Bears vs Browns parking at Soldier Field - a little guide and some tips

hey everyone, with the browns game coming up on the 14th figured i'd share some parking advice for soldier field. getting in and out of there can be a real headache if you don't have a plan.

honestly the best thing ive found recently is this app called Prked. you can rent someones private driveway or garage right next to Soldier Field for the game. its way cheaper than the official lots and you park in a residential spot so you completely skip the insane traffic jam getting out of the main lots after the game. it's a short walk and saves a ton of stress.

if you want to do the official lots, your main options are the North Garage, South Lot, and Waldron Deck. you absolutely need to buy a pass online beforehand and they are not cheap. these are your best bet if you want to tailgate, especially the South Lot. the lots open four hours before kickoff so get there early to claim a spot. just be warned getting out of these lots, especially waldron, can take forever.

a lot of people think about parking at the millennium park or grant park garages. for concerts they sometimes have shuttles, but for Bears games there is NO shuttle service from those garages. a better bet is the 31st street McCormick Place lot (Lot B). its cheaper and they have a dedicated shuttle bus that takes you to and from the stadium.

public transport is honestly a great option if you don't want to drive. the easiest way is taking the CTA red, green, or orange line to the Roosevelt stop. from there its about a 15 minute walk to the stadium. there are also buses that drop you off right there. the #146 runs from downtown and the #128 Soldier Field Express is a special route that goes directly from the Ogilvie and Union Station train stations, which is perfect if you're taking a metra train in from the suburbs.

some random tips from a guy who's been to a million games:

get there EARLY. i can't say this enough. traffic on lake shore drive and I-55 gets nuts on game day. if you're not in your spot a few hours before kickoff, you're gonna be stressed.

if you do drive and tailgate, know the rules. they are pretty strict. you have to keep your setup tight to your car, no open fires, and absolutely no tents.

a great local tip is to park near a bar called Reggie's on State Street. they have a free shuttle bus that takes you to and from the game. you can grab a beer and some food and not have to worry about the stadium traffic at all.

leaving the stadium is a mess. all the exits are small and it's a huge bottleneck. sometimes i just hang out in my seat for 20-30 minutes after the game ends to let the biggest rush of people leave. it makes the walk out much more pleasant.

anyway, hope this helps some of you out. should be a great game, Go Bears