Navy Pier wheelchair accessibility

Navy Pier sits at 600 East Grand Avenue, jutting east into Lake Michigan from the Streeterville neighborhood. The pier is a level half-mile from the lakeshore.

Five CTA bus routes serve Navy Pier: 29 State, 65 Grand, 66 Chicago, 124 Navy Pier (serving Metra commuter stations from Millennium Station, Ogilvie, and Union), and 2 Hyde Park Express on weekday rush hours. All CTA buses are ADA accessible with ramps. The Red Line Grand station is the closest L stop, about a 10-minute roll east.

By car, two on-site garages (West and East) hold a combined 1,500 vehicles; both have accessible parking. Paratransit and WAV taxis have multiple drop-off points: the front main entrance, the north dock at the Family Pavilion entrance, and Entrances 1 and 2.

The main pier promenade is flat, paved, and runs the full half-mile from the entrance to the Centennial Wheel at the eastern tip. Polk Bros Park at the entrance and the Family Pavilion midway down are both step-free.

Elevators near Door 2 and Door 4 take visitors up to Pier Park, the upper-deck zone where the Centennial Wheel, the Wave Swinger, the carousel, and the mini-golf are. Without those elevators, the upper-level rides would be stair-only; with them, the full pier is accessible.

The Centennial Wheel rises nearly 200 feet above the pier. Each enclosed gondola accommodates a wheelchair inside, with staff at the boarding platform helping a wheelchair user roll on. The boarding queue and platform are step-free.

Gondolas are enclosed and climate-controlled, with seating on both sides of the wheelchair space. The ride loops slowly enough that visitors who use a seated position can experience the full rotation comfortably.

Complimentary wheelchairs are available first-come-first-served at the Guest Experience information desks. You can also reserve a wheelchair in advance via the request form on navypier.org.

Accessible parking is in both the West and East garages. Vans and oversized vehicles have specific spaces; check the signage in each section. Service animals as defined by the ADA (guide dogs, signal dogs, or other animals trained to assist) are welcome throughout the pier.

Time the visit to the Centennial Wheel for golden hour to combine the city skyline with the lake light. Weekends and summer Fridays after 5 pm are the busiest; midweek mornings are the quietest.

Boat tour operators on the pier (Wendella, Shoreline Sightseeing, Tall Ship Windy, City Cruises) each set their own boarding policies. Confirm step-free boarding with the operator before booking; the boats themselves vary widely in accessibility because they are independent vessels.

Address: 600 East Grand Avenue. Free pier entry year-round. Elevators to Pier Park and the Centennial Wheel near Doors 2 and 4. Centennial Wheel accommodates a wheelchair in the enclosed gondola. Complimentary wheelchairs at Guest Experience desks. All restrooms accessible. Accessible parking in both garages. Paratransit drop-off at the front entrance, Family Pavilion entrance, and Entrances 1 and 2. Service animals welcome. Boat tour accessibility varies by operator. Nearest CTA: Red Line Grand or 124 bus.