cloud Gate Statue (The Bean), interactive fountains, tranquil gardens, free events, public arts, skating rinks, rock climbing, and plenty of green space. And with so many sights to explore inside the park, it’s a must-visit attraction in Chicago.
But exploring the 25-acre incredible and scenic landscape of Millennium Park lugging your luggage around is nearly impossible and will surely make your Chicago experience stressful. And If you’re even thinking of doing so you’ll end up ruining your Chicago trip and the whole experience of Millennium Park. So to avoid such an experience, you better store your unwanted travel accessories and heavy luggage somewhere near the park.
Don’t worry! We are here to help you search and compare luggage storages available nearby that are ideal for exploring the park as well as everything that the windy city of Chicago has to offer. Before that let’s take a quick look at Millenium Park.
About Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a public park in Chicago. It was established in 2004 and is now considered the largest public space within the 319 acres of Downtown Chicago’s Grant Park. Being one of the biggest free attractions in the city the park is visited by more than 25 million annual visitors. Millennium Park is located on the east side of downtown, bordered on the west by Michigan Avenue in the Loop community area of Chicago. It’s operated and maintained by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Since it was opened The park has become an award-winning center for art, music, and architecture where people from different countries and residents of Chicago get together for several events and activities.
Millenium Park is more than a public park, Millennium Park is the one attraction that is known for its modern architecture and spectacular design, acres of green land, and natural habitat. The park is also known for hosting many festivals and concerts all around the year, especially during summer. Millennium Park is located directly above the Millennium Station at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, one can reach the park easily using Metra Rail or a cab. Entry to Millennium Park is free, but it hosts a mixture of free and paid-ticketed activities and events during the year which you can track by visiting the park’s official website.
Where to Store Luggage near Millennium Park?
If you are wondering where to store your heavy backpacks or extra luggage while visiting Millennium Park then you must be aware that you won’t get much storage there inside the park. The McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink has a block of public lockers available to rent inside the skate rental facility but there isn’t much information about the lockers on the official website of Chicago Millenium Park. As per many users bags larger than 12″ x 12″ x 24″; can’t be stored in the locker facility.
The Millenium Station which is operated by Metra Rail doesn’t also feature any luggage storage which may be a huge disappointment to many as it’s considered one of the busiest stations in Chicago. If you want to store luggage at any railway station, the only option available is at Union Station. But there is nothing to worry about because we have some great storage options as an alternative luggage storage solution.
If storing your luggage is the end goal then storing your luggage with a much more convenient provider and dropping them off can help you the most. There are a few companies such as BagsAway, Stasher, UseBounce, and a few more, they are highly skilled in handling luggage and backpacks. The process on the other hand is so quick and easy. You just need to book their luggage storage online and then drop them at the nearby facility they recommend. These companies are trusted to store luggage nearby any attractions in Chicago. These new-gen companies are not only unique but their services come with a lot of flexibility for storing your items. You can choose any location and duration that works for you.
How Much Does it Cost to Store Luggage near Millennium Park?
Even though there isn’t much information about the lockers inside the park but they have a limited number of lockers that are available for storing personal items. The lockers facility doesn’t have different pricing plans, each time you use the lockers you will have to pay a $2 fee.
If you are considering any other storage facility at stations like Union Station in Chicago, you may expect to pay $20 per item for a day, and the same goes for the Greyhound Bus Terminal. You can get $10 off if you have a valid Amtrak ticket because the storage is operated by Amartak railway. So storing luggage outside in Chicago is expensive and can be too complicated, on the other hand, storage companies are more flexible and affordable as well. Let’s go through the pricing of a luggage storage provider like BagsAway or Stasher.
To store luggage with these companies you need to pay around $1-2 per hour or $6-10 per day. The pricing of different companies is different according to your selected location and duration but in our research, we found that BagsAway charges the cheapest pricing for storing luggage in Chicago. It charges $1.5/hour or $5.95/day with flexible storage facilities in different areas of the city.
If you are still worried about where to store your luggage? Well, Just consider any of these companies and drop your bags at a nearby storage facility and take a selfie in front of the popular Could Gate (The Bean) without any hassle.
More Details about Millennium Park
Attraction: Millennium Park
Location: 201 E. Randolph St., Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois
Opening Hours: Open all year (Daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m)
Parking: Free & Paid parking is available
Contact: [email protected]
Lost & Found: Millennium Park does have lost and found support for its visitors. Questions about lost and found items should be directed to the Welcome Center (open 9 am-5 pm & later during events).
What to Expect in Millennium Park?
With acres of green land, beautiful outdoor areas, incredible arts, eye-catching architecture, and amazing cultural events, Millennium Park offers everything most people can expect. Inside the park, You can visit the most popular Cloud Gate which is also called “The Bean,” and has become synonymous with the Chicago experience. The stainless-steel surface of the Cloud Gate reflects the lights of the park and surrounding city skyline offering a variety of views of the city. Crown Fountain is also something not to miss if you’re exploring Millennium Park. Both towers of the Crown Fountain project video images of Chicago citizens as a tribute to Chicagoans.
McCormick Tribune Plaza is another attraction that Millennium Park is known for, It is one of Chicago’s largest outdoor ice skating rinks drawing more than 100,000 skaters annually, it is free and open to the public. During the summer season, this ice skating arena becomes a dining area that offers an incredible dining experience with outdoor sitting. There are so many other things to explore inside the park which include Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Lurie Garden, Boeing Galleries, Millennium Monument at Wrigley Square, McDonald’s Cycle Center, and other Gardens of Millennium Park. Millennium Park also hosts so many events and exhibitions, you can check the park’s calendar on Chicago’s official website to attend an event of your choice.
While exploring the park you will have so much space for resting and enjoying with your family, There are places to sit and rest throughout the park in different locations. Accessible seating & companion spaces are available for events and music festivals as well. Accessible restroom stalls are located on the east and west lower levels of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in multi-stall facilities. You can take your own food to the park but some items may be prohibited. There are multiple stores and food courts within the park to kill your hunger. Other facilities such as public washrooms, parking, wheelchairs, and other things are also available.
Best Places to Stay near Millennium Park?
Checking into a budget-friendly hotel might be the next choice if you’re not getting any luggage storage options inside or near Millennium Park. Most hotels have a dedicated storage facility and you can always ask them to store extra items. But at the same time, not all hotels are willing to provide you with unlimited storage for your luggage as they feature limited space as well as they have hundreds of other guests who want to access the same facility. Although, most hotels only offer storage to their guests and some hotels may still store your backpack at a fixed fee. In case you’re thinking to stay in a hotel that makes both storing your luggage and your stay comfortable then let’s check out the best options near Millennium Park Chicago.
Hi Chicago Hostel
HI Chicago Hostel is a budget-friendly hostel that offers comfortable and contemporary accommodation in the heart of the city center. It’s a two-star hotel located at a distance of 0.8km from Millennium Park. The hostel is known for its good prices, excellent-located, breakfast, and good options to eat nearby. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool as well complimentary breakfast & tours. Living for a night/day at this hostel near Millennium Park will cost you anywhere between $80-120 depending on the deal you get.
Club Quarters Hotel Wacker, Chicago
This is the closest hotel to Millennium Park and it is known for its excellent location. This modern riverfront hotel offers relaxed rooms, a lounge as well as an Italian restaurant. The hotel is 8 minute walk from Millennium Park and a mile from Navy Pier and offers access to the whole of Chicago’s Downtown area. This three-star hotel has everything you can expect including free Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a concierge, parking, a restaurant, a bar, and most importantly secure baggage storage. With all these facilities this hotel costs a few more bucks than HI Chicago Hostel, to spend a night here you need to pay around $120 per person.
Fairmont Chicago – Millennium Park
Fairmont Hotel located within the area of Millennium Park is one of the best value-for-money hotels in Chicago but this isn’t recommended just to store your luggage. If you are looking for some kind of luxury experience this 4-star hotel is an ideal choice. Located in the New East Side neighborhood, this refined hotel is a 9-minute walk from Millennium Park and the shops along the lively Magnificent Mile. It offers free Wi-Fi, baggage storage, a concierge, a grocery shop, full-service laundry, a fitness center, breakfast, and other wellness activities. This hotel costs $150/night per person.
Other hotels & AirBnbs
Although hotels are great to store luggage, you may end up spending a lot of money just for the storage. But staying in a shared hostel or Airbnb might save you some extra money as well as help you with storing your luggage. You can choose a property according to your need and preference that works for you. This is another great alternative to store luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions!
Where can I store Luggage near Millennium Park Chicago?
There are public lockers available inside the park in the McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink has a block. You can store your backpacks and items there but the size of these lockers is limited, therefore you can store them elsewhere. But it’s better to store luggage with companies like BagsAway which provides luggage storage at multiple locations.
How much does it cost to store luggage near Millennium Park?
The lockers available inside the park are not too expensive but they have very limited space. Each time you use the lockers you will have to pay a $2 fee. To store with companies like BagsAway, It costs $1.5/hour or $5.95/day.
How much does it cost to go to Millennium Park in Chicago?
Entry to Millennium Park is absolutely free for every visitor. But it hosts a mixture of free and paid-ticketed activities and events throughout the year. And yes, you can visit this beautiful park free of cost no matter where are you from.
How long should you spend at Millennium Park?
Millenium Park is much more than a public park, even if you spend the whole day around the park you will hardly cover everything. With so many gardens and things to do inside, it’s the largest public park in Chicago. You must spend at least 3-4 hours inside to see everything you can.
What’s special about Millennium Park?
There are so many things to explore inside the park which include Cloud Gate, Crown Fountain, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Lurie Garden, Boeing Galleries, Millennium Monument at Wrigley Square, McDonald’s Cycle Center, and other Gardens of Millennium Park.