Fox River Trolley Museum
Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
🚂 Train · South Elgin
2 hours · $ · No reservation needed
- 🚗About 30 min driveFrom Naperville · Parking: Free museum lot (365 S LaFox St)
- 🍼Stroller-friendlyFlat surfaces — bring the stroller
- 🌳Some shadeGreat on sunny days · Good on cool days
- ⏱️Typical visit: 2 hoursBest seasons: Summer · Fall · Spring
A small volunteer-run museum where you ride century-old trolleys 4 miles out and back along the Fox River, with a stop at the Blackhawk forest preserve midway; few cars, few people, the motorman lets kids ring the bell, and a round trip takes about 45 minutes.
What this place offers
Featured in these guides
This weekend's weather in South Elgin
Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)
Location
South Elgin, Illinois
More like this
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
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
Illinois Railway Museum
5.0Union · 65 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Large free museum lot (7000 Olson Rd)