Chicago and the suburbs
Great Places to Go Around Chicagoland
Neighborhood walks, lakefront parks, museums, suburban towns and day trips, with what to know before you go.
The Chicago area has more places to go than most people ever get to: eighteen miles of lakefront trail, free conservatories, museums with resident free days and quiet forest preserves. The simplest way to start is the city’s own park district calendar, which lists what is open each season.
Many of the best outings are within reach of a train. Check regional transit schedules before a day out, since weekend service differs from weekday service, and look at the attraction’s official site for hours and reservations. Our guides tell you what to check and when.
Start here
How to Pick Your Next Chicagoland Outing
The metro area stretches from the Wisconsin line to northwest Indiana. A little planning turns a vague free day into a good one.
Match the place to the day
A sunny, warm day belongs outside: the Lakefront Trail, a beach, a forest preserve or a suburban riverwalk. A cold, rainy or very hot day is a museum or conservatory day. Chicago weather changes quickly, especially near the lake, so keep one indoor plan and one outdoor plan in your pocket and pick in the morning.
Time matters as much as weather. Popular spots such as Millennium Park, the Museum Campus and Starved Rock are calmer early in the day and on weekdays. If you can only go on a weekend, arrive when the doors open.
Use free days and always-free places
Several big museums offer free general admission to Illinois residents on selected days, and the schedule changes every year. Free days usually need an advance reservation and proof of residency, so book as soon as a date is announced.
Plenty of places never charge: Lincoln Park Zoo, the Chicago Cultural Center, the National Museum of Mexican Art, Millennium Park and the Lakefront Trail. Building a day around them keeps costs down without making it feel like a budget outing.
Leave the car at home when you can
Much of the city and many suburbs are reachable by CTA trains and Metra. The Green Line runs to Oak Park and to the Garfield Park Conservatory, the Purple Line reaches Evanston and Wilmette, and Metra serves Naperville, Glencoe and other suburbs. The South Shore Line runs to the Indiana Dunes.
Parking near popular downtown attractions is expensive and fills early. If you drive, look up the official parking information first and have a backup garage in mind.
Plan around the seasons
Chicagoland changes a lot through the year. Spring brings waterfalls at Starved Rock, cherry blossoms in Jackson Park and bird migration along the lakefront. Summer is beach season and free outdoor concerts. Fall is the best time for colour in the arboretums and forest preserves.
Winter is not a lost season. Skating ribbons and rinks open downtown, holiday markets and light shows run through December, and the conservatories stay warm and green all year.
Check before you go
Hours, prices, reservation rules and free days change more often than guides can keep up with. Every article here tells you what to check on the official website before you leave home, and we avoid printing details that change from month to month.
If a place requires timed tickets, book them before you set out. If a trail or beach has advisories, such as swim bans on red-flag days, follow them. A two-minute check saves a wasted trip.
All guides
Places to Go, Neighborhood by Neighborhood and Season by Season
Every guide on the site, newest first.
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FAQ
Questions About Getting Around Chicagoland
Short answers about the site and planning a day out.
What does Go Chicagoland cover?
Places to go across the Chicago metro area: city neighborhoods, the lakefront and parks, museums, suburban towns, day trips and seasonal outings.
Is the site connected to any attraction?
No. We are independent and are not paid by any park, museum or business. We do not publish rankings or reviews.
Are the museum free days listed here?
We explain how free days work but do not list dates, because museums change them every year. Check each museum’s official website, where free days are announced and booked.
Can I reach these places without a car?
Many of them, yes. CTA trains and buses cover most city neighborhoods, Metra serves many suburbs, and the South Shore Line runs to the Indiana Dunes. Each guide mentions the transit options.
What is the best free thing to do in Chicago?
It depends on the day. On a nice day, walk or bike part of the Lakefront Trail or visit Lincoln Park Zoo. On a cold day, the Garfield Park Conservatory or the Chicago Cultural Center are good choices.
When is the best time for a day trip?
Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for hiking and walking towns. Starved Rock waterfalls are strongest in early spring or after heavy rain, and fall colour usually peaks in October.
Do I need reservations?
Some places require timed tickets, including several conservatories and museums on free days. The guides say when, but always confirm on the official site.
How current is the information?
We check facts against official sources when we write each guide and avoid details that change often. Hours, fees and schedules can still change, so confirm before you go.