Rainy-day and snow-day outings with kids around Chicago
Half the year in Chicago isn't meant for being outside: rain in spring and fall, sub-zero in winter. The good news is more indoor options than you can get through, from free libraries and conservatories to several of the best museums in the country.
The west-suburban rainy-day standard is the DuPage Children's Museum and the 95th Street Library in Naperville; the northwest has the Schaumburg library and LEGOLAND Discovery Center; the north has the Kohl Children's Museum and the Skokie library. Downtown, the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier is three indoor hours, and the Shedd, the Field and MSI are full indoor days. For free, there are the Garfield Park and Lincoln Park conservatories, the Harold Washington Library, the Chicago Cultural Center and the small exhibit halls at the nature centers.
- 30 places
- 18 free
- 29 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
30 places
Drive times from Naperville
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
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)
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)
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)
Trailside Museum of Natural History
5.0River Forest · 30 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free museum lot (738 Thatcher Ave)
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
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)
Schaumburg Township District Library kids' area
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (130 S Roselle Rd)
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
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
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
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)
Skokie Public Library kids' area
5.0Skokie · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (5215 Oakton St)
Kohl Children's Museum
5.0Glenview · 55 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free museum lot (2100 Patriot Blvd)
Evanston Public Library kids' area
5.0Evanston · 60 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage under the building (Church St entrance, recently free for the first stretch, check the website); 5-minute walk from the Purple Line Davis station
Fullersburg Woods Nature Center and Graue Mill
4.0Oak Brook · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (3609 Spring Rd)
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago
4.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free parking at Streets of Woodfield
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
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
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
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
💡 Good to know
- On a rainy weekend afternoon every indoor place in the region is packed; get in at opening, or pick a library, which never sells out.
- Metra is the comfortable way downtown in the rain, and from Union Station or Ogilvie there's a bus or the water taxi (which runs in the rain) to all the big museums.