You’ve heard of Chicago, but where is Evanston? Evanston, a suburb of Chicago, is about 15 miles north of downtown. The Northwestern University campus is beautifully situated along Lake Michigan in southeast Evanston. If you live in Evanston, getting to campus is easy, you can walk or drive to class (the latter provided you live outside of what NU parking considers a “designated walking zone”).
But what if you want, or need, to live downtown? Luckily there are a few options. If you have a car and would like to drive to class, make sure you get a parking permit from NU parking. Many commuter students purchase the nine-month parking permit but you can also purchase a permit for the whole year (including summer). It is important to note that there are no “permit machines” or boxes from which you can purchase a daily permit. You should visit NU Parking for permits. If you don’t have a car or prefer not to drive, you can take the CTA train. Depending on where you live, you may have to switch lines. The downtown Evanston stop is a short 15-minute walk to campus. The third option is the Northwestern intercampus shuttle. It leaves from the NU Chicago campus and makes a few stops before arriving in Evanston. This is a free service offered to NU students – you just have to show your NU student ID card. As you can see, there are many travel options. It is really just a matter of your preference.
……….Kristine Britt
