The short answer: for Halloween in Chicago, walk the Riverwalk at dusk and let the water taxi be your ride back. Start at the Michigan Avenue dock (400 N Michigan Ave) in the late afternoon, cross the DuSable Bridge, stroll west along the Riverwalk as the sun goes down (around 5:45 PM on October 31), then board the Main Branch water taxi at Ogilvie/Union for the trip back to Michigan Avenue or on to Chinatown. The one rule that matters: service runs only until mid-evening, so check the last departure from your return dock in the trip planner before you start walking. A one-way ride is $10 between any two docks.
In This Guide
- Halloween river evening at a glance
- Timing is everything: sunset vs the last boat
- The dusk stroll and water taxi return, step by step
- Three Halloween routes by group
- The three Main Branch docks
- Costumes, kids, and cold weather
- Fares, tickets, and accessibility
- The same plan later in the fall
- What this route does not include
- Frequently asked questions
Halloween River Evening at a Glance
| What you need to know | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is the water taxi running on Halloween? | Yes, in a normal year. The season generally runs March through the end of December | FAQ |
| Until what time? | Until mid-evening. Exact departures are in the trip planner | FAQ |
| When is sunset on October 31? | Around 5:45 PM Central Daylight Time | Standard solar calculation for Chicago |
| Where do I start? | Michigan Avenue dock, 400 N Michigan Ave, by the Wrigley Building | Michigan Ave dock page |
| Where do I board for the return? | Ogilvie/Union dock, at the northwest corner of the Madison Street Bridge | West Loop dock page |
| How long is the ride? | About 25 to 45 minutes end to end, depending on the dock pair | Main Branch route |
| Rain? | The water taxis run rain or shine | FAQ |
Chicago Water Taxi is ferry-style river transportation between fixed docks, not a narrated or themed Halloween tour. We can speak to the docks, the route, and the boats. For Halloween parades, displays, and parties, check the city's current event listings for your date, then use the water taxi to connect the pieces of your evening.
Timing Is Everything: Sunset vs the Last Boat
A Halloween river evening lives inside a short window. On October 31, Chicago's sunset falls around 5:45 PM, and the city is fully dark well before 7 PM. Chicago Water Taxi service runs until mid-evening, per the FAQ, and departure times vary by dock. Put those together and you get the planning rule for this route: walk at dusk, ride in the early evening, and know your last boat before you leave the dock.
Halloween also lands on a different weekday each year, and that changes the start of service: mid-morning on weekdays, late morning on weekends. A weekday Halloween means commuter traffic around Ogilvie and Union Station in the early evening; a weekend Halloween usually means busier sidewalks and Riverwalk crowds. Either way, the trip planner on chicagowatertaxi.com is the final word for your date.
The Dusk Stroll and Water Taxi Return, Step by Step
- Around 4 PM: check the trip planner. Write down the last departure from Ogilvie/Union (or from Chinatown, if you plan to go there). Everything else in the evening is built backward from that time.
- Around 4:30 PM: start at the Michigan Avenue dock. The dock sits on the north bank between the Wrigley Building and Trump International Hotel & Tower. The long, continuous Riverwalk is on the south bank, so cross the DuSable Bridge to begin.
- Around 5 to 6 PM: stroll west at dusk. The Riverwalk runs west to Lake Street, through the Marina, the Cove, the River Theater steps, the Water Plaza, and the Jetty. Golden hour on the river and the first building lights coming on are the reason to walk this stretch now rather than at noon. The walk is under a mile, roughly 20 to 30 minutes at an easy pace.
- Walk to the Ogilvie/Union dock. From the Riverwalk's end at Lake Street, follow Wacker Drive a few blocks south to Madison Street and cross the Madison Street Bridge. The dock is at the bridge's northwest corner, beside 2 Riverside Plaza.
- Ride the water taxi back. Board a Main Branch boat to Michigan Avenue and see the lit-up river from the water. Michigan Avenue is the end of the route, so everyone gets off there, per the route page. You are back at the Magnificent Mile for dinner, without walking the same stretch twice.
The times above are a template, not a schedule. If the last departure on your date is earlier than you expected, simply flip the plan: ride first from Michigan Avenue to Ogilvie/Union, then walk the Riverwalk east at dusk back to where you started. You still get both views, and there is no boat to catch at the end.
Three Halloween Routes by Group
| Group | Route | Rides | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couples and friends | Dusk Riverwalk stroll west, water taxi from Ogilvie/Union back to Michigan Ave, dinner in River North | 1 one-way ($10 each) | Sunset on foot, city lights from the water, dinner near the dock |
| Families in costume | Ride Michigan Ave to Ogilvie/Union in the afternoon, walk the Riverwalk east back to Michigan Ave before dark | 1 one-way ($10; 3 and under free) | The boat comes first while kids have energy, and the walk ends where you started |
| Chinatown dinner | Ride Michigan Ave to Chinatown for an early dinner, return by water taxi if you make the last boat, or by CTA Red Line from Cermak-Chinatown if you do not | 1 or 2 one-way | The full Main Branch, with a built-in backup that does not depend on the boat |
For the Chinatown option, the Chinatown dock page places the stop at the Pagoda in Ping Tom Memorial Park and lists nearby restaurants. The Chinatown food and souvenirs guide has more ideas for what to do once you arrive.
The Three Main Branch Docks
All three stops on the Main Branch connect with no transfer:
- Michigan Ave, 400 N Michigan Ave. Walkable to 360 Chicago, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, River North, Streeterville, and the Magnificent Mile. CTA: Red Line to Grand, or the elevated lines to State/Lake (dock page).
- Ogilvie/Union, South Branch at the Madison Street Bridge. Near the Lyric Opera House, the Willis Tower Skydeck, and both commuter rail terminals, which makes it the right dock if your night ends on a Metra train (dock page).
- Chinatown, Ping Tom Memorial Park, 1700 S Wentworth Ave. Near the Chinatown Gate and the Nine-Dragon Wall. CTA: Red Line to Cermak-Chinatown (dock page).
For a daytime version of this walk with more detail on each Riverwalk section, see the Chicago Riverwalk visit plan.
Costumes, Kids, and Cold Weather
- Keep costumes boat-friendly. You board across a plank, so leave long capes, wide wings, and oversized props for the party, or make sure they fold down. Strollers are folded and carried across the plank at most docks, and children get out first (FAQ).
- Dress for the water. Late October evenings on the river feel colder and windier than the streets. Every water taxi has a covered area, and three out of four are climate controlled (FAQ), but the Riverwalk is open-air, so bring a layer that fits over the costume.
- Restrooms and changing tables are on board, along with stroller space (boat information).
- Snacks: outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed. Some vessels sell snacks and drinks, including alcohol, but outside alcohol is not permitted (FAQ).
- Bikes are welcome when space permits, at the Captain's discretion (boat information). On a busy evening, do not count on space for a bike.
Fares, Tickets, and Accessibility
From the official fares page and FAQ:
- One-way: $10 between any two docks. A there-and-back plan needs two tickets; the walk-then-ride plan needs only one.
- Seniors: $5. Persons with disabilities get 50% off one-way tickets. Active-duty military ride free with ID. These are bought in person at the Ogilvie/Union or Michigan Ave dock.
- Children 3 and under ride free. Ages 4 and up need a ticket, costume or not.
- Cashless only, and tickets do not expire by date, so you can buy ahead.
Accessibility: limited wheelchair-accessible route options are offered on weekdays only, subject to availability, and must be reserved 5 days in advance. Because Halloween can fall on a weekend, confirm your date works by calling 312-337-1446 or emailing taxi@wendellaboats.com before you build the evening around it (FAQ, boat safety and regulations).
The Same Plan Later in the Fall
The route is not only for October 31. It works on any fall evening through the end of the season in late December, with one adjustment: the light. After daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November, sunset in Chicago moves to around 4:30 PM by mid-November and around 4:20 PM in December. That actually makes the plan easier, because the dark, lit-up river arrives long before the last boat. Start your stroll around 3:30 PM, ride back after dark, and you will have plenty of margin before service ends for the night.
Late in the season, dress warmer and give the trip planner an extra look, since the FAQ describes the season as generally running through the end of December rather than to a fixed date.
What This Route Does Not Include
- Navy Pier. The water taxi does not go to Navy Pier. The Michigan Avenue dock is about one mile west of it (FAQ). See the Navy Pier guide for the land connection.
- Chicago Avenue. The dock at 600 W Chicago Ave is served only by the North Branch route, with a transfer at Ogilvie/Union, on an extremely restricted schedule (route page). It is a poor anchor for an evening plan.
- Fireworks. The separate Fireworks Cruise is a summer product, Wednesday evenings only, timed to the Navy Pier fireworks. It does not run as part of a Halloween evening.
- Narration. This is a ride, not a tour. For a guided river story, compare options in the water taxi vs Wendella tour guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chicago Water Taxi running on Halloween?
In a normal year, yes. The season generally runs from March through the end of December, and service runs until mid-evening. Check the trip planner on chicagowatertaxi.com for exact departures on October 31.
Is the Chicago Riverwalk a good place for a Halloween stroll?
Yes, especially at dusk. Sunset on October 31 is around 5:45 PM, so a late-afternoon walk west from Michigan Avenue to Lake Street catches golden hour and the first city lights. Check current event listings for Halloween happenings on your date.
What is the best water taxi route for a Halloween evening?
Walk the Riverwalk west from the Michigan Avenue dock, cross the Madison Street Bridge to the Ogilvie/Union dock, and ride the Main Branch back to Michigan Avenue. It takes one $10 one-way ticket and no transfer.
How much does a dock-to-dock ride cost?
$10 one way between any two docks, $5 for seniors, and free for children 3 and under and active-duty military with ID. The service is cashless.
Can I wear a costume or bring a stroller on the water taxi?
Strollers and luggage are allowed, subject to inspection, and strollers are folded to cross the boarding plank at most docks. Keep costume props compact for the same reason.
Does the water taxi go to Navy Pier?
No. The closest stop is the Michigan Avenue dock, about one mile west of Navy Pier.
Your Next Step
Open the trip planner on chicagowatertaxi.com, note the last departure from Ogilvie/Union for your date, and buy a one-way ticket ahead, since tickets do not expire. Then walk the river at dusk and let the boat bring you home.
