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Voykit pocket guide · United States
East Chicago
Visit East Chicago for a few hours to see Marktown Park and Jeorse Park Beach; stay overnight only if you want the Ameristar casino.
East Chicago is a small industrial city on Lake Michigan with a historic worker community (Marktown) and a lakefront beach, plus a casino. It’s best for a half‑day stop unless you plan to gamble or explore the steel‑heritage sites in depth.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–45 USD excl. bed · Mid $45–70 USD excl. bed · High $70+ USD excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | $2–3 USD |
| Pizza slice | $3–5 USD |
| Beer (draft, bar) | $4–6 USD |
| Casino entry (no‑min bet) | $10 USD (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GYY · Gary/Chicago International Airport
- about 15 km (9.3 mi) west, shuttle or taxiabout 9.3 mi (15 km) west, shuttle or taxi
Typical fares
- South Shore Line Chicago → East Chicago
- about $15 round‑trip (check)
- Taxi from train station to Ameristar
- $10–15 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
South Shore Line commuter train from Chicago (about 45 min); local streets are drivable, parking available near the beach and casino.
See and do
Known for
- Marktown Park
- Jeorse Park Beach
- Ameristar Casino Hotel
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hammond | South Shore Line west, about 10 min | ≈20 min total |
| Gary | South Shore Line west, about 15 min | ≈30 min total |
| Chicago downtown | South Shore Line east, about 45 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago
- Casino‑connected hotel; rooms from $120 USD per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- The city is a Superfund site; avoid prolonged exposure to dust near the harbor.
- Higher crime rates in some neighbourhoods; stay in well‑lit areas and keep valuables secure.
East Chicago has higher crime than nearby suburbs; stay in well‑lit public areas, keep valuables hidden, and avoid the industrial harbor after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for East Chicago yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Marktown Park
- Jeorse Park Beach
- Ameristar Casino Hotel
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- East Chicago official website: www.eastchicago.com
- Wikivoyage: East Chicago, revision 5242292 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242292
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
East Chicago
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulates are in Chicago and Indianapolis; nearest for East Chicago is Chicago.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/east-chicago). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.