Things to do in Illinois with kids
53 attractions • Updated May 2026
Looking for things to do in Illinois with kids? You are spoiled for choice. From Navy Pier to family days out in Chicago and the best theme parks in Illinois, Illinois packs more family days out into one trip than almost any other state. We have pulled together 53 of the best places to visit in Illinois, each with addresses, opening times and what to expect with kids in tow. Filter by category or browse by city below.
Last reviewed May 2026 by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
Family attractions in Illinois
53 of 53 attractions
Historic Sites
360 Chicago Observation Deck
Chicago, Illinois
Ride the TILT and lean out over the Magnificent Mile from 1,030 feet up, where Chicago and Lake Michigan stretch out in every direction.
History Museums
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Springfield, Illinois
Holographic theater and original artifacts trace Lincoln from a log-cabin boyhood to the White House and the Civil War.
Science Museums
Adler Planetarium
Chicago, Illinois
Lean back under a giant dome as immersive sky shows carry your family to distant planets above Lake Michigan.
Nature Outdoor
Blackberry Farm
Aurora, Illinois
Step back to the 1800s at this Aurora park-district farm, where themed events run from Laura Ingalls Wilder days to fairytale weddings.
Zoos Wildlife
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Brookfield, Illinois
Meet bottlenose dolphins, ride a Ferris wheel, and roam open-enclosure habitats at this century-old Chicago-area zoo.
Museums
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Rockford, Illinois
Meet Jane the juvenile T. rex and watch real paleontologists at work in Rockford's natural history museum.
Historic Sites
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Collinsville, Illinois
Walk among 72 earthen mounds of a pre-Columbian city that once rivaled London in size.
Childrens Museums
Chicago Children's Museum
Chicago, Illinois
Build, experiment, and play across hands-on exhibits perched right on Chicago's Navy Pier.
Childrens Museums
Children's Discovery Museum
Normal, Illinois
Play-based, interactive exhibits give kids room to explore, experiment, and imagine.
Zoos Wildlife
Cosley Zoo
Wheaton, Illinois
A compact five-acre zoo focused on Illinois wildlife and farm animals, with a strong education mission and sensory-inclusive certification.
Water Parks
Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park
Woodridge, Illinois
A friendly community water park with a lazy river and lifeguards rated tops for safety, ideal for an easy summer afternoon.
Childrens Museums
Discovery Center Museum
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford's hands-on museum where kids build, splash, and play, anchored by the foam-block Imagination Playground.
Childrens Museums
Discovery Depot Children’s Museum
Galesburg, Illinois
A 15,000-square-foot children's museum with a working Ferris wheel, water play, a real caboose, and STEM-packed exhibits.
Childrens Museums
DuPage Children's Museum
Naperville, Illinois
Become an engineer, architect, or artist at The Questioneers and other STEAM play zones built for under-10s.
Family Entertainment
Enchanted Castle
Lombard, Illinois
Race go-karts, battle in multi-level laser tag, and pick from 200-plus arcade games under one Chicagoland roof.
Museums
Field Museum
Chicago, Illinois
Stand beside SUE, one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever found, at Chicago's landmark natural history museum.
Nature Outdoor
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
Herod, Illinois
Hike past towering sandstone formations to the Observation Trail's sweeping Shawnee Forest views.
National State Parks
Giant City State Park
Makanda, Illinois
Wander the "Giant City Streets," sandstone bluffs split into corridors 12,000 years ago.
Family Entertainment
Grady's Family Fun Park
Bloomington, Illinois
Race NASCAR-themed go-karts and ride a roller coaster at a fun park born from a 1959 pizza recipe.
Family Entertainment
Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center
Burbank, Illinois
Putt an award-winning mini-golf course, then race go-karts open since 1977.
Zoos Wildlife
Henson Robinson Zoo
Springfield, Illinois
A compact Springfield zoo that's an easy, affordable wildlife outing for younger families.
Water Parks
Hurricane Harbor Chicago
Gurnee, Illinois
A Six Flags water park near Chicago with seasonal opening, best confirmed directly with the park before you go.
History Museums
Illinois Railway Museum
Union, Illinois
Don't just look at the trains, climb aboard and ride restored steam, diesel, and electric cars at America's largest railway museum.
Museums
Illinois State Museum
Springfield, Illinois
One museum, four sites across Illinois, spanning ancient Dickson Mounds archaeology to fine art galleries and natural history.
Childrens Museums
Kidzeum of Health and Science
Springfield, Illinois
Hands-on exhibits where kids learn to keep their bodies and their world healthy.
Water Parks
Knight's Action Park
Springfield, Illinois
A water park, amusement rides, and a Route 66 drive-in that grew from a 1930s driving range.
Childrens Museums
Kohl Children's Museum
Glenview, Illinois
"Say YES to play" in pretend-play worlds where kids drive cars, shop, and build houses.
Family Entertainment
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago
Schaumburg, Illinois
Build, ride, and watch Chicago landmarks recreated in LEGO bricks, all indoors.
Historic Sites
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Springfield, Illinois
Tour the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned, in its preserved Springfield neighborhood.
Zoos Wildlife
Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago, Illinois
See lions, gorillas, and polar bears for free at one of America's oldest zoos.
National State Parks
Matthiessen State Park
Oglesby, Illinois
Hike past waterfalls and canyons carved by ancient streams in northern Illinois.
Zoos Wildlife
Miller Park Zoo
Bloomington, Illinois
Spot snow leopards, red pandas, and a Galapagos tortoise at this AZA-accredited Bloomington zoo.
Science Museums
Museum of Science and Industry Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Tour a real WWII submarine, the U-505, then catch a film on a five-story domed screen.
History Museums
Naper Settlement
Naperville, Illinois
Walk through 13 acres of restored 19th-century buildings where Naperville's history comes alive.
Theme Parks
Navy Pier
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's lakefront playground stretches six blocks along Lake Michigan with rides, cruises, and shows.
Zoos Wildlife
Niabi Zoo
Coal Valley, Illinois
A rescue-focused zoo where giraffe feeding, train rides, and a carousel round out the day.
Family Entertainment
Odyssey Fun World Tinley Park
Tinley Park, Illinois
Laser tag, go-karts, and mini golf across 45,000 square feet indoors plus an 11-acre park.
History Museums
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Chicago, Illinois
Live animals, conservation science, and 167 years of connecting Chicago to nature.
Museums
Peoria Riverfront Museum
Peoria, Illinois
Art, history, science, and a planetarium under one roof on the Peoria Riverfront.
Zoos Wildlife
Peoria Zoo
Peoria, Illinois
Trek from Africa to Australia in one zoo, with giraffe feeding and playful spider monkeys.
Zoos Wildlife
Phillips Park Zoo
Aurora, Illinois
A free-to-explore community zoo set within Aurora's Phillips Park.
Theme Parks
Pirate's Cove Children's Theme Park
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
A pirate-themed kids' park where grown-ups get in free.
Water Parks
Raging Waves Waterpark
Yorkville, Illinois
Illinois's largest waterpark, with an Aussie theme from wave pool to mat racers.
Nature Outdoor
Richardson Adventure Farm
Spring Grove, Illinois
A 28-acre corn maze, a million tulips, sunflowers, and cut-your-own Christmas trees, season by season.
Water Parks
Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park
East Dundee, Illinois
A holiday-themed park pairing amusement rides, a water park, and barnyard animals.
Zoos Wildlife
Scovill Zoo
Decatur, Illinois
A small-town Decatur zoo where a carousel, a train, and 400 animals share the grounds.
Aquariums
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago, Illinois
A Chicago landmark on the lakefront where penguins, stingrays, and freshwater wonders come within arm's reach.
Theme Parks
Six Flags Great America
Gurnee, Illinois
Seventeen roller coasters earn this 300-acre park its title as the Thrill Capital of the Midwest.
Historic Sites
Skydeck Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Step onto a glass ledge 1,353 feet up for America's highest view of Chicago.
Water Parks
Splash Country Water Park
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora's summer cool-off spot with tube slides, a lazy river, and zero-depth play.
National State Parks
Starved Rock State Park
Oglesby, Illinois
Hike sandstone canyons and seasonal waterfalls carved by ancient glacial meltwater.
Museums
Volo Museum
Volo, Illinois
Over 400 cars, roaring dinosaurs, and a Titanic exhibit under one Illinois roof.
Zoos Wildlife
Wildlife Prairie Park
Hanna City, Illinois
Spot bison, bears, and wolves across 1,800 acres of central Illinois prairie.
Where to find family attractions in Illinois
Tap a pin or scroll the list to see top picks across the state.