Creapure HYROX Chicago 2027

Your weekend in Chicago, mapped

Hotels near the venue, gyms for a shakeout session, where to fuel up and where to recover.

Like a local

Local insights for Chicago

The things a friend who lives here would tell you before race weekend.

• Tap your card

  You don't need a Ventra card. Tap a contactless bank card or phone to ride: $2.50 on the 'L' and $2.25 on buses, with up to two transfers within two hours.

• Beat the O'Hare surcharge

  Boarding the Blue Line at O'Hare costs $5. A $5 1-Day CTA/Pace pass on a Ventra account covers the O'Hare boarding at no extra charge, plus all your bus rides to the pier that day.

• Budget for tax and tip

  Downtown restaurant bills carry about 11.75% tax on food, and the usual tip at a sit-down meal is 20% of the pre-tax total. Check the receipt first, since many places add an automatic gratuity for groups of six or more.

• Real February cold

  O'Hare's February normals are a high of about 2°C (36°F) and a low of about -6°C (22°F), with around 27 cm (10.7 in) of snow over the month. The lakefront usually runs a little milder than the suburbs, but the wind makes up for it.

• Holiday weekend

  Valentine's Day falls on Sunday 14 February and Presidents' Day on Monday 15 February 2027, so book any celebration dinner early.

• Stay underground

  If you're based in the Loop, the Pedway links stations, hotels and office towers through more than 40 blocks of tunnels and concourses. Some sections only open during working hours.

Getting to Navy Pier

• From O'Hare (ORD)

  Take the CTA Blue Line toward downtown to Grand, then transfer to the eastbound #65 Grand bus, which runs to Navy Pier. A taxi or rideshare is simpler if you have heavy bags.

• From Midway (MDW)

  Take the CTA Orange Line downtown to the Loop, then transfer to the #29 State bus, which runs up State Street to the pier.

• From downtown

  The #29 State bus runs north through the Loop and east along Illinois Street to the pier. The #66 Chicago bus connects with the Red, Brown and Blue Lines. If you're arriving by Metra, the #124 Navy Pier Express links the pier with Union Station and Ogilvie. Check current routes in the Ventra app or on transitchicago.com.

Race-day tips for Navy Pier

1. 1

   Dress for the walk, not the race

   Mid-February in Chicago is usually freezing, and the wind off Lake Michigan makes the pier feel colder still. Wear a warm coat, hat and gloves to the venue, and pack dry layers for afterward.

2. 2

   Allow extra time

   Navy Pier is a long pier and buses can be slow in winter weather. Give yourself a buffer for check-in and bag drop. HYROX says individual start times are posted about three days before the event.

3. 3

   Bring ID

   Spectators arriving before their check-in window go through Spectator Check-In with a ticket and ID.

4. 4

   Spectator tickets

   Spectators need their own tickets, and they can't be changed or refunded unless a Flex Add-On was bought at checkout.

5. 5

   Photos

   HYROX's photo partner Sportograf offers selfie search to find your race pictures.