7 Cheap Hotels Close to Wrigley Field in Chicago IL You’ll Actually Want to Book
Last summer I spent four days in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood, and I’m genuinely still thinking about it — not just because the Cubs won that Friday night game, but because I managed to find a really solid hotel two blocks from the stadium for under $110 a night. During baseball season. In Chicago. Yeah, I was proud of myself too.
If you’re planning a trip to catch a game or just explore the Lakeview neighborhood, you’ve probably already noticed that hotels near Wrigley Field can get pricey fast, especially on game days. The good news is that cheap hotels close to Wrigley Field in Chicago IL absolutely exist — you just need to know where to look, when to book, and what to skip.
So let me walk you through what I found, what I’d book again, and a few things nobody warns you about when you’re searching for budget stays in this neighborhood.
Why Wrigleyville Hotels Cost More Than You Think (And When They Don’t)
Here’s the thing about staying near Wrigley Field — the prices aren’t consistently high, they’re strategically high. Hotels in this neighborhood watch the Cubs schedule like a hawk and spike their rates on game nights, sometimes doubling or tripling what you’d pay on a quiet Tuesday. I watched one hotel go from $89 on a Wednesday to $249 that Saturday when the Cardinals were in town.
The trick is to book well in advance for weekend games, ideally 6 to 8 weeks out, and to be flexible about your check-in day if you can. Arriving Thursday instead of Friday can save you $40 to $60 a night at some properties. Also worth knowing: playoff season is a whole different animal. I’m not even going to pretend budget options survive intact when the Cubs are in postseason contention.
The Best Budget Hotels Close to Wrigley Field in Chicago IL
Let me tell you about the actual options worth your attention in this area, because not all “budget” hotels near Wrigley are created equal.
Majestic Hotel Chicago sits on West Brompton Avenue, literally steps from the ballpark, and it’s one of those places that feels more boutique than its price tag suggests. Rooms regularly come in around $100 to $130 on non-game nights, and the location is unreal — you can hear the crowd noise from certain rooms, which is either charming or annoying depending on your personality. I found it charming. The rooms are on the smaller side, but honestly for a base camp to explore the neighborhood, it works perfectly.
The Wrigley Hostel is worth a mention if you’re a solo traveler or don’t mind dorm-style accommodations. At around $35 to $55 a night for a bunk, it’s one of the cheapest hotels close to Wrigley Field in Chicago IL that puts you right in the action. The communal vibe is fun, especially during game season when you’re surrounded by other baseball fans who are just as excited as you are.
Hotel Zachary is technically a splurge compared to the others on this list, but if you catch it on a slow weekday or snag a discount through a travel portal, rooms can dip to $150 or so. It’s directly across from Wrigley, modern, and genuinely gorgeous. I stayed there one night when I had some credit card points burning a hole in my pocket and it felt wildly fancy for the neighborhood.
A bit further south, around the Boystown and Lakeview East area, you’ll find more independent motels and smaller boutique properties that don’t carry the Wrigleyville premium. The City Suites Hotel on West Diversey is a solid one — it’s about a 15-minute walk or a quick rideshare to the stadium, rates hover around $85 to $110, and it has a kind of old Chicago character that I really liked.
Don’t Sleep on These Booking Strategies
Okay, this is where I get a little nerdy, because cheap hotels close to Wrigley Field in Chicago IL are absolutely findable if you use the right tools. A few things that have actually worked for me:
Checking rates directly on the hotel website after you see the price on a third-party site. Hotels often match or beat their own prices when you call or book direct, and sometimes throw in perks like free breakfast or late checkout. I saved $18 one time just by calling the front desk instead of clicking “book now” on a travel app.
Using Google Hotels over other comparison sites — it aggregates everything in one place and lets you filter by date and price range really efficiently. I also like that it shows you the price history so you can see if the rate you’re looking at is actually good or if it’s temporarily inflated.
If you have any travel credit cards, now is the time to use those portal points. Chase Travel and Capital One Travel both have solid Chicago hotel inventory and sometimes show rates that aren’t publicly available elsewhere. I booked my last Chicago trip entirely through Chase points and paid essentially nothing out of pocket.
What the Neighborhood Is Actually Like (Because Location Matters)
Wrigleyville is fun. Like, genuinely fun in a way that a lot of tourist-heavy neighborhoods aren’t. The stretch of Clark Street near the stadium is wall-to-wall bars and restaurants, and even on non-game days there’s a neighborhood energy that feels alive. I wandered into a tiny Polish diner about three blocks from the stadium on a random morning and had the best breakfast scramble of my trip for something like $9. That’s the kind of thing you find when you’re actually staying in the neighborhood rather than commuting in from downtown.
That said — and I want to be real with you here — it can get loud. Game nights especially, but also just weekend nights in general. If you’re a light sleeper or traveling with kids who need early bedtimes, factor that in. A hotel a little further away, like City Suites or even something in Lincoln Park, might give you the same access without the 2am bar noise bleeding through your window.
Timing Your Trip Around the Cubs Schedule
This sounds obvious but it’s worth saying: if saving money is your priority, build your Chicago trip around an off-peak Cubs homestand or, even better, visit when the team is away. The neighborhood still has great restaurants and bars, Wrigley Field itself does tours, and you’ll pay significantly less for everything from hotels to rideshares.
I checked out Wrigley Field on a day the Cubs were in Cincinnati and the neighborhood was totally chill — I did a stadium tour for $30, grabbed a beer at a rooftop bar across from the outfield, and paid $94 for my hotel room. On a Saturday. That kind of deal evaporates the second a home game is on the schedule, trust me.
A Few Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me
Parking near Wrigley Field is a nightmare and it’s expensive. If you’re driving in, budget an extra $30 to $50 a day for parking or just use the Red Line train, which drops you directly at the Addison stop right outside the stadium. The CTA is genuinely one of the best things about navigating Chicago, and it’ll save you a lot of frustration.
Also — check what’s included in your hotel rate before you book. Some properties near Wrigley charge resort fees or neighborhood surcharges that aren’t obvious until checkout. I’ve had a $99 rate turn into a $130 charge before because of fees I didn’t notice. Always look at the “total price” view, not just the nightly rate.
Go Book Your Chicago Trip Already
Look, Chicago near Wrigley Field is one of those neighborhoods that actually delivers on the hype, and finding cheap hotels close to Wrigley Field in Chicago IL is completely doable if you give yourself a little lead time and stay flexible. Whether you’re there for the Cubs, the food scene, or just to hang out in one of Chicago’s most fun neighborhoods, there’s a budget stay with your name on it.
Start with Majestic Hotel or City Suites if you want reliability at a fair price, use Google Hotels to track rates, and for the love of your wallet, avoid booking the weekend of a Cubs-Cardinals series without reserving way in advance. You’ll thank yourself later.
Now go plan the trip.
