Where to go this weekend with kids around Chicago and the suburbs
In season now: Pumpkin patches and apple picking with kids around Chicago →77 places for this weekend
Naperville Riverwalk
5.0Naperville · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free on weekends at the Municipal Center (400 S Eagle St) and the Central Parking Facility; use the Van Buren garage when downtown is tight
Knoch Knolls Nature Center and trails
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (320 Knoch Knolls Rd)
Kline Creek Farm (1890s farm)
5.0West Chicago · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (1N600 County Farm Rd)
Blackberry Farm living history farm and train
5.0Aurora · 20 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free farm lot (100 S Barnes Rd)
Sensory Garden Playground
5.0Lisle · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free playground lot (2225 Abbeywood Dr)
Morton Arboretum and Children's Garden
5.0Lisle · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Parking included with admission; the big visitor center lot has a line after 10am on fall weekends
Cantigny Park gardens and tank park
5.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: About $5–15 per car depending on the day (check the website); admission free
Cosley Zoo
5.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free zoo lot (1356 N Gary Ave)
Sonny Acres Farm fall festival
5.0West Chicago · 20 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free farm lot (29W310 North Ave)
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
5.0Brookfield · 25 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Zoo lot about $17 per car; 5-minute walk from the Metra BNSF Hollywood (Zoo Stop) station
Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm
5.0Homer Glen · 25 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Large free farm lot (13341 W 151st St), with a line after 11am on weekends
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
5.0Willow Springs · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (9800 Willow Springs Rd)
Fox River Trolley Museum
5.0South Elgin · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free museum lot (365 S LaFox St)
Trailside Museum of Natural History
5.0River Forest · 30 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free museum lot (738 Thatcher Ave)
Primrose Farm (1930s farm)
5.0St. Charles · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (5N726 Crane Rd)
Rehm Park playground
5.0Oak Park · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking (Garfield St / East Ave)
Wolf's Crossing Community Park playground and splash pad
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (3252 Wolf's Crossing Rd)
Naperville 95th Street Library kids' area
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (3015 Cedar Glen Dr)
Fountaindale Public Library kids' area
5.0Bolingbrook · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (300 W Briarcliff Rd)
Metra train ride downtown (BNSF line)
5.0Naperville · 5 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free weekend parking at the Naperville station lot (permit required weekdays); same at Route 59
DuPage Children's Museum
5.0Naperville · 5 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free museum lot (301 N Washington St); when full, use the Metra station's weekend lot
Spring Valley Nature Center and trails
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (1111 E Schaumburg Rd)
Volkening Heritage Farm (1880s farm)
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (201 S Plum Grove Rd), or walk over from the Spring Valley Nature Center
Bison's Bluff Nature Playground
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Spring Valley Nature Center lot (1111 E Schaumburg Rd); the playground is right next to it
Garfield Park Conservatory
5.0Chicago · 40 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free conservatory lot (Central Park Ave); the Green Line Conservatory-Central Park Drive station is at the door
Goebbert's Farm pumpkin farm
5.0South Barrington · 40 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Large free farm lot (40 W Higgins Rd)
Maggie Daley Park play garden
5.0Chicago · 45 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park garage (Columbus Dr entrance, about $25–30 on weekends); 5-minute walk from Metra at Millennium Station; L to Washington/Wabash
Chicago Water Taxi
5.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Michigan Ave dock is below the Wrigley Building; from Metra at Union Station you can board directly at the Ogilvie / Union dock
Oz Park (Wizard of Oz playground)
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Metered street parking (Webster / Lincoln Ave); 10-minute walk from the Brown Line Armitage station
Lincoln Park Zoo
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Zoo lot about $20–35 (by the hour); Stockton Dr meters; bus 151 / 156
Kuipers Family Farm orchard and pumpkin farm
5.0Maple Park · 50 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free farm lot (1N318 Watson Rd)
Oak Park Public Library kids' area
5.0Oak Park · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage under the building (first 2 hours free, check the website); 5-minute walk from the Green Line Oak Park station
Wonder Works Children's Museum
5.0Oak Park · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Small lot out front and street parking on North Ave
Emily Oaks Nature Center
5.0Skokie · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (4650 Brummel St)
River Trail Nature Center
5.0Northbrook · 55 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (3120 Milwaukee Ave)
Historic Wagner Farm
5.0Glenview · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (1510 Wagner Rd)
Indian Boundary Park playground and lagoon
5.0Chicago · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking (Lunt / Estes Ave)
Lilacia Park (Lilac Time)
5.0Lombard · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free weekend parking at the Metra Lombard station lot; the park is right across from the station
Schaumburg Township District Library kids' area
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (130 S Roselle Rd)
Springbrook Prairie
4.0Naperville · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Two free lots, on Plainfield-Naperville Rd and 83rd St
Hidden Lakes Historic Trout Farm
4.0Bolingbrook · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (419 Trout Farm Rd)
Herrick Lake lakeside trail
4.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Two free lots, on Butterfield Rd and Herrick Rd
Northside Park lakeside playground
4.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (1300 N West St)
Chicago Botanic Garden
5.0Glencoe · 60 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Large lot on site (parking fee or included with admission, check the website); 15-minute walk from the Metra UP-North Braeside station
Naper Settlement outdoor history village
4.0Naperville · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free museum lot (Webster St / Porter Ave)
Riding the L around the Loop
5.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Metra to Union Station, then a 10-minute walk to Quincy; Loop garages are $15–30 on weekends if you drive
Shedd Aquarium
5.0Chicago · 45 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$$ · Parking: Soldier Field garage (about $25–30); 10-minute walk from the Metra Museum Campus/11th St station; bus 146
Fullersburg Woods Nature Center and Graue Mill
4.0Oak Brook · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (3609 Spring Rd)
Chicago Children's Museum
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Navy Pier garage (museum discount, still about $20+); bus 124 direct from Union Station / Ogilvie
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Museum lot (about $20); Stockton Dr street parking; bus 151 / 156
Skokie Public Library kids' area
5.0Skokie · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (5215 Oakton St)
Centennial Beach quarry swimming beach
5.0Naperville · 5 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free Centennial Beach lot (500 W Jackson Ave); when it fills on weekend afternoons, use the Riverwalk garage
Kohl Children's Museum
5.0Glenview · 55 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free museum lot (2100 Patriot Blvd)
Evanston Public Library kids' area
5.0Evanston · 60 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage under the building (Church St entrance, recently free for the first stretch, check the website); 5-minute walk from the Purple Line Davis station
Busse Woods elk and lake loop
4.0Elk Grove Village · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small lot for the elk pasture at Higgins Rd and Arlington Heights Rd; other entrances along Higgins Rd and Golf Rd
Lake Arlington loop
4.0Arlington Heights · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lakeside lot (off 1330 E Palatine Rd)
The 606 elevated trail
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Street parking (metered around Damen / Western Ave); 8-minute walk from the Blue Line Damen station
Chicago Riverwalk
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park or Grant Park garage (about $20–30 on weekends); 10-minute walk from Metra at Union Station; 5-minute walk from the L at State/Lake
Jackson Park Wooded Island and Japanese garden
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free parking on the east side of the MSI and along Hayes Dr; 15-minute walk from the Green Line / Metra Electric 55th-56th-57th station
Navy Pier Centennial Wheel and carousel
4.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Two Navy Pier garages ($30–40 on weekends, very expensive); bus 124 direct from Union Station / Ogilvie
Lincoln Park Conservatory
4.0Chicago · 50 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Zoo lot (about $20–35) or Stockton Dr street parking; bus 151 / 156
Illumination at the Morton Arboretum
4.0Lisle · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$ · Parking: Parking included with ticket; entry by time slot
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago
4.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free parking at Streets of Woodfield
Santa's Village Azoosment Park
5.0East Dundee · 50 min drive
5 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Free park lot (601 Dundee Ave)
Millennium Park and Crown Fountain
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park or Grant Park garage (about $25–30 on weekends); Metra to Millennium Station is right under the park; L to Washington/Wabash
Harold Washington Library children's library
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Nearby garages (Van Buren / State St, about $15–25 on weekends); the L's Harold Washington Library station is at the door; 5-minute walk from Metra at LaSalle St
Museum of Science and Industry
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Museum underground garage about $22; 10-minute walk from the Metra Electric 55th-56th-57th station; bus 6 / 10
Field Museum
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Soldier Field garage (about $25–30); 10-minute walk from the Metra Museum Campus/11th St station; bus 146
Waterfall Glen waterfall and woodland trails
3.0Darien · 20 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Bluff Rd lot is closest to the falls; the main Northgate Rd lot is off Cass Ave
Montrose Beach and dunes
5.0Chicago · 55 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Lots of free parking along Montrose Harbor, usually available even on weekend afternoons
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
4.0Chicago · 50 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$ · Parking: Zoo lot about $20–35, fills fast on light show nights; bus 151 / 156
Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden
4.0Glencoe · 60 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$$ · Parking: Parking included with ticket; entry by time slot
57th Street Beach and Promontory Point
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free parking on the east side of the MSI and along Science Dr, then take the underpass to the lake; 15-minute walk from the Metra Electric 55th-56th-57th station
North Avenue Beach
4.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: North Ave beach lot (about $20–30 on summer weekends, full after 10am); bus 151 / 72 to LaSalle & North
Chicago Cultural Center
3.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park garage; Metra to Millennium Station across the street; L to Washington/Wabash
Mount Hoy sledding hill (Blackwell)
3.0Warrenville · 15 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free Blackwell Forest Preserve lot (Butterfield Rd entrance)
Christkindlmarket Chicago
3.0Chicago · 45 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Loop garages $15–30 on weekends; 10-minute walk from Metra at Ogilvie / Union Station; the L's Clark/Lake station is right at the plaza