Things to do with kids in Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park has the highest density of kid outings in Chicago: a free zoo, a free conservatory, a butterfly haven, a Wizard of Oz playground and a beach all inside one big park, walkable end to end, with coffee and ice cream shops around it.
Into the zoo at 10am for the lions, then the children's zoo and the Farm-in-the-Zoo; out the north gate to warm up in the conservatory or see the butterflies at Peggy Notebaert; in the afternoon, walk to the Oz Park playground, or in summer dig in the sand at North Avenue Beach. A few minutes west, The 606 elevated trail takes strollers and scooters. Come back on a November or December evening for ZooLights, the Chicago family's December tradition.
- 16 places
- 11 free
- 15 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
16 places
Drive times from Lincoln Park
Oz Park (Wizard of Oz playground)
5.0Chicago · 5 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 · 5 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Zoo lot about $20–35 (by the hour); Stockton Dr meters; bus 151 / 156
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
5.0Chicago · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Museum lot (about $20); Stockton Dr street parking; bus 151 / 156
Lincoln Park Conservatory
4.0Chicago · 5 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Zoo lot (about $20–35) or Stockton Dr street parking; bus 151 / 156
Maggie Daley Park play garden
5.0Chicago · 10 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park garage (Columbus Dr entrance, about $25–30 on weekends); 5-minute walk from Metra at Millennium Station; L to Washington/Wabash
Riding the L around the Loop
5.0Chicago · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Metra to Union Station, then a 10-minute walk to Quincy; Loop garages are $15–30 on weekends if you drive
Chicago Water Taxi
5.0Chicago · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Michigan Ave dock is below the Wrigley Building; from Metra at Union Station you can board directly at the Ogilvie / Union dock
Chicago Children's Museum
5.0Chicago · 10 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Navy Pier garage (museum discount, still about $20+); bus 124 direct from Union Station / Ogilvie
Montrose Beach and dunes
5.0Chicago · 10 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Lots of free parking along Montrose Harbor, usually available even on weekend afternoons
The 606 elevated trail
4.0Chicago · 10 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 · 10 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
Millennium Park and Crown Fountain
4.0Chicago · 10 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 · 10 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
North Avenue Beach
4.0Chicago · 10 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
Navy Pier Centennial Wheel and carousel
4.0Chicago · 10 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Two Navy Pier garages ($30–40 on weekends, very expensive); bus 124 direct from Union Station / Ogilvie
Chicago Cultural Center
3.0Chicago · 10 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park garage; Metra to Millennium Station across the street; L to Washington/Wabash
💡 Good to know
- The zoo lot at $20–35 is the biggest expense around here; Stockton Drive meters are cheaper but go early, and the 151 bus runs from downtown to the zoo gate.