The Chicago Transit Authority is an excellent choice for traveling to this year’s fireworks displays. The fireworks shows will be held on Sunday, July 4 at Foster Avenue Beach, 63rd Street Beach and Navy Pier beginning at approximately 9 p.m.
CTA buses and trains will operate on the Sunday/holiday schedule on July 4. However, additional service will be provided for crowds leaving the Taste of Chicago which closes at 6 p.m. Beginning in the evening, more frequent service and extended hours will be provided on buses and trains to accommodate the anticipated crowds heading to the fireworks displays.
Due to street closures, reroutes will be in effect for bus routes serving each venue so customers should plan ahead and allow plenty of travel time. Details for service at each location are provided in the sections below.
To speed travel and reduce lines, customers are encouraged to buy farecards in advance with sufficient value or to add enough value to their existing farecards (either the Chicago Card or magnetic strip Transit Card) for their return trips later in the day.
Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $2.00 to ride. For rail customers or customers who pay cash on the bus, the fare is $2.25. Customers who use magnetic strip cards or other CTA fare media may transfer for a 25 cent fee. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.
For details about all CTA service call 836-7000 (all local area codes) or visit the CTA web site at
www.transitchicago.com to use the travel planner feature.
July 4th Fireworks – Foster Avenue Beach
IMPORTANT NOTE: CTA service will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Sunday, July 4; however beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m., additional service will be provided on several bus routes to accommodate the anticipated increases in ridership.
Street Closures, Bus Service and Bus Reroutes
- Additional bus service will be provided on the following routes: #78 Montrose, #81 Lawrence, #84 Peterson, #92 Foster and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan.
- Service will be extended on the #84 Peterson route. Eastbound service will operate approximately every 20 minutes until 8:30 p.m. from Central/Caldwell. Westbound service will be extended until one hour after the end of the fireworks operating from Bryn Mawr between Sheridan and Lake Shore Drive.
- Service on the #92 Foster route will be extended. Eastbound service will operate approximately every 15-20 minutes until 8:30 p.m. from Jefferson Park. Westbound service will be extended until one hour after the fireworks end from Foster/Sheridan.
- From 6 p.m. until approximately 11 p.m., Montrose, Wilson and Lawrence between Broadway and Outer Lake Shore Drive will be closed to eastbound traffic for the July 4 fireworks display at Foster/Montrose Beach.
- During this time, CTA’s #78 Montrose and #81 Lawrence will undergo reroutes. In addition, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express and #147 Outer Drive Express buses also may be rerouted if crowds warrant. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
- Eastbound #78 buses will travel over the regular route to Wilson/Sheridan then will operate via Sheridan to Montrose to Broadway and then resume the regular route. Westbound buses are not impacted and will travel over the regular route.
- Eastbound #81 Lawrence buses will travel over the regular route to Lawrence/Sheridan then will operate via Sheridan Wilson, Broadway then return to Lawrence and resume the regular route. Westbound buses are not impacted and will travel over the regular route.
Buses operating on the #92 Foster, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express and #147 Outer Drive Express routes will not be able to travel farther east than Sheridan Road. Customers traveling to Foster Avenue Beach should be prepared to walk from Sheridan Avenue to the lakefront.
Adjustments to bus reroutes may be required if additional streets are closed due to crowded conditions.
Post Fireworks Bus Boarding Locations
Following the fireworks, additional street closures may be in effect so CTA buses will be awaiting customers at the following boarding locations:
- #78 Montrose will board on Montrose between Marine Drive and Clarendon
- #81 Lawrence will board at Marine Drive north of Wilson
- #84 Peterson buses will board on Bryn Mawr east of Sheridan
- #92 Foster buses will board on Foster west of Sheridan
- #146, #147 and #151 buses will board on the northwest corner of Sheridan/Berwyn
July 4th Fireworks – 63rd Street Beach
IMPORTANT NOTE: CTA service will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Sunday, July 4; however beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m., additional service will be provided on several bus routes to accommodate the anticipated increases in ridership.
Bicycles are not allowed on CTA trains on July 4. In addition, as a courtesy to other customers, strollers must be folded on buses and trains.
Street Closures, Bus Service and Bus Reroutes
- Additional service will be provided on the following bus routes: #6 Jackson Park Express, #14 Jeffery Express, #15 Jeffery Local, #28 Stony Island, #47 47th, #55 Garfield, #63 63rd #67 67th/69th/71st, 71 71st/South Shore, #75 74th/75th and #79 79th.
- Service on the #14 Jeffery Express route will operate until approximately one hour after the fireworks end. Customers may board buses along the regular route.
- From 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday July 4, South Lake Shore Drive between 57th Street and 67th Street, Jeffery between 67th Street and South Lake Shore Drive, Hayes Street between South Lake Shore Drive and Cornell and Marquette between 67th Street and Cornell will be closed to all traffic for the fireworks display at 63rd Street Beach.
- During this time, #14 Jeffery Express, #55 Garfield, #63 63rd and #67 67th/69th/71st buses will undergo reroute. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
- Southbound #14 Jeffery Express buses will travel over the regular route to South Lake Shore Drive/47th then will operate via 47th, Lake Park, 56th, Stony Island, 67th then return to Jeffery and travel over the regular route. Northbound buses will travel the reverse route.
- Eastbound #55 Garfield buses will travel over the regular route past Lake Park/55th to 57th then will operate via 57th, Stony Island, 56th, Lake Park before beginning the westbound trip. Westbound buses will leave from Lake Park/55th and travel over the regular route.
- Eastbound #63 63rd buses will travel over the regular route to 63rd/Dorchester then will operate via Dorchester, 64th, Blackstone then end the route at Blackstone/63rd. Westbound buses will begin the return route north on Blackstone to 63rd and travel over the regular route.
- Eastbound #67 67th/69th/71st buses will operate over the regular route to 67th/Stony Island then turn right and travel to 69th Place turning left onto northbound Stony Island to 67th for end of route. Westbound buses will travel over 67th Street along the regular route.
Buses operating on the #63 63rd route will not be able to travel farther east than Dorchester Avenue. Customers traveling to 63rd Street beach should be prepared to walk from Dorchester Avenue to the lakefront.
Adjustments to bus reroutes may be required if additional streets are closed due to crowded conditions.
Post Fireworks Boarding locations
Following the fireworks, additional street closures may be in effect so CTA buses will be awaiting customers at the following boarding locations:
- #6 Jackson Park Express and #14 Jeffery Express buses will board at the southwest corner of 67th Jeffery
- #55 Garfield buses will board north of the Museum of Science & Industry
- #63 63rd buses will board at the northwest corner of 63rd/Dorchester
- #67 67th/69th/71st buses will board at the bus terminal on 67th South Shore Drive
July 4th Fireworks – Navy Pier
IMPORTANT NOTE: CTA service will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Sunday, July 4; however beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m., additional service will be provided on several bus routes to accommodate the anticipated increases in ridership.
Street Closures, Bus service and Bus Reroutes
Following the fireworks on July 4, extra service will be provided along four routes that regularly serve Navy Pier: #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago and #124 Navy Pier.
- #29 State buses will operate until 12:30 a.m. from Navy Pier.
- #66 Chicago buses will operate until 12 a.m. from Navy Pier.
- #65 Grand buses will leave Navy Pier to Grand/Nordica after the fireworks until 1:30 a.m.
- #124 Navy Pier buses will operate until 12 a.m. from Navy Pier.
- Additional bus service also will be provided on the following routes: #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #12 Roosevelt, #14 Jeffery Express, #20 Madison, #23 Clark, #56 Milwaukee, #60 Blue Island/26th, #126 Jackson, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan.
Post Fireworks Boarding Locations
Following the fireworks, the following street closures may be in effect so CTA buses will be awaiting customers at the following boarding locations:
- #29 State buses will board at the south entrance in front of the Navy Pier headhouse
- #65 Grand buses will board on the east side of the CTA bus terminal.
- #66 Chicago buses will board on the west side of the CTA bus terminal
- #124 Navy Pier buses will board at the front of the Navy Pier headhouse
Rail Service – July 4th Fireworks Events
The Taste of Chicago will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 4 and the fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Bicycles are not allowed on trains Sunday, July 4. Also, as a courtesy to other customers, strollers must be folded on CTA buses and trains. Additional CTA personnel will be on duty at Loop rail stations to help customers and to provide travel information.
Blue Line
Longer trains will operate between O’Hare and Forest Park
Pink Line
Longer trains and more frequent service between the Loop and 54th/Cermak will operate until approximately 1:30 a.m.
Red Line
Longer trains and more frequent service will operate between 95th/Dan Ryan and Howard until 1:30 a.m.
Green Line
Longer trains and more frequent service will be provided until approximately 1:30 a.m. from the Loop to Harlem, East 63rd/Cottage Grove and Ashland/63rd.
Brown Line
Longer trains and more frequent service will be provided until 1:30 a.m. from the Loop to Kimball.
Orange Line
Longer trains and more frequent service will be provided until 1:30 a.m. between Midway and the Loop.
Yellow Line (connections at Howard with Red Line trains serving downtown)
Extended service hours will operate until 1:15 a.m. from Howard to Skokie.
Purple Line (connections at Howard with Red Line trains serving downtown)
Longer trains and more frequent service will operate until 1:22 a.m. from Howard to Linden.
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