101 Family Day Trips from Chicago
**COVID UPDATE: Maybe you've had to cancel that big vacation you've planned. Or you just want to dream up all the fun outings that the future holds for you and your family. One place to get started is our big list of day trips. Now, not every place will be open or operating quite as it usually does, but it's a quick link over to learn the details directly from the destination.
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Chicago. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Get Wild on a Hike
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Waterfall Glen |
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Fullersburg Woods |
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Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center |
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Maple Grove |
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North Park Villiage Nature Center |
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Shabbona Lake State Park |
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Starved Rock Lodge |
Time Travel Today
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Chicago History Museum |
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Illinois Holocaust Museum |
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DuPage County Historical Museum |
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Trailside Museum of Natural History |
Splash into Some Water Fun
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Buckingham Fountain |
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Skokie Water Playground |
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Montrose Beach |
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Great Wolf Lodge |
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Pelican Harbor Aquatic Park |
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Grand Bear Resort |
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The Water Works |
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Wheeling Park Family Aquatic Center |
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Timber Ridge Lodge |
Parks and Rec
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Millennium Park |
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The 606 |
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Maggie Daley Park |
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Oz Park |
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Grant Park |
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Chicago Riverwalk |
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Lakefront Trail |
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The Loop |
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Knoch Knolls Park |
Spend the Day at a Museum
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
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Illinois Railway Museum |
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Volo Automobile Museum |
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Dad's Slot Cars |
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Chicagoland Speedway |
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Chicago Water Taxi |
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Lambs Farm |
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Blackberry Farm |
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The Children's Farm |
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Forest View Farm |
Play Ball!
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Chicago Bulls |
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Chicago Bears |
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Chicago Blackhawks |
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Chicago Cubs |
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Chicago White Sox |
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Chicago Red Stars |
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Chicago Fire FC |
Treat Yo' Self
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Donut Vault |
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The Original Rainbow Cone |
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Homer's Ice Cream |
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Lickity Split Ice Cream |
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Candyailty |
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Little Popcorn Store |
Connect with Nature
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Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum |
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Garfield Conservatory |
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Chicago Botanic Garden |
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Urban Adventure Quest |
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Lincoln Park Conservatory |
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The Morton Arboretum |
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The Sky Deck |
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360 Chicago Observation Deck |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center |
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The Forge |
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Nickle City |
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Six Flags |
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Santa's Village |
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Pirates Cove |
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Bellaboos |
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Centennial Wheel |
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Navy Pier |
Talk to the Animals
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Lincoln Park Zoo |
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Shedd Aquarium |
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Brookfield Zoo |
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Randall Oak's Zoo |
Get Active Indoors
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Hot Ground Gym |
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Skokie Park Exporitorium |
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Little Beans Cafe |
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Purple Monkey Playroom |
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Kidville Playpark |
Challenge Yourself
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Kids Science Labs |
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Ultimate Ninjas |
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Windy City Ninjas |
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iFly |
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Gather |
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Brooklyn Boulders |
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Glazed Expressions |
Cultivate Some Culture
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Chicago Children's Theatre |
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Blue Man Group |
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Playmakers Laboratory Theatre |
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CSz Theater |
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Muntu Dance Theater |
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Chicago Magic Lounge |
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Hubbard Street Dance |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Chicago. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away
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