What are the best kid-friendly always free museums in Chicago

 Lincoln Park Zoo-- Lincoln Park

This is one of the country's oldest and last free zoos. It's also a great half-day trip that you can extend by visiting the nearby Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, walking around the South Pond Nature Boardwalk, or taking a trip to the beach in the summer. There's lots of recently updated habitats and the children's zoo has place for kids to climb and play. You can bring in your own food, or the centrally located Park Place Cafe offers lots of options, some of them relatively inexpensive.

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum-- Downtown

Do your kids have questions about money? They can see a million bucks in person, try detecting counterfeit bills, or see examples of rare currency at this location across from the Willis Tower. It's not a full day museum, and you'll need a reservation to come with a big group, but it's an interesting way to spend an afternoon for a money or math-minded kid in late elementary and up.

Smart Museum of Art-- Hyde Park

This is The University of Chicago's Fine Art Museum, and it focuses on observing issues through art. The Smart Museum hosts monthly family days during the school year where kids can explore themes featured in the exhibits by making their own art. Exhibits change relatively frequently, so if you haven't checked it out recently, you can go again and see something completely new!

Mindworks-- Downtown

This Chicago Booth School of Business Museum is part exhibits and part working experiment. You answer questions and perform tasks to help researchers learn how the human brain works and answer questions like "What Feels True?" and "What Shapes Your Choices?" Mindworks is better for older kids who can read and make some decisions and statements about what they think and feel.

National Museum of Mexican Art -- Pilsen

The Pilsen community is a pillar of the arts and the Latin American community in Chicago, so this is a great location to take your kids to learn more about both. You can see lots of interesting art from artists that come from south of the border, and there's plenty of programming for kids from preschool to teenagers.

Hyde Park Arts Center-- Hyde Park

This community arts center and museum connects local residents to artists by featuring accessible, local, and contemporary artists. Families can visit interactive center Days programs once a month to participate in the arts and create some of their own.

Garfield Park Conservatory-- Garfield Park

Learn about plants from all over the world in various greenhouses and throughout the adjacent gardens of this unique west side conservatory. The Elizabeth Morse Genius Garden is currently under renovation, but will include lots of new interactive features for kids, including a one-of-a-kind climbing structure, when it reopens.

When Are the Free Museum Days in Chicago?

Free Days at Chicago Science Museums

Adler Planetarium-- Museum Campus

Free for Illinois residents January 7, 12, 14, 21, 26 and 28, February 2, 4, 9, 11, 18 and 23, March 2, 4, 9, 11, 18 and 25, and April: 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29

Ages: Best for 4-12

Insider Tips: This is smaller than some Chicago museums and does have a great area for late preschool/early elementary kids

Our kids' favorites are on the upper level, including the moon exhibit and the newly reimagine Other Worlds exhibit on the different planets of the solar system. There's also a great play area for little kids that gives them ideas of what life is like on a space ship and how to navigate a Mars rover. The shows still cost extra, but many are discounted on Illinois resident free days in case you want to give your kids an expanded experience within the budget. 

Brookfield Zoo Chicago-- Brookfield 

Free admission January 5 through December 28

Ages: Best for preschool through middle school

Insider Tips: Parking is significantly cheaper in the north parking lot. Arrive early for the best spot.

This is the bigger of the Chicago zoos, and if you can stand the cold, it's worth going on a free day! Check out the new Bramsen Tropical Forest, and visit the Hamill Family Play Zoo for fun with little kids.

Museum of Science and Industry-- Hyde Park

Free admission for Illinois residents January 12, 13, 14, 25, 26, 27 and 28, February 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, and 26, April 19 and June 4 and 19

Ages: 4 and up

Insider Tip: This is a whole-day museum. Arrive early if you have kids that might want to see everything

If you have a transprotation enthusiast, this is your place. The first floor is all about trains, and the upper level has a great exhibit on airplanes. But there's plenty for your other kids, too, like Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle and the chicks hatching in the Genetics exhibit. There's something for everyone here-- I find a new favorite every time.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum-- Lincoln Park

Free admission (suggested donation) for Illinois residents every Thursday

Ages: 3-8

Insider Tip: Try to visit the butterfly haven around 2 p.m. when the newly emerged butterflies are released for the day. Eat a lot of fruit and one might land on you.

If it's too cold to go to the zoo, you might want to check out the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on a Thursday. The permanent exhibits include information and experimentation on waterways, sustainability, and a look-in animal laboratory, along with my personal favorite, the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven. You can see butteflies emerging from their chrysallises, and new butterflies are released every day at 2. Rotating exhibits on the second floor change all the time and usually have a local focus.

Shedd Aquarium-- Museum Campus

Free admission all day on January 6-8, 13-20, 27-29, February 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26. Free admission 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26 and June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Ages: 3 and up

Insider Tip: Park in the Adler Planetarium parkin lot. It's a short walk and you don't have to arrive super early.

Our favorite exhibits are the penguins and the reef, both on the lower levels. Make sure you check out a show (also free) to learn more about a specific animal of interest to your children. We could spend hours at a time just watching the different ocean life in the main atrium as different animals swim by!

 
Kids under age 12 are always free at the American Writers Museum. Photo courtesy of the American Writers Museum

Free Days at Chicago Arts Museums

Art Institute of Chicago-- Downtown

Free admission for Illinois residents weekdays January 5–February 28

Ages: 6 and up

Insider Tip: Visit the Ryan Learning Center first, where your kids can take a quiz to generate a booklet of arts they might want to see.

This museum spans multiple buildings and could take a week to truly absorb the whole thing. Plan ahead so you see the things your kids want to see most. The miniatures exhibit in the basement is always a hit, but my kids also like A Sunday on La Grand Jette and Paris Street; Rainy Day. There's usually a fun rotating exhibit, but it's not always kid friendly. Stop by the Ryan Learning Center for some more interactive fun for little kids. We recommend visiting on a Thursday after lunch. The museum is open until 8 p.m., and you might be able to avoid spending money on a meal.

Museum of Contemporary Art-- Streeterville

Free admission for Illinois residents Tuesdays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free Family Days on the second Saturday of each month

Ages 8 and up

Insider Tip: Parking can be expensive; take a bus if possible.

It's hard to write about what to see here because it's changing all the time. There's always half a dozen exhibits, and often there is something unique and kid friendly. To see your best bets, attend Family Saturday, which lets kids make art based on a theme featured in one of the exhibits. There's always something new and different to see here!

American Writers Museum-- Downtown

Free admission on the third Sunday of each month

Ages:  2 and up

Insider Tip: Check the museum's calendar for events with real live writers!

You don't have to be a literary genius to enjoy this fun downtown museum about American writers. Kids can stand in the word waterfall, use an old-timey typewriter to type out their own short story, or get a surprise from the surprise bookshelf. Or just read in the Negaunee Foundation Children's Literature Gallery.

Free Days at Chicago History Museums

Field Museum-- Museum Campus

Free admission for Illinois residents every Wednesday

Ages: 5 and up

Insider Tip: Sue has moved to the second floor! You'll have to go through a lot of prehistory to get to her gallery.

This is where your dinosaur loving kids need to go. There's dozens of different dinosaurs, including the world's most complete T-Rex, Sue! I also like some of the human-based history exhibits, like the Egyptian pyramid and the Ancient Americans exhibits, which include lots of totem poles and examples of dwellings from before recorded history.

Chicago History Museum--Old Town

Free admission for Illinois residents January 19–23, 27–30; February 16, all Tuesday-Fridays

Ages 6 and up

Insider Tip: Visit on commemorative holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day for special themed activities related to the day.

This is a good museum to combine with a trip to Lincoln Park Zoo or The Second City. The kids area on the first floor includes places to become a Chicago-style hot dog or pretend you're playing for the Cubs. You can also visit lots of old trains and check out dioramas of major Chicago historical events. Rotating exhibits make this museum a little different every time.

Illinois children under 18, Illinois teachers, active-duty military, veterans, police, and firefighters are always free. There are also Illinois resident-free days listed on the website during January and February 2025. Non-Illinois residents under age 12 are free. 

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center-- Bronzeville

Free admission on Wednesdays

Ages 6 and up

Insider Tip: Visit soon to see The Many Colors of Us, a special exhibit for kids ages 3-10.

This is the oldest African American history museum in the country, and it has lots of interesting exhibits on local and national Black history. It currently has a kids' exhibit, The Many Colors of Us, but families can also learn about civil rights, Harold Washington, Black artists in Paris, and more.

Are There Any Hidden Gem or Off-the-Beaten-Path Free Museums in Chicago?

Yes! We have an article of hidden gems and quirky museums, but here's a summary of the free or sometimes free ones.

Busy Beaver Button Museum -- Logan Square

Free admission Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., please email in advance for groups larger than 6.

See the world-record-setting collection of 9,000 pinback buttons, or learn to make one of your own! Again, not a full day, but a fun way to spend part of a day if you're in the neighborhood.

Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art-- Oak Brook

Free admission on Wednesdays

Lapidary art is making things out of rocks and minerals. This museum has some normal things you would think of, like jewelry or flatware, but also weird things, like dioramas of animal habitats and miniature meals carved out of stone. It's a quirky and fun thing for kids to look at, and they have scout programs!

Graue Mill and Museum at Fullersburg Woods -- Oak Brook

Free admission every day

This is the only gristmill listed on the Illinois Register of Historic Places. Learn about milling, spinning, and weaving during the Civil War era, and how the Graue family lived in their 1850s house on the site. You can also hike and visit the nature center in Fullersburg Woods for free, making this a full day of fun. 

Build and design your own structure using real tools in the Chicago Children's Museum's Skyline exhibit. Photo courtesy of Chicago Children’s Museum

The Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Photo courtesy of the museum

Are There Any Hidden Gem or Off-the-Beaten-Path Free Museums in Chicago?

Families contribute to a giant friendship bracelet at an MCA Family Day. Photo by Grace Needlman

Photo by Steven Koch courtesy of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.  

Shedd Aquarium is half-price for Chicago residents. Photo by Chi Diver via Flickr 2.0

Which Free Museums Are Best for Different Ages?

Toddlers and Preschoolers

For the youngest of kids, we recommend low levels of reading and walking and high levels of interactivity. Try Lincoln Park Zoo, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and Garfield Park Conservatory

Elementary Aged Kids

These kids can read some, but are more compelled by action and interactivity. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium are best for these ages, and are popular field trip destinations

Tweens & Teens

Interests start to diverge at these ages, and not all tweens and teens want to see the same thing. The Art Institute is great for artsy tweens and teens, while those who love history will get a kick out of the Chicago History Museum. Mindworks is also more interesting for kids who are into social studies at this age.

How To Make the Most of Free Museum Days

This absolutely differs by the age of your children. If you still have kids that take an afternoon nap, go when the museum is first open and pack snacks and water bottles. Most museums have a place you can stash bags so you don't have to haul them everywhere, or make use of your stroller to make getting around with all of that stuff easier. We still recommend going early for elementary kids because they don't move that fast and often get fixated on one exhibit and run out of time to do the other things they want to do. For teens and tweens, consider finding out how late a museum is going and starting your day just after lunch. This may mean you can get in a full museum day from 11-6 or 12-7 without needing a full meal.

We always suggest finding out in advance if you can bring your own food and drink, and take advantage of that as much as possible. No one wants to waste money on bottled water when you could bring a water bottle from home. If you can't bring your own food, look at the available menus in advance and be strategic-- can you split something with a kid? Is a pizza more cost effective than a burger? Are you going to be hungry again in an hour if you only eat a tiny salad? 

And make sure you plan how you are going to get to and from the museum. Spot Hero is one of my best friends when it comes to this. I love finding a parking lot halfway between two museums I want to hit in the same day. Remember, the Field Museum, The Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium are all neighbors; you can easily park in one spot and do two museums, especially if you have big kids or there is one spepcific thing you want to see in one of the museums.

Free Museum Days in Chicago FAQ

Q: What museums are always free in Chicago?
A: Several local favorites like Lincoln Park Zoo, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum, and the Smart Museum of Art, offer free admission year-round for everyone.

Q: When are free museum days in Chicago?
A: Many major museums offer free admission on select days — like the first Friday or first Sunday of each month. Wednesdays are a popular free day in Chicago-- try visiting the Field Museum during the day on Wednesday and the Adler Planetarium in the evening.

Q: Are free museums in Chicago good for kids?
A: Yes! Many are hands-on and family-friendly, with play zones and interactive exhibits. Some art museums are better for older kids and tweens.

Q: Do I need tickets or reservations for free museum days?
A: Most museum offer reservations or timed entry booking for free days, and free admission does sometimes sell out. We recommend getting tickets in advance if you can, or having a back-up plan if you aren't arriving as soon as the museum opens.

Q: What’s the best time to visit free museums with kids?
A: Mornings are typically less crowded; avoid midday or rainy weekends when lines get long. You're not the only one who knows it's free day, so it will be crowded, especially for monthly or less frequent free days.

Q. Does the Chicago Children's Museum offer free days?

A: Yes, but none have been announced yet for 2026. Keep your eye on the Chicago Children's Museum website to see when they pop up.