The best outings for 1–3 year olds around Chicago
Every place on this list scores a full 5 for ages 1–3: short, flat paths that take a stroller, something new every few minutes (animals, water, trains), a restroom nearby, and parking that doesn't take half an hour.
In the west suburbs the easy wins are the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville and the little Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, a few dollars and an hour each; Kline Creek, Volkening and Wagner farms are free sheep and cows. Nature centers are the toddler version of a hike: Knoch Knolls, Little Red Schoolhouse and Spring Valley all pair a short loop with indoor exhibits. In the city, go straight to the free Lincoln Park Zoo, where the children's zoo and the farm fill a day; in summer, the zero-depth sand at Centennial Beach; and for train fans, one ride on Metra or the L is the whole day's joy.
- 50 places
- 28 free
- 48 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
50 places
Drive times from Naperville
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
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
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
$$ · Parking: Free museum lot (301 N Washington St); when full, use the Metra station's weekend lot
Knoch Knolls Nature Center and trails
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (320 Knoch Knolls Rd)
Wolf's Crossing Community Park playground and splash pad
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (3252 Wolf's Crossing Rd)
Naperville 95th Street Library kids' area
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (3015 Cedar Glen Dr)
Fountaindale Public Library kids' area
5.0Bolingbrook · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (300 W Briarcliff Rd)
Sensory Garden Playground
5.0Lisle · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free playground lot (2225 Abbeywood Dr)
Morton Arboretum and Children's Garden
5.0Lisle · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · 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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
Shedd Aquarium
5.0Chicago · 45 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$$ · Parking: Soldier Field garage (about $25–30); 10-minute walk from the Metra Museum Campus/11th St station; bus 146
Oz Park (Wizard of Oz playground)
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Metered street parking (Webster / Lincoln Ave); 10-minute walk from the Brown Line Armitage station
Lincoln Park Zoo
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Zoo lot about $20–35 (by the hour); Stockton Dr meters; bus 151 / 156
Chicago Children's Museum
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · 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
$$ · Parking: Museum lot (about $20); Stockton Dr street parking; bus 151 / 156
Kuipers Family Farm orchard and pumpkin farm
5.0Maple Park · 50 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free farm lot (1N318 Watson Rd)
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)
Skokie Public Library kids' area
5.0Skokie · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (5215 Oakton St)
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
Kohl Children's Museum
5.0Glenview · 55 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free museum lot (2100 Patriot Blvd)
Evanston Public Library kids' area
5.0Evanston · 60 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage under the building (Church St entrance, recently free for the first stretch, check the website); 5-minute walk from the Purple Line Davis station
Chicago Botanic Garden
5.0Glencoe · 60 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Large lot on site (parking fee or included with admission, check the website); 15-minute walk from the Metra UP-North Braeside station
Lighthouse Beach
5.0Evanston · 65 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
$ · Parking: Small lot beside the Grosse Point Lighthouse and street parking on Sheridan Rd, hard to find after 10am on weekends
Illinois Railway Museum
5.0Union · 65 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Large free museum lot (7000 Olson Rd)
💡 Good to know
- Suburban farms and playgrounds get crowded on weekend afternoons; 9–11am is the toddler golden hour, then home for a nap.
- Rain or snow means a library, a children's museum or a conservatory, and every indoor place here is a backup. The Naperville 95th Street and Schaumburg libraries have children's areas that feel like small children's museums.