So it looks like I'm going to be heading to DB's PIR by myself on January 18th. However, there's a problem in that I dont know the best way to get from chicago, where my plane will be coming in, to the naval base.

I'm only 21 so I'm too young to rent a car, and I was wondering if anyone can tell me the fastest or cheapest way to get up there from Chicago. Train? Taxi? Limosine? Bus?

Help!!!

Train. It will take you right to the base. Bundle up though. It is cold as hell here (I'm from CA, and still not used to it here).

You're not too young to rent a car. :) Although you may be charged a daily underage fee.

I don't think that you are too young to rent a car, but you can call ahead and find out. Yes, please bundle up it is very cold up here.:heythere

I can tell you the you are def. not to young to rent a car. If you have full coverage insurance they will rent to you. You just need to pay the underage fee.

So your going?! Cool..im going by myself too and im only 20 so i am to young to rent a car. I had set up a bus trip to chicago then from the union station you take the Metra Union Pacific to great lakes which they say is across from RTC...idk about that trip im trying my hardest to get a car and just drive. Im leavin from ohio where u leavin from??

So your going?! Cool..im going by myself too and im only 20 so i am to young to rent a car. I had set up a bus trip to chicago then from the union station you take the Metra Union Pacific to great lakes which they say is across from RTC...idk about that trip im trying my hardest to get a car and just drive. Im leavin from ohio where u leavin from??

Hey. I just wanted to say that the metra station you're refering to isn't across from the base the recruits are at. It is across the street from a base but not the one you'll be getting on for the graduation. From that station (facing the base) turn left. At the first light turn right. Go straight til you get to the base (you'll see it). It will be on your left. If you get to the railroad tracks you passed it.

I don't travel Chicago so I don't know much about traveling. I do know John took the Metra station across from the one base to I'm not sure what exact stop but then he got a taxi to Midway. He said the taxi ride from the point he got off the train to Midway cost him $40. If you do decide to ride the train to the station across from the base there will be taxis there waiting. I've been by there many times (that is the entrance I use for medical) and there have always been taxis there.

Good luck ladies and I hope you have fun. Dress warm cause the weather is cold and snowy lately. Hopefully, it will be better when you guys get here. :)

I think they can actually get off the metra right there on the same side of the street as the recruit base. The overpass is right by the recruit base. They don't have to get off across the street from the hospital gate. KWIM? But definitely bring cold weather clothes.

u can rent a car:) you just have to pay an extra fee a day and honestly that will be MUCH easier...when i went last february i was only 20 so i couldnt rent a car and let me tell you it got stressful and expensive and that wwas only one day when his parents werent with us that we had to get around:)

oh PS ive never been that cold in my entire life so bring WARM clothes

I think they can actually get off the metra right there on the same side of the street as the recruit base. The overpass is right by the recruit base. They don't have to get off across the street from the hospital gate. KWIM? But definitely bring cold weather clothes.

Ya, I don't know if it stops right there or not. I know when John rode it I took him to the station across from the one base.

Ya, I don't know if it stops right there or not. I know when John rode it I took him to the station across from the one base.

Well something stops there:puzz There are stairs and I always see people using them.:lmao I suppose it would be something to look into. Unless someone else already knows for sure.

So your going?! Cool..im going by myself too and im only 20 so i am to young to rent a car. I had set up a bus trip to chicago then from the union station you take the Metra Union Pacific to great lakes which they say is across from RTC...idk about that trip im trying my hardest to get a car and just drive. Im leavin from ohio where u leavin from??

I'm leaving from Philly, but you couldn't PAY me to drive that trip. I'm flying into Midway, then I think taking the subway system to the metra station, then catching the train up to great lakes. At least, this is the plan. Maybe I'll see you on the train!

Yea maybe i should look into a flight also... And yea maybe i will see you on the train lol. Are u ariving on the 17th too? Which hotel were you thinking about booking?

I'm leaving from Philly, but you couldn't PAY me to drive that trip. I'm flying into Midway, then I think taking the subway system to the metra station, then catching the train up to great lakes. At least, this is the plan. Maybe I'll see you on the train!

Yea maybe i should look into a flight also... And yea maybe i will see you on the train lol. Are u ariving on the 17th too? Which hotel were you thinking about booking?

Yeah, the plan is to show up on the 17th. I'm looking into staying at the "Sleep Inn" because it seems pretty close and pretty cheap. But I cant book yet because I havent yet let him know that it'll only be me coming, and not his mommy too. I feel like it'd be rude, haha.

Lol yeah. When i talked to Que he said that he only got Friday and Saturday and not sunday because thats the day they were heading to Flordia...Did Casey say anything about that?

Yeah, the plan is to show up on the 17th. I'm looking into staying at the "Sleep Inn" because it seems pretty close and pretty cheap. But I cant book yet because I havent yet let him know that it'll only be me coming, and not his mommy too. I feel like it'd be rude, haha.

I'm leaving from Philly, but you couldn't PAY me to drive that trip. I'm flying into Midway, then I think taking the subway system to the metra station, then catching the train up to great lakes. At least, this is the plan. Maybe I'll see you on the train!

you will have to take a train to the city, then from the city take the metra up, the metra is well with in walking distance to the base but not any hotels in winter. i would make sure there is a cab around waiting. dress warmly girls.

Lol yeah. When i talked to Que he said that he only got Friday and Saturday and not sunday because thats the day they were heading to Flordia...Did Casey say anything about that?

No, but Casey is spacey like that. He'll tell me all about the cake he's eating and what kind of cereal, but he wont tell me the important things. God, I'd kill for another phone call so I could get this all straightened out! Thanks for the tip, though, I'll ask him when I talk to him again. Ugh! So complicated.

Most taxi's will charge between 30 and 60 dollars. I would do that IMO over a train because atleast the taxi will take you to the hotel you will be at where as the train won't. Your best bet is to look up the taxi companies and call before leaving home

Shuttle is 35 bucks from the airport to the base. I had to get my hubby a shuttle when we lived in Great Lakes

There is always "jam van" or shuttles that charges anywhere between 35-45 bucks from midway or ohare, if you find people to come with you maybe can split it. I am not sure if they charge that price per person. The vans are also parked around the stop-off where the metra station is in great lakes, so it won't be too hard to find one if you get off the metra going to your hotel first. They are everywhere where there is recruits and students.

when i came to DH graduation (8 yrs ago) i rode the greyhound, and we we're actually dropped off in front of RTC gate, but i don't think they do that anymore...i think that waukegan is the closest you can get off and take a cab to great lakes, it is very very close if you decide to take a greyhound.

I also think that renting a car is the best option, bc it will get pretty expensive taking a cab everywhere...

I have family in philly and we esp hate driving there and back...its a pain!

my hotel was in waukegan:) where there is nothing much else BUT hotels lol

Lol yeah. When i talked to Que he said that he only got Friday and Saturday and not sunday because thats the day they were heading to Flordia...Did Casey say anything about that?


thats going to change with every recruit some will only have a few hours some will leave RIGHT after grad i got lucky and got three days with my ex:)

Yea i know what you mean lol

No, but Casey is spacey like that. He'll tell me all about the cake he's eating and what kind of cereal, but he wont tell me the important things. God, I'd kill for another phone call so I could get this all straightened out! Thanks for the tip, though, I'll ask him when I talk to him again. Ugh! So complicated.

Ok. So after I lost my mind for a bit yesterday I drove by base today. There is a station that is on the same side of base. I seem to forget about it since you can barely see it from the rode. Really all you can see are the stairs and then part of a building but I'm not sure if it is even the metra building. There is a sign that says "train from Chicago" so I'm guessing that you can catch that one from somewhere in Chicago.

My advice is to find out where your hotel is and ride the train, if you opt that way, to the closet station to it and then catch a taxi. I couldn't see any taxis at the one on the same side of the rode as the base but there might be some there.

I saw a taxi today that said Gurnee to O'Hare (Gurnee is past base. This is where Gurnee Mills mall is) is $44. Their website is www.americantaxi.com (http://www.americantaxi.com).

Sorry for the confusion ladies. Good Luck and I hope you all have a great time. :)

Ok. So after I lost my mind for a bit yesterday I drove by base today. There is a station that is on the same side of base. I seem to forget about it since you can barely see it from the rode. Really all you can see are the stairs and then part of a building but I'm not sure if it is even the metra building. There is a sign that says "train from Chicago" so I'm guessing that you can catch that one from somewhere in Chicago.

My advice is to find out where your hotel is and ride the train, if you opt that way, to the closet station to it and then catch a taxi. I couldn't see any taxis at the one on the same side of the rode as the base but there might be some there.

I saw a taxi today that said Gurnee to O'Hare (Gurnee is past base. This is where Gurnee Mills mall is) is $44. Their website is www.americantaxi.com (http://www.americantaxi.com).

Sorry for the confusion ladies. Good Luck and I hope you all have a great time. :)

Ok. So after I lost my mind for a bit yesterday I drove by base today. There is a station that is on the same side of base. I seem to forget about it since you can barely see it from the rode. Really all you can see are the stairs and then part of a building but I'm not sure if it is even the metra building. There is a sign that says "train from Chicago" so I'm guessing that you can catch that one from somewhere in Chicago.

My advice is to find out where your hotel is and ride the train, if you opt that way, to the closet station to it and then catch a taxi. I couldn't see any taxis at the one on the same side of the rode as the base but there might be some there.

I saw a taxi today that said Gurnee to O'Hare (Gurnee is past base. This is where Gurnee Mills mall is) is $44. Their website is www.americantaxi.com (http://www.americantaxi.com).

Sorry for the confusion ladies. Good Luck and I hope you all have a great time. :)