Need to Go NowA good tip needs
a good source.
Here’s where the restroom information comes from, what we know, and what to check before you head out.
Check the details. Then go.
Listings combine public maps, official records and community reports. A pin on a map does not guarantee an open door.
4,046 mapped locations. Collection last ran .
OpenStreetMap
Chicago, its suburbs, and New York City
© OpenStreetMap contributors. Data under ODbL 1.0. Includes standalone restrooms and venues with mapped restroom facilities, such as restaurants, stores, cafés, and gas stations. Customer-only access is labeled. Private, members-only, and unavailable facilities are excluded. Unknown access and fees stay unconfirmed. Building centers are not necessarily restroom entrances.
Download the OSM-derived databaseNYC Open Data
Public Restrooms dataset, under NYC Open Data terms. Only records marked operational by the provider are listed. This dataset does not establish that every restroom is free. Availability may change.
Download the NYC source records used hereChicago parks & Cook County forest preserves
Active comfort stations come from the Chicago Park District building dataset. Forest-preserve locations come from the official county map and include only sites with listed indoor or portable bathrooms. Seasonal notices reflect the source. Preserve pins mark recreation sites, not necessarily restroom entrances. Opening hours, fees, and access remain unconfirmed unless explicitly documented.
Photos, videos & visitor reports
Imported photos require a checked license, creator credit and a match to the exact facility. Photo dates describe when the image was taken. Community ratings only include reviews submitted on Need to Go Now.
Social videos and third-party reviews are researched as source links. They are not copied into community ratings or published as facility photographs without appropriate permission and verification.
Watch the original creator videos