Shoreline Sightseeing’s water taxis are a great way to get around town. Starting in May and running through September, our water taxi service offers fast and fun routes to Chicago’s top attractions.
Route & Schedule
Water taxis operate weather and customer traffic permitting. Our schedule is updated daily. Please call us at 312-222-9328 ext. 1 with questions.
| Departure location | Frequency and times |
| Departure location, frequency & times | |
| 1 Navy Pier (Lake Route) | {{ getSchedule(64) }} |
| 2 Buckingham Fountain | {{ getSchedule(92) }} |
| 3 Museum Campus | {{ getSchedule(90) }} |
| 4 Navy Pier (River Route) | {{ getSchedule(65) }} |
| 5 Michigan Avenue (to Navy Pier) | {{ getSchedule(84) }} |
| 5 Michigan Avenue (to Willis Tower) | {{ getSchedule(78) }} |
| 6 Willis Tower / Union Station | {{ getSchedule(91) }} |
| Route | Price (one‑way) | ||
| Navy Pier |  |
Museum Campus | Adults: $16, Children: $9 |
| Navy Pier | |
Michigan Avenue | Adults: $10, Children: $5 |
| Navy Pier or Michigan Avenue | |
Willis Tower / Union Station | Adults: $16, Children: $9 |
| Michigan Avenue* | |
Museum Campus* | Adults: $21, Children: $10 |
| Route & Price (one‑way) | ||
| Navy Pier | |
Museum Campus |
| Adults: $16, Children: $9 | ||
| Navy Pier | |
Michigan Avenue |
| Adults: $10, Children: $5 | ||
| Navy Pier or Michigan Avenue | |
Willis Tower / Union Station |
| Adults: $16, Children: $9 | ||
| Michigan Avenue* | |
Museum Campus* |
| Adults: $21, Children: $10 | ||
*Michigan Avenue to Museum Campus requires transfering vessels at Navy Pier.
Tickets
Water Taxi Prices
Tickets are only sold at the water taxi docks. All ticket purchases must be made with either a credit or debit card. No cash is exchanged at these locations.
All aboard
Docks
We have multiple docks conveniently located near major attractions including Navy Pier, the Willis (Sears) Tower, Michigan Avenue, Museum Campus, and Union Station.
All the info you need
Water Taxi FAQs
The lake taxis go between Navy Pier and the Museum Campus (Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium and are within walking distance of Soldier Field and Northerly Island).
The river taxis go from Navy Pier to Michigan Avenue and Union Station/the Willis tower.
Water taxis run every 30 minutes during the main season of Memorial Day through Labor Day. Water taxis may also run outside the main season in the spring and fall, weather permitting.
The water taxis operate as public transportation similar to buses, so reservations are not available. All tickets are sold in-person at our Shoreline kiosks or as you board.
In the summer, we usually run water taxis if it rains. We typically do not run them in the rain during spring or fall. The decision to cancel is left solely to the captain who decides whether it’s safe to sail.
Our water taxis have both open and covered areas.
Yes, all of our water taxis have restrooms.
Our water taxis are not accessible to people with disabilities. Please call if you have additional questions.
Yes, because we have the largest boat fleet in Chicago, we can provide unparalleled service!
Shoreline Sightseeing offers 60- to 75-Minute Architecture River Tours on the Chicago River led by professional and entertaining guides. We also offer 40-minute Skyline Lake Tours on Lake Michigan, featuring a professional narration on the city’s history and landmarks along Chicago’s famous skyline. We also offer Fireworks Cruises during the summer.
Our water taxis provide one-way service between each dock location. To transfer to another taxi or to take a return trip requires a new ticket.
