Plan Your Visit
Circle and Members’ Preview Reception for Nicole Eisenman: What Happened. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. April 5, 2024. Photos: Jeremy Lawson Photography.
The MCA may surprise you. Challenge you. Excite you. Inspire you. We invite you to discover the great artists of our time with ever-changing, provocative exhibits you’ll be thinking about long after you leave.
The MCA is located at 220 East Chicago Avenue, near the CTA’s El train and bus routes, Divvy bikes, and on-site paid parking.
Admission
In order to manage occupancy, we encourage visitors to purchase tickets online in advance. For groups of 10 or more, please call our Box Office at 312-397-4010 to make reservations.
Suggested Admission
Chicago residents
- Adults: $19
- Students, teachers, and anyone 65+: $10
Non-Chicago residents
- Adults: $22
- Students, teachers, and anyone 65+: $14
Admission is free for MCA Members and anyone 18 and under; admission on Tuesdays is free for Illinois residents. Become a member today.
Special Rates
$3 tickets for up to six individuals when visitors present their LINK (EBT) Card as part of the Museums for All program.
Free Admission
Admission is free every day for:
- Illinois elementary and high school teachers. Simply present a valid teacher ID at the admissions desk. If you’re planning on visiting with your class, please visit our School programs page for more information.
- Visitors with disabilities and their caregivers.
- Active members of the military, police, and fire departments and veterans as well as their families (with ID).
- Anyone 18 and under.
- MCA Members.
Illinois residents are free on Tuesdays.
Call us at 312-280-2660 or email [email protected] to learn about other special offers and discounts as well as partnerships with universities, museum professionals, corporations, and other organizations that include free admission.
Museums for All
We believe art should be accessible to everyone. Your admission fee supports our exhibitions and programs. But to encourage more people to visit and visit often, the MCA has a pay-what-you-can policy—no one will be turned away.
We also offer suggested admission of $3 each for up to six individuals when visitors present their LINK (EBT) Card as part of the Museums for All program.
The MCA is a proud participant in the Museums for All program, another way to increase access to the museum. Museums for All is a cooperative initiative between ACM and IMLS that encourages families of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. By removing the financial barrier, Museums for All also removes the social and academic barrier children face when they are not exposed to high-quality museum experiences.
Hours
Museum Hours
- Tue 10 am–9 pm
- Wed–Sun 10 am–5 pm
- Mon Closed
On Tuesday, December 24, the museum will close at 5 pm.
Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
Marisol Hours
- Lunch: Tue-Fri 11 am–2 pm
- Dinner: Tue–Fri 5:30 pm–9 pm
- Brunch: Sat-Sun 10:30 am–2 pm
- Mon Closed
The Counter Hours
- Tue: 10 am–7 pm
- Wed–Sun 10 am–4 pm
- Mon Closed
Marisol, the restaurant and bar at the MCA, features seasonal contemporary cuisine for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Visit The Counter for coffee, tea, snacks, and select menu items.
Directions and Parking
Parking
The parking garage is located on Chicago Avenue just west of Fairbanks Court and adjacent to the museum. The garage does not provide direct access to the museum. When you exit the garage, simply turn right and walk west up Chicago Avenue. Our entrances face Mies Van Der Rohe Way.
Parking rates
- Less than 30 minutes: $11
- 30 minutes to 1 hour: $22
- 1 to 2 hours: $32
- 2 to 3 hours: $37
- 3 to 12 hours: $41
- 12 to 24 hours: $47
If you have any questions about the garage, call ABM Parking at 855-234-0260.
Special Discounts
Early Morning Special (Mon–Fri only): Enter between 5–8 am and exit before 7 pm for $21.
Accessible parking rate: Stop by the admissions desk and ask for our $20 accessible parking validation.
MCA programs rate: Present your programs ticket at the Box Office on the day of the event and receive validation for $20 parking, excluding events on Tuesdays. Audiences for Tuesday programs receive $4 off regular parking rates, $5 for members.
Ask a Visitor Experience Assistant to validate your parking ticket to receive a reduced rate. MCA Members receive a $5 discount off the standard parking rate and nonmembers receive a $4 discount.
Public Transportation
We are located four blocks east of the Chicago Avenue stop on the CTA Red Line. You can also take the #3 King Drive, #10 Museum of Science and Industry, and #66 Chicago Avenue buses, as well as several Michigan Avenue bus routes.
For routes, schedules, and fares, call Chicago Transit Authority Travel Information at 312-836-7000 or visit Chicago Transit Authority.
Biking
Bicycle racks are located at the corner of Mies van der Rohe Way and East Pearson Street; at the corner of Mies van der Rohe Way and Chicago Avenue; and inside the MCA garage on Chicago Avenue just east of the museum itself. For directions, visit Ride the City.
Divvy Bikes
There is a Divvy bike dock on the southwest side of the MCA, at the corner of Mies van der Rohe Way and Chicago Avenue. For bike pricing and availability, visit Divvy.
Driving
If traveling south on Lake Shore Drive:
- Take Lake Shore Drive south to the Chestnut Street exit (the first traffic light after the curve south of Oak Street Beach).
- Turn left onto southbound Inner Lake Shore Drive.
- Take Inner Lake Shore Drive south for two blocks to Chicago Avenue.
- Turn right (west) onto Chicago Avenue. The parking garage will be on your right, just after the light at Fairbanks Court.
If traveling north on Lake Shore Drive:
(This route may be unavailable during the morning rush hour.)
- Take Lake Shore Drive north to the left-side exit for Chicago Avenue.
- Turn left onto Chicago Avenue. The parking garage will be on your right, just after the light at Fairbanks Court.
Directions from the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290):
- Take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) east until it ends and becomes Congress Parkway.
- Take Congress Parkway east past the Chicago River for about one mile to Columbus Drive.
- Turn left onto Columbus Drive.
- Take Columbus Drive north (the street name changes to Fairbanks Court).
- Take Fairbanks Court until it ends at Chicago Avenue.
- Turn left onto Chicago Avenue. The parking garage will be immediately on your right just before you reach the museum.
Directions from the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94):
- Take the East Ohio Street/600 North exit (exit number 50B).
- Turn slightly left onto Ohio Street.
- Take Ohio Street east about one mile, two blocks past Michigan Avenue, to Fairbanks Court.
- Turn left onto Fairbanks Court.
- Turn left onto Chicago Avenue. The parking garage will be immediately on your right just before you reach the museum.
The front of the building is on Mies van der Rohe Way, between Chicago Avenue (to the south) and Pearson Street (to the north), one block east of Michigan Avenue and one block west of Fairbanks Court.