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Location
Parking
Located at Navy Pier; parking validation available; Navy Pier parking is expensive, but SpotHero spaces available nearby for $12-$20
Best time
Visit early in the day, especially on weekends, to avoid crowds. Children can easily spend 3-4 hours exploring, so arriving early maximizes uninterrupted playtime at popular exhibits like the fire department and water play area.
Visitor tip
Take advantage of the re-entry policy: parents can leave the museum and return during open hours on the same day, allowing you to break up the visit, grab lunch outside, or give kids a rest without losing entry.
About Chicago Children's Museum
Hands-on experiences for children. Family museum on Navy Pier with lots of interactive exhibits, including many for young kids.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Children's Museum
- Location
- Navy Pier, Chicago
- Highlights
- Fire truck, water play, climbing area, fossil digging, construction zone
- Time Needed
- 3-4 hours
What visitors say
My daughter really enjoy it. Have a lot of fun hand on experience. Fire fighter and building construction are her favorite. She can spend all day here. We from Boston, so ticket prices for sure a little bit higher, but for sure worth…
Wow, such a great experience for my 3 year old son. My dad used to take me to this museum when I was a kiddo and it was over at North Pier. Such a great moment being able to take my son with my dad. Big upgrades! My son loved the fire…
Really great place to visit with kids. I brought my 4.5y, 18m, and 5m kids and they all had a great time. Good variety of activities. Staff were all very friendly and helpful, facilities were clean. Parking at Navy Pier is way too…
From 6,949 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- The Chicago Children's Museum relocated from North Pier to Navy Pier, representing a significant expansion and modernization of the facility with substantially upgraded exhibits
- The museum features a three-story layout with diverse hands-on exhibits including an indoor climbing area with safety helmets that allows children to navigate high tunnels, accommodating ages 3-10
- The museum offers re-entry privileges during open hours, allowing families to leave and return the same day, with children typically spending 3-4 hours exploring the exhibits
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