Suitcase students and homebodies alike have their choice of transportation to and from Chicago.

One of the geographic advantages of going to school in DeKalb is its proximity to Chicago. When a student or local tires of the small-town bars and relatively limited music venues, the option of heading to the city is never far from reach.

A multitude of transportation methods is available for those who desire a trip to the city on the lake.

NIU’s weekend shuttle makes four trips from the Holmes Student Center to the Elburn Metra station on Fridays and Sundays. A shuttle ticket costs $4 for students, $5 for staff and $7 for the public.

The Elburn Metra stop, the Western terminus of the Union Pacific West Line, is the nearest commuter train station. There were talks of extending the service to DeKalb, but county borders created funding restrictions. The train makes 17 stops throughout the Western suburbs before stopping at the Ogilvie Transportation Center on Madison and Canal Streets, just outside the Chicago Loop.

Fares vary depending on destination. From Elburn to Chicago, the maximum ticket price is $5.55.

Greyhound bus line tickets can be purchased at Lukolos Restaurant on the corner of Annie Glidden Road and Lincoln Highway. The bus stops in Aurora before moving on to the city, stopping at the 630 W. Harrison St. station, one block from the CTA Blue Line Clinton platform.

For the more adventurous traveler, the university offers a Commuter Carpool Connection program through the NIU Web site. Users can enter their destinations and sift through lists of drivers or riders to journey with.

For style and speed, though, the choice is clear: charter a flight from DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport to O’Hare or Midway.

“I’ve seen people do it,” said airport manager Tom Cleveland. This option is limited to the deeper pocketed, though.

“It would be cost-prohibitive because it’s such a short flight,” Cleveland added.