Choose Chicago and Big Bus Tours launch South Side shuttle to Griffin MSI & Obama Center

Choose Chicago and Big Bus Tours Chicago are launching a seasonal shuttle that will connect downtown visitors with two major South Side destinations: the Obama Presidential Center and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. The service will start on Friday, June 19, and run through Sunday, Oct. 18, with a possible extension if demand is strong.

The route is meant to make it easier and cheaper for travelers to move between the city center and Hyde Park, the press release states. Tickets will cost $10 one-way or $17 for an all-day pass, with prices subsidized by Choose Chicago’s investment in the project.

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How the route works

According to the announcement, the shuttle will stop at East Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue, the Obama Presidential Center, and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Tickets will be sold at BigBusTours.com.

The new line also marks an expansion for Big Bus Tours Chicago, whose regular service currently reaches only as far south as Museum Campus.

Why the partners say it matters

Choose Chicago said the shuttle is designed to deepen tourism on the South Side ahead of the Obama Presidential Center’s opening. The center officially opens on Friday, June 19, and is expected to draw major interest from visitors.

“This partnership is about far more than transportation—it’s about connection,” said Kristen Reynolds, president and CEO of Choose Chicago, according to the release.

DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt stated in the press release that the South Side “tells an essential part of Chicago's story,” and said the city supports efforts that strengthen connections across neighborhoods.

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Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation, said the new bus service will make it easier to reach “world-class cultural institutions on the South Side,” according to the release.

Dr. Chevy Humphrey, president and CEO of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, said the service helps bring more families, tourists, students, and residents to Hyde Park.

Choose Chicago also said it is working with South Side cultural institutions, neighborhood partners, and local businesses on visitor itineraries, digital guides, and storytelling content to encourage longer visits in Hyde Park and nearby communities.