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.
Published May 2026. Editorial oversight by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
Cities in Illinois
- Aurora(3 attractions)
- Bloomington(2 attractions)
- Brookfield(1 attraction)
- Burbank(1 attraction)
- Chicago(10 attractions)
- Coal Valley(1 attraction)
- Collinsville(1 attraction)
- Decatur(1 attraction)
- East Dundee(1 attraction)
- Elk Grove Village(1 attraction)
- Galesburg(1 attraction)
- Glenview(1 attraction)
- Gurnee(2 attractions)
- Hanna City(1 attraction)
- Herod(1 attraction)
- Lombard(1 attraction)
- Makanda(1 attraction)
- Naperville(2 attractions)
- Normal(1 attraction)
- Oglesby(2 attractions)
- Peoria(2 attractions)
- Rockford(2 attractions)
- Schaumburg(1 attraction)
- Spring Grove(1 attraction)
- Springfield(6 attractions)
- Tinley Park(1 attraction)
- Union(1 attraction)
- Volo(1 attraction)
- Wheaton(1 attraction)
- Woodridge(1 attraction)
- Yorkville(1 attraction)
Things to do by category in Illinois
Reading for your Illinois trip
Top attractions in Illinois
Theme Parks
Navy Pier
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's lakefront playground stretches six blocks along Lake Michigan with rides, cruises, and shows.
Zoos Wildlife
Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago, Illinois
See lions, gorillas, and polar bears for free at one of America's oldest zoos.
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.
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.
Aquariums
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago, Illinois
A Chicago landmark on the lakefront where penguins, stingrays, and freshwater wonders come within arm's reach.
Historic Sites
Skydeck Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Step onto a glass ledge 1,353 feet up for America's highest view of Chicago.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Working out when you can actually go? Our Illinois school holiday calendar lists first day, last day and every break for the state's biggest districts.
Where to find family attractions in Illinois
Tap a pin or scroll the list to see top picks across the state.
More about days out in Illinois
Illinois has 53 family attractions we would happily take our own kids to. 360 Chicago Observation Deck is the one most families start with. 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. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is the other name that comes up again and again. Holographic theater and original artifacts trace Lincoln from a log-cabin boyhood to the White House and the Civil War. Adler Planetarium rounds out the pick of the bunch. Lean back under a giant dome as immersive sky shows carry your family to distant planets above Lake Michigan. Also worth your time: Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, Six Flags Great America and Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
Published prices run from $9 at Miller Park Zoo up to $39.99 at Raging Waves Waterpark. 13 of the 53 listed here quote a starting price. The others vary by season or by what you add on, so check before you travel. Free entry at Lincoln Park Zoo. Age guidance is worth reading first at Shedd Aquarium (ages 6+) and Chicago Children's Museum (ages 2-10).
Beyond family attractions, families in Illinois also head for zoos & wildlife (10), children's museums (7), water parks (6) and family entertainment (5). The family attractions on this page are spread across Aurora (3), Bloomington (2), Brookfield (1) and Burbank (1), so it is easy to pair two into one trip.