Closest hotels to Grant Park for the Chicago Marathon

Grant Park anchors the Bank of America Chicago Marathon finish line, and the hotels along South Michigan Avenue put you within a few minutes on foot. The five properties below were chosen for proximity to the park, star rating, and the kind of amenities that matter after race day: a restaurant on-site, a gym for shakeout runs, and enough room to spread out. Expo arrivals on Thursday and Friday will find all five within easy reach of McCormick Place.

How proximity was measured

Grant Park stretches along Michigan Avenue from Randolph Street south to Roosevelt Road. The finish line area for the marathon is near the northern end of the park. Walking distances below are measured from each hotel's front door to the park entrance on Michigan Avenue, at an average pace of 20 minutes per mile. Hotels with a 0.00-mile figure in the source data were cross-checked against their street addresses: Hilton Chicago at 720 S Michigan Ave is directly across the street from the park, Travelodge at 65 E Harrison St is one block west and two blocks south, and Best Western Grant Park Hotel at 1100 S Michigan Ave is about six blocks south of the main finish area, which puts it closer to 0.5 miles on foot.

Hotels near Grant Park at a glance

Hotels near Grant Park: what each property offers runners

Hilton Chicago is the closest full-service option, directly across Michigan Avenue from the park. The hotel has a pool, a gym, and multiple restaurants, which covers most recovery needs without leaving the building. The Blackstone, Autograph Collection is a 4-star property two blocks north of the Hilton on Michigan Avenue. The restored 1910 building has a fitness center and a bar, and the location puts you at the park's edge in a 5-minute walk. Congress Plaza Hotel is an independent 3-star property at 520 S Michigan Ave, one block north of the Blackstone. It is the most affordable option on Michigan Avenue with direct park views, and the location is hard to beat for the price. Sentral Michigan Avenue at 808 S Michigan Ave offers apartment-style suites with kitchenettes, which suits runners who want to prep their own pre-race meals. The guest score of 9.8 is the highest on this list. Le Méridien Essex Chicago at 800 S Michigan Ave is a Marriott-brand 4-star hotel with a restaurant, gym, and spa. It shares a block with Sentral and is 6 minutes from the park on foot.

The hotels

Hilton Chicago 720 S Michigan Ave 8.02,229 reviews 7 min walk to Jackson (Red/Blue)At 720 S Michigan Ave, the Hilton Chicago is the closest full-service hotel to Grant Park on this list, with a pool and gym that make post-race recovery straightforward without leaving the building. View hotel → Congress Plaza Hotel 520 South Michigan Avenue 7.8895 reviews 3 min walk to Harrison (Red)Congress Plaza Hotel is the mid-range option on Michigan Avenue with direct park-facing rooms, making it the most accessible price point for runners who want to be on the course corridor without paying 4-star rates. View hotel → The Blackstone, Autograph Collection 636 S Michigan Ave 8.8427 reviews 4 min walk to Harrison (Red)The Blackstone earns its place as the highest-rated 4-star property within 0.24 miles of Grant Park, with a guest score of 8.8 and a Michigan Avenue address that puts the finish line area 5 minutes away on foot. View hotel → Sentral Michigan Avenue 808 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE 9.82,667 reviews 5 min walk to Harrison (Red)Sentral Michigan Avenue offers apartment-style suites with kitchenettes at 808 S Michigan Ave, which gives runners control over pre-race nutrition, and its guest score of 9.8 is the highest of any property within 0.28 miles of the park. View hotel → Le Méridien Essex Chicago 800 S Michigan Ave 8.4168 reviews 5 min walk to Harrison (Red)Le Méridien Essex Chicago rounds out the list as the second 4-star option on Michigan Avenue, adding a spa for post-race recovery and a full restaurant, at 0.30 miles from Grant Park. View hotel →

Planning a longer stay? See all our Chicago hotel guides.