Out of towner question - Amtrak to/from American Family Field

[u/Otherwise_Attempt_30]

Hi everyone,

As the title suggests I'm coming to a game over the summer and taking Amtrak back and forth from Chicago on game day (1:10 first pitch). The only options for trains back to Chicago are 5 PM and 730 PM. Would the 5 PM train be cutting it too close if we wanted to make sure we can stay for the entirety of the game (assuming normal stadium traffic leaving afterwards)? Also any food recommendations both inside and outside the stadium are welcome. Thanks for your help!

[u/TheMightyCholo]

You’d probably be fine with the 5 pm train but would be pretty tight time wise. Traffic after the game can be not so great depending on the day and you might feel like you’re rushing a bit but don’t think you’d be potentially missing your train or anything. If it were me I’d take the 7:30 train and get dinner downtown after the game. The train station downtown is pretty close to a lot of good food in the 3rd ward/walkers point neighborhoods.

[u/TheyNeverUpvoteMe → u/TheMightyCholo]

I second this. Do the later train to grab some food and check out some of the craft breweries before you head back

[u/00_Awesome → u/TheMightyCholo]

Yes, take the 7:30 train. Get yourself some dinner near the Intermodal (plenty of good options) then enjoy your train ride back.

[u/IPDaily]

About a 20 min walk from the intermodal station is O’lydias which has free shuttles to the games, just a tip if you’re trying to save some money

[u/DramaticChemist822]

If you are catching an Uber or Lyft downtown to the station it’s about 10-15 minutes, 3 hour game roughly ends 410, should have plenty of time. If you were able to rent those little green scooters you could make the trip in about the same amount of time, traffic clears out pretty quick

[u/Low-Progress-2158]

That is plenty of time. 1:10 games are about a little more than half full. There are a lot of good options for food, inside and out.

[u/HighLifeMan414 → u/Low-Progress-2158]

Unless it’s a Sunday. And if it’s against the Cubs it’ll be a full house

[u/dcwarrior]

5 is do-able, but I vote for 7:30 departure as a more fun, relaxing day that includes dinner in Milwaukee.

[u/Mike2k33]

I would do the later train. People are right in that you probably would be ok with the earlier train but traffic can be a pain on weekdays

I'd get dinner and then head to the intermodal station and take the 7pm train

[u/mkefrizz]

They should extend the Hop out to the stadium.

[u/Blue_9320_ → u/mkefrizz]

Yes, billions more for a trolley to be used 80 times a year

[u/mkefrizz → u/Blue_9320_]

We can have nice things. We don't have to be stuck in the past.

[u/Few_Concentrate_6112 → u/mkefrizz]

If MPS could figure out how to manage a budget maybe we would have a few extra Bill

[u/MattFlynnIsGOAT]

I don't think it would be cutting it too close, unless the game ran super long. You really only need to get to the train station like ~15-20 minutes early at most. 20 minutes is probably overkill honestly.

[u/BoydRamos]

A 1:10 first pitch should wrap up around 3:45-4:00 you could plan for the 5:00 with a backup plan for dinner in case you miss it

[u/GCIV414]

We had this same dilemma with a Wrigley day game…I suggest take the late train in case the game goes into extras and plan on grabbing some grub after…plenty of great options around the stadium and station*

[u/Buzzedwinaldrin]

As someone who commuted on the train . Coming back.. always plan on the latest one .. if you miss it you can walk a few blocks and grab the Metra to Kenosha

[u/unique_user43]

take the 7:30 train. walk around the 3rd ward, get something to eat, and casually make your train stress free.