Chicago, IL
Fun Things to Do with Kids in Chicago
Whatever the weather is doing, Chicago has options. We track 584 places to take kids across the area, including family entertainment centers (62), bowling alleys (50) and arcades (40).
Find kid-friendly places to play, learn and explore in and around Chicago. Browse by category below, or jump to a few popular spots families visit.
Last updated 23 September 2026. Hours and prices come from each business.
Indoor activities for kids in Chicago
When it rains, or when it is simply too cold to be outside for long, there are 139 indoor places to choose from. Museums and indoor playgrounds are the usual answer, and both work at short notice.
Free things to do with kids in Chicago
A good share of what is on this page costs nothing. 51 of the places we list are free to visit, which makes a short trip perfectly reasonable when attention spans are short.
Best places by age in Chicago
Splash pads, wading pools and indoor play areas suit toddlers, because they are shallow, close by and easy to leave early. Older children get more out of the hands-on museums and the bigger play structures.
Browse by category in Chicago
20 categories, 584 places. Counts change as businesses add listings.
Popular places in Chicago
8 of 584, ordered by distance from Chicago.
Millennium Park
FREE; Cloud Gate 'The Bean' iconic photo; Crown Fountain; Jay Pritzker Pavilion free outdoor concerts; Lurie Garden; free skating in winter; year-round destination
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink Millennium Park
FREE skating always; rental skates available; beneath the Cloud Gate Bean; winter season Nov-March; iconic downtown Chicago experience; free admission
Crown Fountain at Millennium Park
FREE; world-famous Jaume Plensa sculpture; two 50-ft glass brick towers projecting 1000 Chicago faces; water pools at base in summer; one of world's most famous…
Cloud Gate (The Bean)
FREE; Anish Kapoor's 110-ton chrome bean sculpture; infinite sky reflections; walk underneath for warped views; most Instagrammed Chicago landmark; Millennium Park
Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center is the city's free public arts venue, on Michigan Avenue in the Loop. Admission is free every day. Families can see rotating…
Maggie Daley Park Splash Pad
Maggie Daley Park Splash Pad is a water play area located in Chicago, Illinois. The splash pad offers families a place for children to cool off during warm…
Maggie Daley Park Water Play
Maggie Daley Park Water Play is a splash pad located at 337 E Randolph St in Chicago, Illinois where families can cool off during warm months. The water play area…
Grant Park
Chicago's front yard; Buckingham Fountain (free shows hourly); Lollapalooza venue; lakefront; Soldier Field adjacent; expansive lawns family events; FREE
Nearby cities
The closest other places we cover.
Common questions
What are the best things to do with kids in Chicago?
We list 584 kid-friendly places in Chicago, led by family entertainment centers (62) and bowling alleys (50). Every listing shows hours, prices and what other parents thought.
What can you do with kids in Chicago for free?
51 of the places we list in Chicago are free to visit, including playgrounds, splash pads and several outdoor spaces.
Where can you take kids in Chicago when it is raining?
There are 139 indoor places in Chicago, including museums, indoor playgrounds and family entertainment centers.