When I first walked into the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier, what caught me off guard was just how vertical it is. Three full floors stacked inside one of Navy Pier’s towers, which means you’re not wandering through endless galleries but climbing up through different worlds. The water exhibit splashes away near the entrance whilst parents hover nervously with the provided raincoats, and somewhere above you can hear the squeals from the three-storey climbing schooner. It’s chaotic in the best possible way, designed for children who need to move, touch, and make noise.
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Quick answer
The Chicago Children’s Museum charges £21 per person for Illinois residents and £25 for non-Illinois residents. Children under 1 year are free, and veterans and active military get free admission daily with valid ID. The museum opens Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am-2pm, and Friday to Sunday 10am-5pm. It’s closed Tuesdays.
At a glance
| Price | Opening hours | Address | Free for | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois residents: £21 | Non-residents: £25 | Mon, Wed, Thu: 10am-2pm | Fri-Sun: 10am-5pm | Closed Tuesdays | 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 | Under 1s, veterans, active military (with ID) | 60 minutes before closing |
How much does Chicago Children’s Museum cost?
The pricing structure is refreshingly straightforward, though you’ll need to prove residency if you want the Illinois discount. Everyone aged 1 and older pays the same price, which makes calculating costs for a family surprisingly simple.
| Ticket type | Price | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois resident | £21 | Adults and children 1+ with proof of Illinois residency |
| Non-Illinois resident | £25 | Adults and children 1+ from outside Illinois |
| Infants | Free | Children under 12 months |
| Veterans & military | Free | With valid military status identification |
| Museums for All | £5 | Up to 6 people with EBT or WIC card and ID |
Note that the museum requires one adult (18+) and one child for entry – you can’t just send the grandparents in alone, which seems obvious but apparently needs stating. Advance ticket purchases are encouraged and come with timed entry windows, though you can stay as long as you like once you’re in.
Is Chicago Children’s Museum free to enter?
No, there’s no general free admission. The only people who get in without paying are children under 1 year old and veterans or active military personnel with proper identification. There’s also no announced programme of free days for 2025, unlike many other Chicago museums.
However, the Museums for All programme offers £5 admission per person (up to 6 people) for families with EBT or WIC cards. You just present your card and ID at the general admission line on the day of your visit – no reservation needed. This is available during all regular operating hours and you can use it as many times as you like, though you’re limited to one visit per day.
What time does Chicago Children’s Museum open?
The museum keeps limited weekday hours, so don’t assume it’ll be open when you fancy turning up.
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10am-2pm
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 10am-5pm
Tuesday: Closed
Last entry is 60 minutes before closing time. The shortened hours on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday caught me by surprise – four hours isn’t much time, especially if you’ve travelled to get there. The Friday to Sunday opening until 5pm is more reasonable, giving you a proper seven-hour window.
Be aware that re-entry may be restricted when the museum is busy, so you’ll need to plan around meal times. The museum doesn’t allow food inside, which means stepping out for lunch could see you standing in a queue to get back in.
Do I need to book Chicago Children’s Museum tickets in advance?
Yes, advance booking is strongly recommended. The museum uses timed entry periods to manage capacity, so you’ll need to select your arrival window when purchasing tickets online. You must enter during your designated time slot, though once you’re in you can stay until closing.
Walk-up tickets are available at the door, but there’s no guarantee of availability, especially on weekends and during school holidays. Given that you might be dragging tired children around Navy Pier only to be turned away, booking ahead makes sense.
Five great things to do in Chicago
- 🏙️ Marvel at the skyscrapers – on a Chicago River architecture cruise.
- 🖼️ Take an interiors architecture tour – to see stunning glass art and mosaics.
- 🍕 Taste Chicago’s favourite dishes – on a city favourites food tour.
- 🌆 Visit the Willis Tower observation deck – and see the city from above.
- 🕵️ Discover Chicago’s gangster heritage – on a crime and mob tour.
History
The Chicago Children’s Museum was founded in 1982 by the Junior League of Chicago, a response to programming cuts in the city’s public schools. It started modestly with just two small spaces in the Chicago Public Library hallways. The museum moved several times over the years as it grew, finally settling at Navy Pier in 1995.
There were grand plans in the mid-2000s to relocate to Grant Park’s Daley Bicentennial Plaza, which would have more than doubled the exhibition space. Mayor Richard Daley backed the proposal enthusiastically, but opposition from those concerned about encroaching on Grant Park’s open space ultimately killed the project. Fundraising lagged, costs ballooned to an estimated £150 million, and by 2011 the Chicago Park District made it clear the museum wouldn’t be coming to Grant Park after all.
Instead, in late 2012 the museum signed a new 90-year lease with Navy Pier and committed to expanding within its current location. The expansion added nearly 50% more space, bringing the museum to 84,000 square feet spread across three floors. Today it serves more than 650,000 visitors annually, both at Navy Pier and through community programmes around Chicago.
What to see inside
The museum’s permanent exhibitions fill three floors with hands-on activities designed for children aged 10 and under. The exhibits are deliberately tactile and noisy – this isn’t a quiet, contemplative museum experience.
Dinosaur Expedition lets children dig for fossils in a replica excavation pit, with a life-size dinosaur skeleton looming overhead. The Suchomimus exhibit continues this prehistoric theme with more hands-on discovery.
WaterWays (also called Water City in the newer section) is the museum’s most popular attraction. Children manipulate water through wheels, pipes, and locks that echo the Chicago River system, as explored on kayak tours. The museum provides raincoats because everyone gets soaked. The newer Water City exhibit is housed in Navy Pier’s historic Head House tower and includes a 50-foot water feature with three branches representing the Chicago River, plus a lock and dam system.
Kovler Family Climbing Schooner is a three-storey ship that children can climb from cargo hold to crow’s nest. It’s physically demanding and appeals to the sort of child who needs to burn energy.
Tinkering Lab offers real tools and materials for building projects. It’s supervised but allows children proper autonomy with hammers, saws and drills under adult guidance.
Kids Town recreates an urban neighbourhood with a CTA bus, miniature cityscape, and kid-sized grocery store. Younger children can practice everyday skills in this role-play environment.
Skyline explores the engineering and architecture of Chicago’s skyscrapers, funded by the National Science Foundation. Children can construct their own buildings and learn about the science behind the city’s famous skyline.
Art Studio (Kraft Artabounds Studio) has adjustable height tables and rotating programmes where children can paint, print, sew, sketch and sculpt. Free passes are distributed an hour before each workshop begins.
Pritzker Playspace is designed specifically for babies and toddlers, with sensory explorations and age-appropriate play areas.
The current temporary exhibition is Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit, featuring the Peanuts gang through interactive displays focused on self-care, empathy and environmental stewardship. It runs through 4 January 2026.
What’s included with your ticket?
- Access to all three floors and 15+ permanent exhibitions
- Entry to temporary exhibitions (currently Take Care with Peanuts)
- Free daily programming in the Art Studio, Great Hall, Pritzker Playspace and Tinkering Lab
- Use of raincoats in water play areas
- Stroller parking throughout the museum
- Access to accessible facilities including wheelchairs, sound-reducing headphones, and sensory guides
Not included: Parking at Navy Pier (separate charges apply), food and drinks (not permitted inside), special workshops requiring pre-registration.
Things to do near Chicago Children’s Museum
Centennial Wheel (0 miles, on Navy Pier) – The 200-foot Ferris wheel offers climate-controlled gondolas with views across Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. A 15-minute rotation gives you perspective on the city’s architecture. VIP gondolas have glass floors and plusher seating. Allow 20-30 minutes including queue time.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (0 miles, on Navy Pier) – One of the country’s leading Shakespeare companies, staging both traditional productions and innovative adaptations. The 510-seat courtyard-style theatre creates an intimate atmosphere even for large-scale shows. Performances run 2-3 hours.
Centennial Fountain (0.2 miles, 4-minute walk) – This fountain shoots a massive arc of water across the Chicago River every hour on the hour from 10am to midnight, spurting for five minutes straight. It’s free and surprisingly mesmerising, especially when the arc catches the sunlight. Built in 1989 to celebrate the reversal of the Chicago River’s flow.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (1.1 miles, 20-minute walk or 8-minute drive) – One of the country’s largest contemporary art venues, with rotating exhibitions of post-1945 art across multiple floors. The collection includes major works by Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons. Allow 1-2 hours.
360 Chicago Observation Deck (0.9 miles, 18-minute walk or 6-minute drive) – Located on the 94th floor of the former John Hancock Center, this observation deck includes TILT, an enclosed platform that tilts visitors out over Michigan Avenue at a 30-degree angle. Views stretch across four states on clear days.
Head a little further south, and you can enjoy the Tribune Tower, architecture walking tours from the Chicago Architecture Center, the Art Institute of Chicago and Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. Elsewhere, you can try different pizza styles in West Loop, see Frank Lloyd Wright buildings on a guided tour of Oak Park and bus tours exploring Chicago’s gangster heritage.
Practical tips
Location: Inside Navy Pier at 700 East Grand Avenue. The museum entrance is near the main pier entrance – follow signs or ask staff.
Getting there: Five CTA bus routes serve Navy Pier daily: #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, #124 Navy Pier Express, and #2 Hyde Park Express. Free seasonal trolley service runs between Navy Pier and State Street. In summer months (May-September), Shoreline Water Taxi operates between Navy Pier, Museum Campus and other lakefront locations.
Parking: Navy Pier has two on-site garages (West and East) with 1,500 spaces total. Rates start at around £30 for 24 hours. Chicago Children’s Museum members can get up to 8 free parking sessions with validation – see membership desk for details. Off-site garages offer discounted £15 parking when validated at Navy Pier’s Guest Services Desk: Grand Plaza Park (540 N State St), Ogden Plaza Self Park (300 E North Water St), and Millennium Park Garage (5 S Columbus Dr). Street parking is scarce and expensive at £4.75/hour.
Time needed: Plan for 2-4 hours. Young children with high energy can easily fill four hours, whilst older children or those less interested in hands-on play might be done in two. The museum can feel overwhelming when busy, so arriving when doors open gives you the quietest experience.
Photography: Allowed throughout the museum for personal use. No flash photography during live programming or workshops.
Dress code: Casual and practical. Wear clothes that can get wet – the water exhibits are impossible to navigate without some splashing. The museum provides raincoats but they’re basic coverage. Comfortable shoes essential as you’ll be climbing stairs between floors.
Accessibility: The museum takes accessibility seriously. Wheelchairs available for checkout at the Membership Desk (second floor). Sound-reducing headphones and wheelchair lap trays can be borrowed. Storybook Guides explain exhibits for children with developmental disabilities. All exhibits have adjustable elements for different mobility needs. Accessible parking in Navy Pier’s garages with lift access.
Avoiding crowds: Weekday mornings (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday when it’s only open until 2pm) are quietest, though the limited hours are frustrating. Friday mornings see moderate crowds. Weekends get packed, particularly Saturday afternoons. School holidays and summer months are consistently busy. The museum may restrict re-entry during peak times.
Food: Not permitted inside the museum. Chef Art Smith’s Reunion restaurant is next door to the museum – show your ticket for one free kids’ meal with adult entrée purchase. Navy Pier has numerous other dining options, or bring a picnic to enjoy in Polk Bros Park at the pier’s entrance.
FAQs
Can adults visit without children?
No. Museum entry requires at least one adult (18+) and one child. This policy ensures the museum remains a child-focused environment.
Are strollers allowed?
Yes, strollers are permitted throughout the museum. You can leave them in the unattended coat room or bring them with you – many exhibits have adjacent stroller parking areas. Don’t block high-traffic areas like exhibit entrances.
What age group is this museum best for?
The museum targets children aged 10 and under, with exhibits most suitable for ages 2-8. The Pritzker Playspace caters specifically to babies and toddlers. Older children (9-10) may find it less engaging unless they particularly enjoy hands-on construction activities in the Tinkering Lab.
Do I need to book timeslots for individual exhibits?
No. Your timed entry slot is just for entering the museum. Once inside, you can visit all exhibits in any order and stay until closing time.
Are there places to eat inside the museum?
No food is permitted inside the museum. You’ll need to exit to eat, and re-entry isn’t guaranteed during busy periods.
Can I leave and come back the same day?
Museum re-entry may be restricted when guest traffic is high. Plan your visit around meal times rather than counting on being able to pop out and return.
Is the museum included in Chicago tourist passes?
Yes, it’s included in the Go City Chicago pass and CityPASS, which can offer savings if you’re visiting multiple attractions.
What happens if my child has special needs?
The museum offers multiple accessibility features: sound-reducing headphones, Storybook Guides for developmental disabilities, adjustable exhibit elements, sensory explorations in the Pritzker Playspace, and Play For All events (special early-opening hours on select dates for families with disabilities). Contact the museum in advance to discuss specific needs.
More Chicago travel
Other Chicago travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Ten reasons why Chicago is the best city in the US.
- The Tiffany dome in Preston Bradley Hall: Chicago’s most underrated attraction?
- A guide to Chicago’s best neighbourhoods for visitors.
- Practical guide to visiting the Shedd Aquarium.
- A guide to parking at the Field Museum.
