One of the more underappreciated advantages of renting in River North is how short the commute to downtown actually is. The neighborhood sits just north of the Chicago River, which means the Loop is not across town — it is across the water. For renters who work downtown, that proximity translates into some of the fastest and most flexible commute options available anywhere on Chicago’s North Side.
Here is a practical breakdown of every commute route worth knowing.
The Red Line: Fastest Route to the Loop and Streeterville
The Grand station on the Red Line is the primary transit anchor for River North residents, located at State and Grand. From here, the Red Line reaches the Loop in under five minutes, making it one of the fastest transit commutes from any North Side neighborhood to downtown.
The Red Line runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is the detail that matters most for residents who work non-standard hours. Early morning hospital shifts, late-night hospitality work, and everything in between is covered without needing to plan around a service window. For residents of PPM Apartment’s River North locations: 750 N. Rush, 100 W. Chestnut, and 55 W. Chestnut, red line stations such as the Chicago Avenue station and the Grand Red Line station are a short walk from all three buildings.
For commuters heading to Streeterville, the Northwestern Memorial Hospital campus, or the Magnificent Mile office corridor, the Red Line’s Chicago Avenue station one stop north of Grand provides a useful alternative boarding point.
The Brown and Purple Lines: A Different Path Downtown
The Merchandise Mart station at 350 N. Wells serves the Brown and Purple Lines and sits on the southern edge of River North directly at the river. The Brown Line loops through the elevated structure downtown, stopping at all Loop stations via Wells, Lake, Wabash, and Van Buren. For commuters whose offices are on the west or north side of the Loop, the Brown Line’s routing often delivers a more direct connection than the Red Line.
The Purple Line Express supplements the Brown Line during weekday rush hours, adding capacity and speed on the inbound morning run. The Merchandise Mart station also puts riders within a short walk of Clark/Lake, one of the most connected stations in the entire CTA system where six lines converge.
Bus Routes Worth Knowing
Several bus routes running through River North provide useful options for commuters whose destinations are not directly on a rail line.
The 22 Clark bus runs north-south along Clark Street through the neighborhood and connects south to the Loop. The 65 Grand bus runs east-west and connects eastward toward Streeterville and Navy Pier. The 36 Broadway and 156 LaSalle buses provide additional downtown-bound coverage depending on where in River North you are starting from.
For shorter trips within the immediate area, buses fill the gaps that the rail lines leave, particularly for destinations along Michigan Avenue or the eastern edge of the Loop.
Walking to the Loop
It is worth stating plainly: for many River North residents, the downtown commute is simply a walk. The Loop’s northern edge at Lake Street is approximately a fifteen or twenty minute walk from most of the neighborhood. The Chicago Riverwalk provides a scenic and direct pedestrian route, and Michigan Avenue and LaSalle Street are reliable walking corridors with wide sidewalks and direct routing.
Longtime River North residents who work in the northern Loop, the Merchandise Mart area, or the River North edge of the business district frequently describe walking as their default commute. The distance that looks significant on a map feels negligible once you have done it a few times.
Cycling and Divvy Bike Share
Divvy bike-share stations are well distributed throughout River North, and protected bike lanes on several downtown streets make cycling a practical commute option for residents who prefer it. The Riverwalk path provides a traffic-free route toward the Loop and connects to the lakefront trail for riders whose offices are further east or south.
Rush-hour cycling from River North to most Loop destinations takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes. For residents who want the flexibility of cycling without the commitment of owning a bike, the Divvy monthly membership covers unlimited 45-minute rides, which is more than enough for most downtown commutes.
The Chicago Water Taxi: A Seasonal Option
From spring through fall, the Chicago Water Taxi offers a genuinely enjoyable commute alternative for residents near the river. The water taxi runs along the Chicago River connecting stops at Michigan Avenue, Riverwalk, Madison Street, and Ogilvie Transportation Center among others. It is slower than the L and operates seasonally, but for residents who value the experience of the commute as much as the speed of it, the water taxi is one of those River North perks that visitors and newcomers consistently find memorable.
Find River North Apartments Near Downtown With PPM
All three PPM River North properties sit within easy reach of the Chicago Avenue Red Line station, the Grand Red Line station, the Merchandise Mart Brown and Purple Line station, and the downtown walking and cycling routes described here. Browse River North apartments from PPM to compare available units and ask the leasing team about each building’s specific proximity to the transit options that matter most for your commute.
