Whether you're coming from across the country or across the world, here's how to reach the unique Hegewisch neighborhood on the far southeast side of Chicago.
From Within the United States
By Car
If driving, take I-94 East towards Chicago. Take Exit 73A to merge onto I-90 East towards Indianapolis. Use the right 2 lanes to take Exit 92B for Stony Island Ave/IL-83. Keep right and follow the signs for Stony Island Ave S/IL-83 S. After about 7 miles, turn right onto E 130th St. Hegewisch is the area just east of the Bishop Ford Freeway.
By Train
Take Amtrak or Metra's Electric District line towards Chicago's Millennium Station downtown. From there, take the CTA Red Line south to 63rd St, then transfer to the Metra Electric District line towards South Chicago/Chicago Ridge. Get off at the Hegewisch station.
By Air
Fly into Chicago's O'Hare or Midway airports. From O'Hare, take the CTA Blue Line downtown and transfer to the Red Line south, getting off at 63rd St to connect to the Metra Electric District line to Hegewisch. From Midway, take the CTA Orange Line towards downtown and follow the same connection.
From Outside the United States
By Air
Most international visitors will fly into Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Once you've gone through customs and immigration, follow the signs for CTA trains and catch the Blue Line towards Forest Park. Take it downtown to Washington St and transfer to the Red Line south. Follow the Red Line to 63rd St and connect to the Metra Electric District train to Hegewisch as described above.
By Land
It's possible to drive to Hegewisch from Canada by taking I-90 East across Michigan and Indiana before connecting to Chicago's expressway network. From Mexico, I-55 North provides the most direct route up through central Illinois.
Having Mobile Connectivity
It's important to have a working mobile phone with data connectivity when traveling to access maps, navigation and other helpful travel apps. For visitors coming from outside the United States, you have a couple options. You can purchase a prepaid US SIM card from most mobile carriers at the airport or other locations. This will allow you to get a U.S. phone number and data plan for using maps, translation apps, etc. while in Chicago.
eSIM Solution
An increasingly popular option is to use an eSIM data plan, which is a digital SIM that gets installed on your phone software without a physical SIM card. The advantages of eSIM include:
- Quick activation of mobile data service for your trip duration
- Avoiding the need to physically remove your home SIM card
- Simple setup process right on your phone
Some of the top eSIM providers for U.S. travel include Airalo, Ubigi, Nomad and Holafly. Simply purchase an eSIM plan through their app before arriving, and it will be ready to activate mobile data for navigating to Hegewisch.If you need help deciding which eSIM provider to use for your trip, check out this guide that reviews the best international eSIM options. It can guide you in choosing an eSIM plan that fits your needs and destination.
No matter where you're coming from, Hegewisch offers an interesting glimpse into Chicago's rich cultural tapestry and industrial heritage. This tight-knit neighborhood is well worth the trip!