If you are exploring Chicago, chances are you’ll pass by the Ogilvie Transportation Center at some point or you may be arriving at the station from any location in the state of Illinois. And because Oglivie Transportation Center is one of the busiest railway terminals in Chicago, you may find yourself in trouble lugging your baggage at the station. To help you avoid situations like this, we created this guide dedicated to luggage storage near Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Whether you plan to explore the city and its incredible tourist attractions or You just came to Chicago for important work for a short period of time, a locker or luggage storage is something you need to store your luggage and do what you want to do without any worries. And you may find it difficult to find a place to store luggage being new to Chicago.
No matter what the situation is, if you’re in search of something like that then your search ends here, We’ve got you covered. There are a few different types of luggage storage options and this guide will take you through each of them. Sit back and relax, We’re here with all the necessary information you need!
About Ogilvie Transportation Center
The Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center (formerly Chicago and North Western Terminal) is a commuter rail terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Ogilvie Transportation Center has served as a major hub for intercity trains in Chicago since 1911 when the station was established. Since it was opened, several upgrades in the terminal took place but in 1991 Metra purchased the terminal and decided to completely replace the existing structure 1992. Within four years of metra operating the station, they’ve gone through extensive repairs to produce new construction and upgrades to tracks and platforms to hold a greater passenger capacity. After a few years of operations, the station was renamed the Ogilvie Transportation Center in 1997.
The station is located at 500 West Madison Street and the current station occupied the lower floors of the 500 West Madison Street building. With more than 108,000 passengers passing through the station every weekday, Ogilvie Transportation Center is the second-busiest railway terminal in Chicago after Chicago Union Station. It’s also considered the sixth-busiest railway terminal in North America, and the third-busiest station that exclusively serves commuter traffic.
Because it’s one of the busiest stations, Carrying luggage at the terminal during peak times can be much harder than you think. And that’s why you need safe luggage storage to store luggage and walk comfortably at the station.
Where to Store Luggage near Ogilvie Transportation Center?
Sadly, there is no left-luggage facility at the terminal and it also has no lockers where you can store large items including backpacks and luggage. Unlike Union Station which has lots of different storage options such as Baggage parcel check by Amtrak, Ogilvie Transportation Center doesn’t feature such a facility. Finding lockers outside the station is no less than finding a fish in an unknown location in the Ocean, it can sometimes be so bothering to find lockers around the area of Ogilvie Transportation Center. Both airport (Midway Airport & O’Hare Airport) don’t even feature a left-luggage facility for passengers flying to and from Chicago.
It’s thought to find a safe place to store your items but it doesn’t necessarily mean that there isn’t an option to store luggage. Of course, there is! this major problem is solved with the help of luggage-storage companies that are inspired by Airbnb and manage luggage by partnering with hotels, stores, and BnB properties in a great way.
The luggage storage offered by these brands such as BagsAway, Stasher, and NannyBag is as flexible as your luggage’s wheel, whether you want to store it for an hour or you need it for a week, the good news is that they will allow as long as you want. It’s so easy to interact with their online maps to find a location and book storage for luggage and drop them off in your preferred location. So, storing luggage is no more as difficult as finding traditional lockers, you can store with them and be free from your luggage in a matter of few minutes.
Luggage Storage Prices
Although, We couldn’t find any information about the luggage storage inside the station if you can manage to find one similar to Union station’s luggage parcel it would cost around $20 which isn’t the ideal budget-friendly price to store luggage for a few hours. Alternatively, If a hotel around the station offers you storage, You will have to pay $10-15 extra upon the pricing that you paid to stay there, and hotels also have limited capacity, mostly allowing guests to take luggage inside which is not large in size.
While any of these two methods cost much more if available, the luggage storage brands cost way less considering the overall pricing for the service. They all have similar features and they charge a per-hour rate as well as a fixed rate per day. If you choose a short duration, You will be charged just $1.5/hour or if choosing the service for a day you will be charged $6-8. But some of these companies don’t offer an hourly rate and it might cost the same as a day of storage. But considering the pricing, this is obviously the option to go with because it also offers free insurance on your items for better security and safety.
Quick Details About Ogilvie Transportation Center
Station Name & Code: Metra Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center
Address: 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
Opening Hours: 05:30 AM – 11:00 PM
More Details: Visit the official website
Train Lines: Union Pacific North (UP-N), Union Pacific West (UP-W), Union Pacific Northwest (UP-NW)
Contact: 312-496-4777
Lost & Found Support: Lost and found support is offered at the station by Metra and you can contact them directly in case of any support you need for an item lost or found at the station. You can give them a call at 312-496-4751
What to Expect at Ogilvie Transportation Center Chicago?
Like many similar and large stations across the United States, It’s also a pretty big station with a lot of things inside as well as outside. You get plenty of food stores and general shops that allow you to do some casual shopping. Staffs at the station are very friendly, for a new tourist they offer incredible support for everythign from arranging tickets to getting on the right train, they do it all and they do it incredibly well.
Although sometimes it’s crowded and busy it is very safe and at rush hour there are lots of pedestrians for several blocks in every direction. The station has 8 platforms and 16 tracks, you can check your train status on large LCD/TVs installed everywhere around the station in different concourses and platforms. Inside the station, there are large waiting areas on different platforms, and near ticket counters, there are elevators for quick and easy movement around the platforms. You get some food stores and general stores like Amazon Go inside the terminal, other facilities such as baby care, disabled access, parking, ticket machines, and ATMs are available at the Ogilvie Transportation Center as well.
You can catch trains to any point in Chicago from Ogilvie Transportation Center. There are a number of popular attractions that are accessible from the station including The Mary And Leigh Block Museum, Willis Tower, Michigan Avenue, Museum Of Science And Industry, 360 Chicago Observation Deck, The Art Institute Of Chicago, and Millennium Park. The 500 West Madison building itself is an attraction where you can get some amazing shots, and a look at the buildings outside is mesmerizing as there are a number of skyscrapers that describe the modern architecture of Chicago.
Best Hotels near Ogilvie Center Station
Booking a hotel is another alternative solution to storing luggage in Chicago. And an affordable hotel deal may allow you to do both your stay as well as store luggage very comfortably. But keep in mind that all hotels don’t allow luggage storage to random travelers, they only allow it to guests. But if finding a locker or storage is still hard for you, you may go with a hotel that allows luggage without any limits, and here are some of the best hotels near the station.
Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago
This hotel by Wyndham is the sweet deal you can get at a much more affordable rate compared to others. A two-star hotel offers everything from air condition rooms to airport shuttle as well as luggage storage. But it’s a little far away from the station, it’s located at a distance of 1.6km from Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Hampton Inn by Hilton
As the name suggests this hotel is twice the cost of Travelodge by Wyndham, It’s also considered a way more luxurious stay, unless you don’t worry about budget go with it but for luggage storage, it’s obviously not recommended. It’s mentioned because it is located just 230m away from the station which offers easy access. It’s a 2-star hotel with all quality services.
Freehand Chicago
If staying a night in Chicago is the goal then this hotel is for you, leave your luggage with others and book this hotel with a single bed, it costs even less than half the cost of Travelodge. This hotel has a vintage vibe inside offering everything from first-class dining to a great overall stay. But it’s also located at a distance of 1.6km which is not that far away considering the money you will save.
Frequently Asked Questions!
Where can I store luggage near Ogilvie Transportation Center?
There isn’t a luggage storage facility at the station, to store luggage you have to go with a third-party storage provider such as BagsAway, Bounce, Stasher, NannyBag, and others.
How much does it cost to store luggage near Ogilvie Transportation Center?
Union Station luggage parcel check is the only alternative for storing luggage which costs $10 for Amtrak passengers and $20 for others. Otherwise, you can store luggage with companies at a cost of $1.5 per hour or $6-10 per.
Are Ogilvie and Union Station Connected?
Yes, Ogilvie and Union Station are connected with Metra trains as well bus offered by Chicago Transit Authority’s “L” system. It’s very easy to get from and to both stations using any of the two options.
How far is Midway Airport from Ogilvie Transportation Center?
The Distance Between Chicago Midway Airport and Ogilvie Transportation Center is around 14 km, It takes around 25 minutes to reach by a bus ride and up to 20 minutes on a high-speed train.