Chicago · With kids
Chicago with kids: things to do
| Place | Ages | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Park Zoo | Free entry | Listed kids' price: free ($0). |
| Museum of Science and Industry | Child tickets ages 3-11 | No kids' price stated on the source page. |
| Field Museum | Under 3 free | No kids' price stated on the source page. |
| Shedd Aquarium | Child tickets ages 3-11 | No kids' price stated on the source page. |
Chicago is a good fit for families who want big museums plus free outdoor space. Lincoln Park Zoo is free every day, Maggie Daley Park puts a playground, climbing wall and skating ribbon in the Loop, and CTA lets children under 7 ride free. Summers run warm (July highs near 30 C), while January highs hover near 1 C, so season choice shapes the whole trip.
The notes below on Chicago are drawn from the linked operator, transit and climate pages, opened on 18 October 2026. Prices that could not be confirmed on the source page are left out.
What to do, and what it costs for kids
[Lincoln Park Zoo](https://www.lpzoo.org/plan-your-visit/). A 49-acre zoo with over 170 species. Admission is free every day with no reservations. Kids' areas include the Houston Family Play Treehouse, the Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure (rides from $4.50 per ticket), and paths are stroller friendly. Listed kids' price: free ($0).
[Maggie Daley Park](https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/maggie-daley-park). A 20-acre park in the Loop with a children's playground (Maggie Daley Play Garden), a climbing wall and a skating ribbon.
[Museum of Science and Industry](https://www.griffinmsi.org/visit/tickets/). Large science museum. Children's tickets are for ages 3-11, and Illinois Free Days make general admission free for children. Age band: Child tickets ages 3-11.
[Field Museum](https://www.fieldmuseum.org/landing/tickets-and-pricing). Natural history museum. Admission for children under three is always free; EBT or WIC families can get $3-per-person general admission for up to six people. Age band: Under 3 free.
[Shedd Aquarium](https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/get-tickets). Aquarium on the lakefront. Child tickets (3-11) vary by date and are cheaper when booked in advance. Age band: Child tickets ages 3-11.
[Chicago Children's Museum](https://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/). Children's museum at Navy Pier. Open Wed, Thu 10-2 and Fri-Sun 10-5, closed Tuesday; last admission is 60 minutes before closing.
Fares, strollers and the airport run
Child fares. CTA: children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying adult. Ages 7-11 pay a reduced fare using their own Ventra card (ask the driver or station attendant to set the reduced fare).
Strollers. Open strollers are allowed but must stay out of aisles and doorways, and staff may ask you to fold one when it is crowded or during busy periods. Strollers are never allowed on escalators, so use elevators or ramps, and check CTA elevator alerts before travelling.
Airport. From O'Hare, the Blue Line to downtown takes 40-45 minutes, costs $5 or less and runs 24 hours. From Midway, the Orange Line takes 20-25 minutes at $2.50 or less.
Transit sources: lapi.transitchicago.com, transitchicago.com.
Monthly highs and lows
| Month | Average high | Average low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0.7 C | -6.7 C |
| February | 2.9 C | -4.8 C |
| March | 9 C | 0.1 C |
| April | 15.9 C | 5.5 C |
| May | 22.3 C | 11.5 C |
| June | 27.3 C | 17.1 C |
| July | 29.5 C | 20.1 C |
| August | 28.2 C | 19.4 C |
| September | 24.7 C | 15.2 C |
| October | 17.8 C | 8.5 C |
| November | 9.8 C | 2 C |
| December | 3.4 C | -3.4 C |
Best months: Early September to mid-October: highs of about 18 to 25 C, past the peak summer heat and before the winter cold.
Source: climatestotravel.com (Midway Airport, 1991-2020).
Stay-area notes
The Loop. Maggie Daley Park, with its playground and climbing wall, is in the Loop, and CTA rail connects directly with both airports.
Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park Zoo is free daily and has a play treehouse, carousel and stroller-friendly paths.
Kids' costs at a glance
Listed as free for kids on the source page: Lincoln Park Zoo.
Adult and resident prices, extra-fee exhibits and promotions are in the sight notes above where the source gave them; confirm the date-specific price on the operator page before you buy.
Age rules by attraction
- Museum of Science and Industry: Child tickets ages 3-11
- Field Museum: Under 3 free
- Shedd Aquarium: Child tickets ages 3-11
No age band or kids' price was stated for: Maggie Daley Park; Chicago Children's Museum. Check the operator page for those before you plan the day around them.
What the weather table says about dates
On the monthly table, the warmest average high is 29.5 C in July and the coolest is 0.7 C in January. The spread between the two is 28.8 C, which is the number to weigh when you choose dates. The source's pick, repeated from above: Early September to mid-October: highs of about 18 to 25 C, past the peak summer heat and before the winter cold.
Questions
Where can toddlers go in Chicago?
Lincoln Park Zoo is free with stroller-friendly paths and a play treehouse, the Field Museum is free for children under three, and CTA carries children under 7 free.
What are the cheapest family days out in Chicago?
Lincoln Park Zoo has free admission every day, and Maggie Daley Park is a public park. Museum of Science and Industry runs Illinois Free Days with free general admission for children, and the Field Museum offers $3 general admission to EBT and WIC families.
What can we do in Chicago on a rainy or freezing day?
Plan around the museums: Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium and Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier. January highs average only 0.7 C, so indoor days are common in winter.
How do we get from O'Hare to the city with kids?
Take the Blue Line, which runs 24 hours and takes 40-45 minutes to downtown for $5 or less. Use an elevator rather than an escalator if you have an open stroller.
When is the best time to visit Chicago with children?
Climates to Travel points to early September to mid-October. Highs then run from about 25 C down to 18 C.
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Sources
- Lincoln Park Zoo: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Lincoln Park Zoo: A 49-acre zoo with over 170 species. Admission is free every day with no reservations. Kids' areas include the Houston Family Play Treehouse, the Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure (rides from $4.50 per ticket), and paths are stroller friendly. Listed kids' price: free ($0).
- Maggie Daley Park: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Maggie Daley Park: A 20-acre park in the Loop with a children's playground (Maggie Daley Play Garden), a climbing wall and a skating ribbon.
- Museum of Science and Industry: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Museum of Science and Industry: Large science museum. Children's tickets are for ages 3-11, and Illinois Free Days make general admission free for children. Age band: Child tickets ages 3-11.
- Field Museum: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Field Museum: Natural history museum. Admission for children under three is always free; EBT or WIC families can get $3-per-person general admission for up to six people. Age band: Under 3 free.
- Shedd Aquarium: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Shedd Aquarium: Aquarium on the lakefront. Child tickets (3-11) vary by date and are cheaper when booked in advance. Age band: Child tickets ages 3-11.
- Chicago Children's Museum: official site (checked 18 October 2026)
Chicago Children's Museum: Children's museum at Navy Pier. Open Wed, Thu 10-2 and Fri-Sun 10-5, closed Tuesday; last admission is 60 minutes before closing.
- Chicago transit: fares and airport (checked 18 October 2026)
CTA: children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying adult. Ages 7-11 pay a reduced fare using their own Ventra card (ask the driver or station attendant to set the reduced fare). From O'Hare, the Blue Line to downtown takes 40-45 minutes, costs $5 or less and runs 24 hours. From Midway, the Orange Line takes 20-25 minutes at $2.50 or less.
- Climates to Travel: monthly climate (checked 18 October 2026)
Best months for Chicago: Early September to mid-October: highs of about 18 to 25 C, past the peak summer heat and before the winter cold.