7 Cheap Hotels in Chicago Close to Soldier Field You’ll Actually Want to Book
I remember standing outside Soldier Field before a Bears game a couple of years ago, watching people stream in from every direction, and thinking — okay, where exactly did all these people stay last night? Because I’d just spent about two hours the week before trying to figure out the same thing, and let me tell you, the first round of search results was not encouraging. Prices were all over the place, some hotels looked suspiciously “budget” in the worst possible way, and I had no idea which neighborhoods were actually walkable to the stadium.
If you’re trying to find cheap hotels in Chicago close to Soldier Field — whether you’re coming for a Bears game, a concert, or just want easy access to the lakefront — I’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to. And yeah, I’ll tell you about the one booking mistake I made that cost me an extra $40. Consider it a gift.
Understanding Where Soldier Field Actually Sits (Because Geography Matters Here)
Before you start booking anything, it helps to know that Soldier Field is in the South Loop/Museum Campus area, right on the lakefront. It’s honestly a beautiful location — you’ve got Lake Michigan on one side, Grant Park nearby, and the Museum of Natural History and Shedd Aquarium just a short walk away. So staying close to the stadium also puts you close to a lot of other genuinely great Chicago stuff, which makes the location really worth it even on non-game days.
The neighborhoods closest to Soldier Field are the South Loop, the Loop itself, and the Near South Side. The Loop is where you’ll find most of the mid-range hotels, and it’s about a 20 to 30-minute walk to the stadium — or a quick rideshare for a few bucks. The South Loop has some solid options that put you even closer, sometimes within 10 to 15 minutes on foot. I always prefer walking to stadiums when the weather cooperates, and Chicago’s lakefront path makes that genuinely pleasant rather than a slog through traffic.
The Best Budget Hotels in Chicago Close to Soldier Field
Let me get into the actual properties, because that’s what you’re here for.
Best Western Grant Park Hotel on South Michigan Avenue is one of those places I keep recommending because it delivers on the basics without drama. It’s about a mile from Soldier Field, which is very walkable, and rates regularly come in around $95 to $130 on non-event nights. The location on Michigan Avenue is genuinely excellent — you’re steps from Grant Park, close to the El, and surrounded by good food options. It’s not flashy, but it’s clean, well-located, and the staff have always been solid in my experience.
The Hyatt Place Chicago Downtown/The Loop tends to run a bit higher, around $120 to $160, but it’s worth watching for deals. Hyatt’s World of Hyatt program is actually one of the better hotel loyalty programs out there, and if you accumulate even a modest number of points, Chicago properties like this one become really accessible. I stayed here once using a combination of points and a discounted cash rate and paid something like $68 out of pocket for a night. That felt pretty great.
Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown/N Loop/Michigan Ave is another reliable pick in that South Loop to Loop corridor. Hampton Inns are not the most exciting hotels on earth — I’ll be the first to admit that — but the free breakfast alone can save you $15 to $20 a day, which adds up fast over a multi-night stay. Rates hover around $110 to $140 and the location keeps you close enough to Soldier Field without being in the thick of the post-game chaos.
For something with a bit more personality, The Allegro Royal Sonesta in the Loop occasionally dips into genuinely affordable territory if you catch a promotion or book through a travel portal. It’s got that old Chicago hotel character — high ceilings, a lively lobby, good bar — and when rates land around $130 it’s one of the better values in the area. Not always budget, but worth checking.
If you’re willing to go a little further south into the Chinatown or Bridgeport neighborhoods, you can find motels and independent properties in the $70 to $90 range. The tradeoff is you’ll need a rideshare or CTA ride to get to the stadium, but the savings can be real. Honest answer though: for a first-time Chicago visitor, I’d stick closer to the Loop where there’s more to do within walking distance.
Game Day Pricing Is a Whole Different Thing
Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I booked my first Bears game trip: hotel prices near Soldier Field behave a lot like hotel prices near any major sports venue, which is to say they get weird and expensive the closer you get to a big game. A room that costs $110 on a random Thursday can easily hit $200 or more on a Bears Sunday, especially for marquee matchups.
The way I handle this is pretty simple. I check the schedule first, then I book as far out as possible for game-day nights — usually 6 to 8 weeks ahead minimum. I also always look at the nights around the game separately, because sometimes arriving Friday for a Sunday game means one expensive night sandwiched between two reasonable ones. You can sometimes minimize the damage by adjusting your itinerary slightly.
One more thing: concerts at Soldier Field are just as bad for hotel prices as big games. The stadium hosts major tours every summer, and if a huge act is in town, expect the same demand surge. I made the mistake of booking a Chicago trip without checking the Soldier Field events calendar first and landed right in the middle of a massive concert weekend. That’s where the extra $40 I mentioned earlier went — I didn’t notice the prices had spiked until after I’d confirmed the booking. Check the calendar. Learn from my mistake.
Getting to Soldier Field Without Losing Your Mind
One of the genuinely smart things about staying in the Loop or South Loop is CTA access. The Red, Blue, and Green Lines all run through the Loop, and from there it’s either a short walk or a quick bus ride to the stadium. On game days, there are also shuttles and the lakefront path becomes a sea of fans walking in from the north, which is kind of a fun way to get in the stadium mood.
Driving and parking near Soldier Field is doable but expensive — lots around the museum campus charge $30 to $50 on event days, and traffic after the game is genuinely unpleasant. If you can stay somewhere with CTA access and skip the car entirely, your stress levels will thank you. Chicago’s transit system isn’t perfect, but for getting to and from Soldier Field, it’s pretty much the move.
The South Loop Neighborhood Is Worth Exploring on Its Own
Staying close to Soldier Field also means you’re staying close to some of Chicago’s best attractions, and if you’ve never spent real time in this part of the city, it’s worth building in some extra hours. The Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium are all clustered right there on Museum Campus, and the lakefront views are genuinely stunning on a clear day. I spent a morning just walking the lakefront path south from Grant Park and it was one of my favorite Chicago memories, completely free and completely worth it.
The South Loop itself has a good food scene that’s a little less touristy than the Magnificent Mile area. There are some excellent brunch spots, solid coffee shops, and a handful of neighborhood bars that feel nothing like the tourist-oriented places further north. That’s where I’d be pointing you for dinner the night before a game rather than anywhere on Michigan Avenue.
Booking Smart: A Few Things That Actually Help
Using Google Hotels to compare rates is still my go-to starting point — it aggregates prices across platforms and lets you see the full price including taxes and fees before you commit. Always look at the total price, not the nightly rate, because some properties in this area tack on destination fees or event surcharges that inflate the final number considerably.
If you have Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, or any travel-focused credit card, run the numbers on booking through their portal before paying cash. Sometimes the portal rates are lower, and if you’re redeeming points, cheap hotels in Chicago close to Soldier Field can become essentially free nights. I’ve covered two full Chicago hotel stays this year purely through credit card points, and both were in solid Loop properties.
Also worth trying: booking directly with the hotel after you’ve seen the lowest online price. Call the front desk, mention the rate you found, and ask if they can match it or add a perk. It doesn’t always work, but it costs you nothing to ask, and I’ve gotten free parking, late checkouts, and room upgrades this way more than once.
Your Chicago Trip Is Worth Planning Right
Finding cheap hotels in Chicago close to Soldier Field is genuinely possible — you just need to give yourself some lead time, check the events calendar before you book, and know which neighborhoods actually make sense for your trip. The Loop and South Loop give you the best combination of walkability, transit access, and hotel variety at prices that don’t require a second mortgage.
Start with Best Western Grant Park or Hampton Inn if you want reliability and value, keep an eye on Hyatt Place if you’re in the loyalty program, and remember that the lakefront location you’re getting is honestly one of the best settings for any stadium in the country. It’s a pretty good excuse to spend an extra day just wandering around.
Go book it. Chicago will not disappoint.
