Chicago Children's Museum Entry Tickets

The 15 permanent exhibits include Dinosaur Expedition, a replica paleontological dig site; Cloud Buster, a 37-foot multi-level climbing structure rising to The Apartment, a Chicago-themed space at the top; Skyline, a construction zone for building cities; the Tinkering Lab, a genuine maker-space with real tools; Water City, a STEM water play exhibit in the historic Head House tower exploring the Chicago River and Lake Michigan; the Art Studio with real art materials; and Pritzker Playspace, a dedicated environment for infants and toddlers.

Yes. Chicago Children's Museum offers a rotating calendar of daily programs in the Art Studio, Great Hall, Pritzker Playspace, and Tinkering Lab. Program sessions are typically 30 to 45 minutes long and are led by museum educators. Free passes for programs are available one hour before each session starts at the program location; space is limited and passes go quickly on busy days. The specific program schedule varies daily and is posted in the museum and on the museum's website.

Chicago Children's Museum is at 700 East Grand Avenue inside Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611. By CTA bus, routes 65 (Grand), 29 (State), and 124 (Navy Pier Express) serve the pier from downtown. A free trolley runs daily between Navy Pier and State Street between Grand Avenue and Illinois Street. Navy Pier has 1,500 on-site parking spaces in its garages at an additional fee per vehicle; validated or reduced parking may be available for museum visitors. The museum is approximately a 20-minute walk from the Magnificent Mile.

Water City is a major water play and STEM exhibit located in the historic Head House, the 50-foot tall western tower of the original Navy Pier building. The exhibit features a central water feature with three branches echoing the three branches of the Chicago River, along with a lock and dam system, a Lake Michigan section, and skyscrapers representing Chicago's iconic skyline. Children engage with the movement and behavior of water in the context of Chicago's unique aquatic geography. The exhibit involves direct water interaction, so bringing a change of clothes or water-resistant clothing is recommended for younger visitors who are likely to get wet.

The museum is best suited for children aged 1 to 10. Pritzker Playspace is specifically designed for infants and toddlers with sensory activities and dedicated educator support. The most celebrated experiences including Cloud Buster, Dinosaur Expedition, the Tinkering Lab, and Skyline are designed for children aged 4 to 8. Older children aged 9 to 11 can engage with the engineering and STEM-focused exhibits and the Water City installation. Children aged 12 and older may find fewer experiences directly targeted to their age group, though the museum remains engaging for curious visitors of any age.

Chicago Children's Museum is a three-floor interactive museum at Navy Pier at 700 East Grand Avenue in Chicago, founded in 1982 and located on Navy Pier since 1995. It is the second most visited children's museum in the United States, serving more than 400,000 visitors annually. The museum features 15 permanent interactive exhibits designed for children from infancy through age 10, including Dinosaur Expedition, Cloud Buster, the Tinkering Lab, Skyline, Water City, and the Art Studio. One adult and one child are required for entry.

No. One adult aged 18 or over and one child are required for museum entry at all times. Adults cannot enter the museum without a child, and children cannot enter without an accompanying adult. This policy applies to all visitors at all times without exception. Children under 12 months enter free but still require an accompanying paying adult.

Yes. Same-day re-entry is permitted. Guests who receive a stamp at exit may return to the museum on the same day without purchasing a new ticket. This allows families to take lunch or snack breaks in the surrounding Navy Pier complex, which has extensive dining options, and return to the museum afterward. Food and beverages are not permitted inside the museum, so planning a mid-visit break using the re-entry privilege is the recommended approach for full-day visits.