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 the expo site in Grant Park.

How we measured the walk to the Chicago Marathon finish line

Grant Park stretches along Michigan Avenue from Randolph Street south to Roosevelt Road, and the marathon's finish line area is near the park's northern end. Walking distances below are measured from each hotel's front door to the park entrance on Michigan Avenue nearest the finish area, at an average pace of 20 minutes per mile. Here is where each hotel sits on that stretch:

• Hilton Chicago: at 720 S Michigan Ave, directly across the street from the park.
• Congress Plaza Hotel: at 520 S Michigan Ave, one block north of the Blackstone, with direct park-facing views.
• The Blackstone, Autograph Collection: at 636 S Michigan Ave, a 5-minute walk to the park's edge.
• Sentral Michigan Avenue: at 808 S Michigan Ave, about 6 minutes on foot from the finish area.
• Le Méridien Essex Chicago: at 800 S Michigan Ave, sharing a block with Sentral and 6 minutes from the park on foot.

Hotels near the Chicago Marathon at a glance

Chicago Marathon hotels: 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, covering most recovery needs without leaving the building.

The Blackstone, Autograph Collection is a 4-star property in a restored 1910 building with a fitness center and bar. It sits on Michigan Avenue at 636 S, a 5-minute walk to the park's edge, and carries the second-highest guest score on this list at 8.8.

Congress Plaza Hotel is an independent 3-star property at 520 S Michigan Ave with direct park-facing rooms. It is the most accessible price point for runners who want to be on the course corridor, and it is 0.25 miles from the finish area.

Sentral Michigan Avenue at 808 S Michigan Ave offers apartment-style suites with kitchenettes for runners who want to prep their own pre-race meals. Its 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 for post-race recovery, sharing a block with Sentral and 6 minutes from the park on foot.

Chicago Marathon hotel picks

The five hotels above cover the full length of South Michigan Avenue from 520 to 808, all within a 6-minute walk of Grant Park. Proximity to the finish line is the clearest advantage: on race morning, when Michigan Avenue closes and rideshares become unreliable, a 2-to-6-minute walk is the difference between a relaxed start and a stressful one.

Race weekend is a poor time to discover a parking rule. Do I need a car in Chicago answers that before you book, and Chicago travel tips covers the CTA and the October weather. If South Michigan Avenue is beyond budget on marathon weekend, cheap hotels in Chicago is the wider list.

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 for post-race recovery 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 sits on Michigan Avenue at 520 S with direct park-facing rooms, the most accessible price point for runners who want to be on the course corridor. View hotel → The Blackstone, Autograph Collection 636 S Michigan Ave 8.8427 reviews 4 min walk to Harrison (Red)The Blackstone is a restored 1910 property at 636 S Michigan Ave, 0.24 miles from Grant Park, with a guest score of 8.8 and a fitness center for shakeout runs. 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, giving runners control over pre-race nutrition, with a guest score of 9.8. View hotel → Le Méridien Essex Chicago 800 S Michigan Ave 8.4168 reviews 5 min walk to Harrison (Red)Le Méridien Essex Chicago at 800 S Michigan Ave is a 4-star Marriott property with a spa and full restaurant, 0.30 miles from Grant Park and 6 minutes on foot from the finish area. View hotel →

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