United Center Parking: Lots, Prices, Map and the Best Lot for Your Gate

Parking at the United Center runs about $22 to $29 in an official lot, more if you pay at the gate. Want the shortest walk? Buy Lot C through Ticketmaster. Want the fastest exit? Take Lot K on Adams. Prepay either way, because gate rates are higher and the close lots fill first.

What United Center parking costs

Official lot parking costs about $22 to $24 for the general lots and about $27 to $29 for Lots C and K, with the lower figure being the prepaid price.

The venue changes its rate card without notice, so treat these as the recent going rate. The structure never changes: prepaid beats paying an attendant.

Independent lots nearby list far lower, often $9 to $15, for a five to twelve minute walk. There are no in and out privileges anywhere, so once you drive out your pass is finished.

United Center parking lots explained, lot by lot

There are nine official lots, lettered A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J and K. Only Lot E is not fan parking.

Lot C. North side, between Madison Street and Warren Boulevard, at 1901 West Warren Boulevard. Two minutes to Gates 2 and 3, the shortest walk there is. Ticketmaster only. Accessible parking lives here too: enter from Warren with a placard or disabled plate.

Lot K. Directly south, north side of Adams Street, at 1859 West Adams Street. Two to three minutes to Gates 6 and 7, Ticketmaster only, same price as Lot C. Best lot for getting out: you drop south towards the Eisenhower instead of fighting Madison.

Lot H. South and slightly west, behind Lot K. Short walk to the south gates, cheaper than C and K, and it holds spaces later. The right call if you arrive 45 minutes before tip off without a pass.

Lot A. Northeast, towards Wood Street and Washington Boulevard. Three to five minutes, and it puts you at the East Atrium and Gate 4, the Jordan statue side.

Lot B. Also northeast, off Warren Boulevard, similar walk to Lot A. Buses and limousines enter here, so expect coach traffic before a big concert.

Lot D. Southeast, around Monroe Street and Paulina Street. Roughly five minutes, and far less painful to leave than anything that dumps you on Madison.

Lot F. Southwest, past Damen towards Seeley Avenue. Five to seven minutes, the longest official walk, and the Lexus Club lot on team nights.

Lot J. Southeast, around Monroe and Wood. The locals' pick when the close lots go: five to seven minutes and a much easier exit.

Lot E. Not a fan lot. This is the Uber Zone at Madison and Wood. Cars enter from Madison and exit on Warren.

What happened to Lot G, Lot C1, Lot C2 and the rest

If you have seen references to Lot G, Lot C1, Lot C2, Lot K2, Lot L or Lot X, none of those are current official lots.

Lot G used to hold accessible parking at Damen and Monroe. That moved into Lot C, and Lot G has dropped off the venue's own list, though most parking guides still repeat the old advice.

The reason is the 1901 Project, the redevelopment that broke ground in June 2026 on the surface lots around the arena. Phase one covers about 12 acres south and west of the building, exactly where several retired letters sat.

United Center parking map

The arena sits at Madison and Damen, and the official lots wrap around it on all four sides.

North is Lot C, hard against the building between Madison and Warren, with Lot B further northeast. East is Lot A towards Wood and Washington, plus Lot E, the Uber Zone, on the Madison and Wood corner. South is Lot K along Adams with Lot H beside it, and Lots D and J southeast around Monroe, Wood and Paulina. West is Lot F, past Damen towards Seeley.

The official map sits on the United Center directions and parking page, with a second version in the accessibility guide showing the ADA route into Lot C. Check it before you drive, because construction keeps moving lot boundaries.

Lexus Club parking, and whether it is worth it

Lexus Club parking is a seat package perk, not something you can buy on its own.

Hold Lexus Club seats and you get reserved parking in Lot F or Lot C for every Bulls and Blackhawks preseason, regular season and playoff game. For concerts and family shows it is not included, though members can buy a pass through the arena's Ticketmaster Account Manager site.

So it is not a reason to buy the seats. If you already hold them, take Lot C every time.

Suite holders get their own arrangement: two reserved passes in Lot C or South Adams, plus two alternate passes valid in Lots A, B, D or the Malcolm X College garage.

How to buy a United Center parking pass in advance

Buy through Ticketmaster, which is the venue's own discounted route, or through SpotHero for the general lots.

On Ticketmaster, open the United Center venue page and go to the add ons or parking tab. This is the only way to prepay Lot C or Lot K, and passes are mobile entry. SpotHero, linked from the venue's own page, also lists the cheaper independent lots nearby.

Paying at the gate works and all major cards are accepted, but you pay more and have no claim on a lot. Screenshot whatever you buy, because signal gets patchy an hour before doors.

Free and cheap parking near the United Center

There is genuinely free parking at the United Center, but only for select family shows.

The venue offers free parking in all official lots for certain family shows, and Disney on Ice has historically been one. Check the event page before you count on it. For everything else there is no free official parking, whatever a blog from 2019 tells you.

Cheap is a different question. Independent lots in the surrounding blocks often list at $9 to $15 against $22 or more official, which is real money for a short walk.

Be careful who takes that money. The venue and Chicago police have both flagged people waving fans into unlicensed lots next to legitimate ones, pocketing cash, and vanishing before the tow trucks arrive. No booth, no signage, no app, drive on.

Street parking near the United Center

Street parking near the United Center is legally restricted on event days across a large area, and much of it is a signed tow zone.

Chicago's municipal code runs a United Center permit parking program covering the area bounded by Western Avenue, Lake Street, Ashland Avenue and Adams Street. On designated streets during posted hours it is permit holders only, and each day of a multi night run counts separately.

Locals do find free spots, usually further out around Washington Boulevard and Wolcott Avenue. It works if you arrive two hours early and read every sign on the block, including the small ones bolted above the obvious ones. Get it wrong and a tow starts at $160 plus the ticket.

Best lot to park in, depending on your gate

Pick your lot by the gate on your ticket, because walking around the outside of this building takes longer than it looks.

Gates 2 and 3, north side: Lot C. Gates 6 and 7, south side: Lot K, or Lot H if you would rather keep the money. Gate 4 and the East Atrium: Lot A. Cheapest walk you will not resent: Lot J or Lot D. Accessible: Lot C, entering from Warren.

February Blackhawks game or heavy rain: pay for Lot C or Lot K and stop optimizing.

What time the lots open

Official lots and the Uber Zone open to the public two and a half hours before event time.

Arena gates open later, generally 90 minutes before Bulls and Blackhawks games, and they vary for concerts and family shows. For a 7pm puck drop that means lots at 4:30pm, gates at 5:30pm.

Chasing Lot C or Lot K without a prepaid pass? Turn up right on the 2.5 hour mark. They fill first.

Parking for Blackhawks and Bulls games versus concerts and family shows

The lots are the same for every event, but they behave completely differently.

Blackhawks and Bulls games are predictable. Arrivals spread across the full 2.5 hours, Lots C and K go first, and Lot F is partly committed to Lexus Club members.

Concerts are the hard ones. Almost everybody turns up in the last 45 minutes before doors and Madison and Damen seize up, so prepay and come early, or park east and walk.

Family shows including Disney on Ice are often free in all official lots and bring a lot of first time drivers, so lot entry crawls. Add 20 minutes. Playoff nights behave like concerts with worse traffic.

Getting there without driving, and getting out afterwards

Public transport gets you close, and after a sellout it beats your car out of the neighborhood.

The arena is two blocks south and one block east of the Damen stop on the Green Line, two blocks south and three west of Ashland/Lake on the Green and Pink lines, and a few blocks north of Illinois Medical District on the Blue Line. The 9 Ashland, 20 Madison, 50 Damen and 126 Jackson buses all stop in front or within a couple of blocks.

Leaving, the CTA runs the 19 United Center Express to Union Station, downtown and Michigan Avenue. Uber Shuttle runs flat fare shared buses from Lane 7 at the east end of the Uber Zone, and rideshare pickup is the Uber Zone in Lot E until an hour after the event.

If you drove, do not rush. The first 20 minutes on Madison and Damen are the worst of the night. Walk east into the West Loop, eat something, come back to a clear street.

United Center parking FAQ

How much does parking cost at the United Center? Official lots run about $22 to $24 prepaid, and Lots C and K about $27. Paying at the gate costs more in every lot. Independent lots nearby often come in at $9 to $15 if you accept a short walk.

What is the address of Lot C, and how do I get a pass? Lot C is at 1901 West Warren Boulevard, between Madison Street and Warren Boulevard on the arena's north side. It is sold through Ticketmaster only, under add ons or parking on the venue page. It is the closest lot and it fills first.

What is the address of Lot K? Lot K is at 1859 West Adams Street, directly south of the arena on the north side of Adams. It is a two to three minute walk to Gates 6 and 7. Like Lot C it is prepaid through Ticketmaster, and it is the easiest lot to leave from.

Is there free parking at the United Center? Yes, but only for select family shows, where the venue offers free parking in all official lots. Disney on Ice has historically been included. For Bulls games, Blackhawks games and concerts there is no free official parking anywhere on the campus.

What time do the United Center parking lots open? Official lots and the Uber Zone open to the public two and a half hours before event time. Arena gates open later, generally 90 minutes before Bulls and Blackhawks games, and vary for concerts and family shows. For a 7pm start that means lots at 4:30pm.

Where is accessible parking at the United Center? Accessible parking is in Lot C, and you must enter from Warren Boulevard with a current disabled placard or plate. Older guides still point to Lot G South at Damen and Monroe, which is out of date. The CTA also runs transport for guests with disabilities.

Does Red Top Parking still operate at the United Center? No. Red Top ran lots around the arena for more than 50 years, but sold its final parcel to the United Center's owners in 2025 and has exited completely. If you are looking for a Red Top lot, use an official lot or book an independent garage instead.

What is the best parking for a concert at the United Center? Prepay Lot C for the shortest walk or Lot K for the fastest exit, and arrive at least an hour before doors. Concert crowds all turn up at once and Madison and Damen back up badly. If you would rather save money, book Lot J or Lot D.