Getting across downtown Chicago usually comes down to four options: a water taxi, a street taxi, a rideshare, or your own car. The water taxi runs between fixed docks on the Chicago River at a flat $10, immune to traffic. The other three go door to door at a price that rises with congestion. The deciding question is simple: does your route match the river? Here's how to tell, and when each option wins.
The Short Version
Take the water taxi when:
- Your trip connects Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie/Union, or Chinatown on the Main Branch.
- You want a fixed fare instead of a meter or a surge multiplier.
- Downtown streets are gridlocked. The river never is.
- You're making repeat trips and can use the 10-Ride Commuter Pass.
- You're carrying a bike, or the ride itself is part of the appeal.
Take a car (taxi, rideshare, or your own) when:
- Your pickup or destination isn't near a dock.
- You need door-to-door service or you're in a hurry with no departure that fits.
- You're traveling outside the season (roughly March through December) or outside service hours.
- You're going to or from Chicago Avenue and don't want to plan around limited North Branch service.
- You need step-free access on short notice.
Does the Route Fit? This Is the Whole Decision
The Main Branch connects three stops:
- Michigan Avenue (400 N Michigan Avenue) for the Magnificent Mile, Riverwalk, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and River North.
- Ogilvie/Union in the West Loop, right by the Metra and Amtrak terminals.
- Chinatown at Ping Tom Park East, 1700 S Wentworth Avenue.
The full route runs about 25 to 45 minutes end to end, depending on your dock pair. If both ends of your trip are a short walk from one of these, the water taxi is usually the better call. If either end means a long detour to reach the river, a car wins on time even at a higher fare.
Chicago Avenue is a special case. That dock (600 W Chicago Avenue) sits on the North Branch, not the Main Branch, so you can't ride directly there from Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie/Union, or Chinatown. It requires a transfer at Ogilvie/Union and service is extremely limited. For anything time-sensitive, take a car.
And for Navy Pier: the water taxi doesn't go there. Michigan Avenue is the closest dock, about a mile west of the pier, so you'd still need to cover that last leg on foot or by a connection. If a drop-off at the pier entrance is what matters, a car is the direct choice.
Cost: Fixed vs Variable
This is the water taxi's clearest advantage, and it isn't really about the number. A one-way water taxi ride is $10 between any two docks, and it stays $10 whether traffic is flowing or the Loop is at a standstill. A taxi meter climbs while you sit still. A rideshare adds surge pricing exactly when demand is highest, which is exactly when you're most likely to need it, rush hour, bad weather, event nights. Driving yourself adds downtown parking, which is its own expense and its own hunt.
For repeat travel, the 10-Ride Commuter Pass brings the effective cost to $3 per ride. It's purchased online through an account and can't be bought in person, so set it up before you head to the dock. The service is cashless throughout.
Discounted fares: children 3 and under ride free (ages 4 and up need a ticket), seniors and persons with disabilities get 50% off a one-way ticket, and active-duty military with valid ID ride free. Those discounts must be purchased in person, not online.
For a one-off trip, compare $10 against a quoted fare for your exact route. For regular Main Branch travel, the pass changes the math decisively.
Time and Predictability
A car is faster than the water taxi in free-flowing traffic. That's the honest comparison. But downtown Chicago at rush hour, during an event, or in bad weather is rarely free-flowing, and that's where the river route earns its place: it's not just often faster, it's predictable. You know when you'll arrive.
The trade-off is scheduling. A car comes when you call it; the water taxi runs on a schedule, so you plan around departures. Check the live trip planner the day you travel. If your timing is tight and no departure fits, take the car, that's the right call, not a failure of the water taxi.
Comfort and What You Can Bring
A car is curbside and immediate. The water taxi asks a bit more of you at the dock and gives more once you're aboard. All boats have restrooms and a covered area, three of the four are climate-controlled, and service runs rain or shine. Drinks and snacks are sold on board, and you can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks (no outside alcohol). You get skyline and bridge views instead of a windshield, which is the part no car ride replicates.
Bikes are welcome between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM, which most taxis and rideshares can't accommodate at all. Strollers and luggage are allowed subject to security inspection; note that at most docks boarding means crossing a plank, so strollers must be folded and carried across with children taken out first. Allow time for that, a dock isn't a curbside pickup.
Accessibility
Here a car usually has the edge on flexibility, and it's worth being straightforward about it. Wheelchair-accessible water taxi rides are limited: weekday-only, subject to availability, and they must be reserved at least 5 days in advance by calling (312) 337-1446. The accessible service operates as round-trip rides from Michigan Avenue.
At the Michigan Avenue riverfront, step-free access to river level is via the West Dock elevator; the main tour dock at that location has 62 steps and no elevator (as published by sister company Wendella, which shares the riverfront). If you need step-free boarding, arrange it well ahead. For a same-day or spontaneous trip, an accessible taxi or rideshare is the practical option.
Common Trips, Compared
- Ogilvie/Union to Michigan Avenue: Water taxi. Both are Main Branch stops, it skips the Loop entirely, and it's the trip the route was built for. Take a car only if your final destination is well past the dock or no departure fits.
- Michigan Avenue to Chinatown: Water taxi if you have the time for a 25 to 45 minute ride and both ends work. A car if you need a specific Chinatown address directly.
- Rush hour, anywhere on the Main Branch: Water taxi. Fixed fare, no traffic, no surge. This is its strongest case.
- Anywhere to Navy Pier: Car, for a direct drop-off. The water taxi gets you to Michigan Avenue, a mile short.
- Chicago Avenue to downtown: Car. The North Branch transfer and limited schedule make the water route impractical for most trips.
- Late night or mid-winter: Car. The water taxi is seasonal and runs mid-morning to mid-evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a water taxi cheaper than a taxi or Uber in Chicago?
The water taxi has a fixed $10 one-way fare, and $3 per ride with the 10-Ride Commuter Pass. Taxi and rideshare fares vary with route, traffic, and demand, and rideshares add surge pricing at peak times. For a matching route the water taxi is usually cheaper, and its bigger advantage is that the price doesn't change when conditions do.
Is the water taxi faster than driving downtown?
Not always, but it's more predictable. A car is quicker in light traffic. In rush hour, bad weather, or during events, the river route avoids congestion entirely, and you also skip the search for parking.
Does the water taxi go to Navy Pier?
No. Michigan Avenue at 400 N Michigan Avenue is the closest stop, about a mile west of the pier. If you need to arrive at the pier entrance itself, a car is more direct.
Which route serves the Chicago Avenue dock?
The North Branch serves 600 W Chicago Avenue. It's separate from the Main Branch and requires a transfer at Ogilvie/Union to reach Michigan Avenue or Chinatown, with extremely limited service.
Can I bring a bike or luggage?
Bikes are welcome on the water taxi between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM, something most taxis and rideshares can't do. Luggage and strollers are allowed subject to security inspection, with strollers folded and carried across the boarding plank.
How far ahead should I arrange an accessible water taxi ride?
At least 5 days, by calling (312) 337-1446. Accessible service is weekday-only, subject to availability, and operates as round-trip rides from Michigan Avenue. For a same-day trip, an accessible taxi or rideshare is the practical choice.
Does the water taxi run year-round?
No. Service generally runs March through the end of December, mid-morning to mid-evening. Outside that window, a car or transit is your option.
Related Reading
- Fares and Passes - all ticket types and the commuter pass
- Stops Guide - every dock on the system
- Getting to Chinatown - the southern Main Branch trip
- Main Branch route & trip planner - live departures
