UIC, Loyola, DePaul and NIU in 3 Days: A Chicago and DeKalb Trip
A parent-first plan for seeing UIC, Loyola University Chicago, DePaul and Northern Illinois University from one hotel near UIC: official tour sign-ups, visitor parking and transit at every campus, meals between tours, a free zoo for siblings and Chicago weather by season.
Cudahy Science Hall on the Lake Shore Campus, Loyola University Chicago (May 2021). Photo: Paul R. Burley · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
Check before you go. Tour times, sign-up rules, parking and seasonal closures change often, sometimes weekly. Every campus section below links to that school's official visit page and shows when we last checked it. Confirm there before you book or drive. College Visit Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university. Names are used only to identify them.
The short version
Trip at a glance
Schools
University of Illinois Chicago · Loyola University Chicago (Lake Shore Campus) · DePaul University (Lincoln Park Campus) · Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
Days
3: UIC in the morning and DePaul in the afternoon, then Loyola's lakefront campus, then NIU in DeKalb. Arrive the day before.
Fly into
Chicago Midway (MDW), about 23 minutes and 10 miles from the hotel by car, or O'Hare (ORD), about 54 minutes and 21 miles, with no traffic.
Best base
Courtyard by Marriott Chicago at Medical District/UIC, which UIC lists as two blocks west of campus, about a 20-minute walk from UIC's Student Services Building.
Car or transit
A car makes day 3 possible: NIU is about 79 minutes west with no traffic. In the city, UIC is on the CTA Blue Line and Loyola has its own Red Line stop.
Registration
All four schools have online sign-ups. NIU's daily visits are by registration only, with no walk-ins.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to see four Division I universities in one trip: UIC, Loyola University Chicago and DePaul in the city, plus Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Instead of changing hotels, you sleep in the Illinois Medical District next to UIC every night, so day 1 starts with a walk.
Why this order
Day 1: UIC's visit pairs a 30-minute admissions overview with a 90-minute student-led tour. DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus is about 11 minutes north by car for an afternoon tour, and Lincoln Park Zoo, which is always free, is close by.
Day 2: Loyola's Lake Shore Campus sits on Lake Michigan about 19 minutes north of the hotel, with its own CTA Red Line station. The visit pairs a counselor presentation with a student-led tour.
Day 3: NIU's daily visit is a 35-minute presentation and an 85-minute small-group tour, with free visitor parking next to the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center.
Each campus checks you in somewhere different
UIC: admissions events are held at various locations, so follow your registration confirmation. The Office of Admissions is in the Student Services Building, 1200 W. Harrison St.
Loyola: the Undergraduate Admission Office is in Sullivan Center, Suite 150, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., on the Lake Shore Campus.
DePaul: the Office of Admission is at 2400 N. Sheffield Ave. on the Lincoln Park Campus; campus maps are available outside it.
NIU: the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center (BAVC), 231 N. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb, where student Northern Ambassadors greet you.
Tour availability varies by season.
Chicago winters are cold: January averages about 32°F highs and 19°F lows at O'Hare, with about 11 inches of snow. Leave extra time for the drive to DeKalb.
May is the rainiest month at O'Hare, with about 4.5 inches; pack umbrellas for the walking tours.
DePaul's buildings are closed to the public, so if no tour fits your dates, its self-guided option covers outdoor spaces only.
Loyola's visitor lots close at 2 a.m., and there's no overnight parking.
2. The suggested 3-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Chicago traffic can make the drives much longer, especially at rush hour.
UIC sits just west of where the Eisenhower (I-290), Kennedy and Dan Ryan expressways meet, with exits at Ashland, Racine, Halsted and more.
Arrival day: fly into Chicago and check in next to UIC
Chicago Midway (MDW) → Courtyard Chicago at Medical District/UIC (625 S. Ashland Ave.)
Driving (no traffic)
~23 min, 10.2 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
O'Hare (ORD) → the hotel, if you fly in there
Driving (no traffic)
~54 min, 20.9 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
For dinner, UIC points visitors to Little Italy on Taylor Street, Greektown just north of campus and University Village just south of campus.
Day 1: UIC on foot, then DePaul and Lincoln Park
Hotel → UIC Student Services Building (1200 W. Harrison St.)
Driving (no traffic)
~3 min, 1.1 mi
Walking, CTA & driving
~20 min walk, 0.9 mi
UIC → DePaul Office of Admission (2400 N. Sheffield Ave.)
Driving (no traffic)
~11 min, 5.3 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
DePaul → Lincoln Park Zoo
Driving (no traffic)
~3 min, 1.0 mi
Walking, CTA & driving
~22 min walk, 1.0 mi
Lincoln Park Zoo → hotel
Driving (no traffic)
~11 min, 5.2 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
Book UIC's Information Session & Tour on its sign-up page: a 30-minute overview of admission requirements and financial planning, then a 90-minute student-led campus tour.
Lunch at Student Center East (750 S. Halsted St.): Panda Express, Chick-fil-A and Café Descartes are on the first floor, and the Inner Circle upstairs has Subway and Sbarro.
Then drive to DePaul for an afternoon Lincoln Park Campus tour, led by current students. Park in the Clifton or Sheffield deck and pay with the Metropolis app before you leave.
Finish at Lincoln Park Zoo, about a 22-minute walk from DePaul's admission office. Admission is free every day with no reservation.
Day 2: Loyola's Lake Shore Campus
Hotel → Loyola University Chicago, Lake Shore Campus (1032 W. Sheridan Rd.)
Driving (no traffic)
~19 min, 9.4 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive, or the CTA Red Line to Loyola station
Loyola → hotel
Driving (no traffic)
~20 min, 9.4 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
Loyola's Lake Shore Campus visit has a presentation by an admission counselor on academics, applying, scholarships and financial aid, then a student-led tour. Loyola recommends it for first-time visitors.
Driving? Enter the Main Parking Structure from Kenmore Avenue. As an admissions guest, ask Admissions about validating your parking.
Lunch in the Damen Student Center: the Damen Food Court has Bleeker Street Cafe, Zoca, Burger Studio and Topio's, and the Damen Dining Hall lists walk-in rates (lunch is $13.00 plus tax for 2026–27).
Business, education, social work or communication student? Loyola also tours its downtown Water Tower Campus, where those programs hold many classes.
Day 3: NIU in DeKalb, then fly home
Hotel → NIU Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center (231 N. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb)
Driving (no traffic)
~79 min, 64.1 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
NIU → O'Hare (ORD)
Driving (no traffic)
~97 min, 63.3 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
NIU → Chicago Midway (MDW), if you're flying home from there
Driving (no traffic)
~92 min, 67.3 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking, CTA & driving
Drive
NIU's daily visit is a 35-minute presentation on admissions and student life, then an 85-minute small-group tour led by a student guide. You can also book a visit with an academic college; schedule it at least 24 hours ahead.
Park free in Lot H on the west side of the BAVC: register your car at aimsmobilepay.com with the promo code NIU Admissions emails or texts you, and the price will show $0.00.
Before you leave, stop at the Holmes Student Center for Huskie Books and Gear and food on the ground floor, including Qdoba, Starbucks and The Grill at the Huskie Den.
3. Campus by campus
Campus walkway in fall, University of Illinois Chicago (Nov 2021). Photo: Chris Rycroft · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
The Information Session & Tour starts with a 30-minute admissions overview covering admission requirements and financial planning, followed by a 90-minute student-led tour.
Admissions events are held at various locations around campus, so check your registration confirmation for where to arrive.
Visitor parking
For the Student Services Building, park in the Harrison Street Parking Structure on Harrison Street, just east of the Credit Union 1 Arena.
For Student Center East, the Halsted Street Parking Structure at 801 S. Halsted St. costs $5.00–$12.25.
Getting there
About a 20-minute walk from the hotel. The CTA Blue Line's Racine stop serves the Student Services Building, and a Divvy bike station sits at Racine and Harrison.
What to know
Little Italy on Taylor Street and Greektown just north of campus are both easy meal stops.
Contact
UIC Office of Admissions: Student Services Building, 1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago; visits 312-996-4350.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Student-led tours cover campus life on the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, with specialty tours for students interested in the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media.
Information sessions run with Lincoln Park Campus tours on some days; film and television students can also tour Cinespace Studios.
No tour on your date? Pick up a self-guided map outside the Office of Admission at 2400 N. Sheffield Ave. Buildings are closed to the public, but outdoor spaces are open.
Visitor parking
Visitors park in the Clifton Parking Deck, 2330 N. Clifton Ave., or the Sheffield Deck, 2331 N. Sheffield Ave. Download the Metropolis app (Park Now on Android) before parking, and pay before you exit.
Getting there
About 11 minutes from UIC and 10 minutes from the hotel by car with no traffic.
What to know
Lincoln Park Zoo is about a 22-minute walk away and free every day.
Contact
DePaul Office of Admission: 2400 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago; visit questions (312) 362-8300.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Cudahy Science Hall on the Lake Shore Campus, Loyola University Chicago (May 2021). Photo: Paul R. Burley · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
The visit includes a presentation by an admission counselor, designed for prospective first-year students, and a student-led campus tour.
Loyola also offers a student-led tour of its downtown Water Tower Campus, online information sessions and a virtual tour.
Visitor parking
Visitor parking is $10 in the Main Structure (credit card, cash bills only or Rambler Bucks) or the Fordham Garage (credit card only). Enter the Main Parking Structure from Kenmore Avenue.
Lost tickets cost $20. Admissions guests should ask Admissions about validating parking. Questions: Campus Transportation, 773-508-7036.
Getting there
The CTA Red Line's Loyola station is at 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., and CTA buses 147 and 155 also serve the campus. By car, it's about 19 minutes from the hotel with no traffic.
What to know
Lunch in the Damen Student Center: a food court on the first floor, plus a dining hall that lists walk-in rates.
Contact
Undergraduate Admission Office: Sullivan Center, Suite 150, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago; (773) 508-3075, admission@luc.edu.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Daily visits are by registration only, with no unscheduled guests: a 35-minute admissions and student-life presentation, then an 85-minute small-group tour with a student guide.
Want to see a specific academic college? Book that visit at least 24 hours ahead. Groups smaller than 15 can email specialtours@niu.edu.
Visitor parking
Park free in Lot H on the BAVC's west side. Register your car at aimsmobilepay.com under Daily Rate with the promo code from NIU Admissions; the price shows $0.00.
Once registered, you can use any non-reserved space on campus that day; avoid service and reserved spaces.
Getting there
About 79 minutes west of the hotel with no traffic, and about 97 minutes from O'Hare on the way home.
What to know
The Holmes Student Center has Huskie Books and Gear and several dining options; enter through the ground-level south entrance.
Contact
NIU Admissions: 815-753-0446 (including urgent questions on your visit day), admissions@niu.edu.
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Expedia hotel links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickMid-range
Courtyard by Marriott Chicago at Medical District/UIC
625 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
Why here
UIC's admissions page lists this hotel, under its former Chicago Marriott at Medical District/UIC name, as two blocks west of campus. It's about a 20-minute walk to the Student Services Building.
DePaul is about 10 minutes away by car, Loyola about 19 and NIU about 79, so every day starts from the same room.
Good to know
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Amenities, parking fees and room types change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
By car with no traffic, it is about 5 minutes (1.8 miles) from the University of Illinois Chicago, the closest campus on this trip. Weekday traffic can add a lot.
Good to know
UIC lists it among the hotels near campus for visitors.
Amenities, parking fees and room types change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.
One hotel for every night means no repacking. UIC is a walk from your room, DePaul and Loyola are short drives, and DeKalb is about 79 minutes west, so leave early on day 3.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
Around UIC
Eat
Student Center East eateries
750 S. Halsted St., Chicago
Café Descartes, Panda Express and Chick-fil-A on the first floor; the Inner Circle on the second floor has Subway, Burrito Bravo and Sbarro.
Damen Student Center, Loyola Lake Shore Campus, Chicago
The first-floor food court has Bleeker Street Cafe, Zoca, Burger Studio and Topio's. The all-you-can-eat dining hall lists 2026–27 walk-in rates of $11.50 for breakfast, $13.00 for lunch and $13.50 for dinner, plus tax.
Free admission every day with no reservation needed; open 365 days a year, with gates opening at 8 a.m. and buildings at 10 a.m. Parking is free for the first half hour, then $35–$45 a day. It's about a 22-minute walk from DePaul's admission office.
At UIC, walk from the hotel; if you drive, use the Harrison Street Parking Structure.
At DePaul, download the Metropolis app before parking in the Clifton or Sheffield deck.
At Loyola, bring a credit card for the $10 visitor garages; the Main Structure takes cash bills but no coins.
At NIU, keep the promo code from NIU Admissions handy so you can register your car for free parking in Lot H.
Using the 'L'
UIC: CTA Blue Line, Racine stop (Student Services Building) or UIC-Halsted (Student Center East).
Loyola: CTA Red Line, Loyola station, right at the Lake Shore Campus.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Chicago O'Hare)
Spring: April averages about 59°F highs and 40°F lows, with about 3.8 inches of rain; May is the wettest month, with about 4.5 inches.
Summer: July averages about 85°F highs and 66°F lows.
Fall: October averages about 63°F highs and 45°F lows, with about 3.4 inches of rain; November highs drop to about 48°F.
Winter: January averages about 32°F highs and 19°F lows, with about 11 inches of snow.
Parent checklist
Register for all four visits online: UIC, DePaul, Loyola and NIU (NIU accepts registered guests only).
Book the Courtyard next to UIC for every night and rent a car at the airport for the DeKalb day.
Download the Metropolis app before you park at DePaul.
Save the NIU parking promo code from your reminder email or text.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (University of Illinois Chicago, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago and Northern Illinois University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: Courtyard by Marriott Chicago at Medical District/UIC (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Chicago-Hotels-Chicago-Marriott-At-Medical-DistrictUIC.h13487.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Medical District UIC (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Chicago-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-Suites-Chicago-Medical-District-Uic.h102236658.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hotel Lincoln (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Chicago-Hotels-Hotel-Lincoln.h23314.Hotel-Information)
