[2] Clybourn is situated between the Bucktown and DePaul neighborhoods, several miles north of downtown Chicago.

The busy Kennedy Expressway passes to the west of the Northwest Line tracks, and the north branch of the Chicago River is several blocks to the east.

The station is in a mostly industrial neighborhood, though it is served by Chicago Transit Authority buses.

During the summer concert season, the extra weekend train to Ravinia Park also stops here.

From Clybourn station, it is possible to take a train as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin and as far northwest as Harvard, Illinois.