Beach Day Trips From Chicago

 
Illinois Beach State Park. Photo courtesy of Peter Ciro Photography

1. Illinois Beach State Park 

The name of this state park may be a bit misleading as it is one of the only beach-ridge shorelines (a ridge created by sediment piled by waves long ago) left in the state. It is home to 6.5 miles of sandy shore and recreation areas, with dunes, swales, marshes, and forests. Illinois Beach State Park has interesting examples of Illinois wildlife like prickly pear cactus, prairie grasses, and cattails. Families can swim, boat, picnic, hike, fish, or camp in the park.

2. New Buffalo, Michigan 

Relax on one of Lake Michigan’s popular beaches in New Buffalo, Michigan, a small town just north of the Indiana border. Families can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and tubes for lake and river recreation. Kids might also enjoy picking blueberries in July––there are several pick-your-own farms nearby––or exploring lighthouses along the coast. New Buffalo also has lots of festivities centered around art and music throughout the summer.

3. Indiana Dunes National Park 

Enjoy 15 miles of Lake Michigan shore at Indiana Dunes National Park. The Dunes have several hiking trails, a boardwalk, and historic sites to tour. Go geocaching, horseback riding, or stargazing along the shoreline or in the park. The most adventurous families can also spend the night at Dunewood Campground.

4. South Haven, Michigan 

The charming Michigan beach town of South Haven offers beaches along Lake Michigan, a walkable downtown with shops and restaurants, nature trails, boat rides, golfing, and a wine trail for the grown-ups. Plenty of rental properties offer swimming pools for families, making this Chicago day trip easy to turn into an overnight weekend getaway.

Feed wild animals at the Safari Lake Geneva drive-through zoo experience. Photo courtesy of Safari Lake Geneva

5. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Just 90 minutes from Chicago, Lake Geneva has plenty of quiet shores, quaint shopping, outdoor adventures, and water sports. Families can go tubing, ziplining, hiking, biking, waterskiing, or golfing at this large resort community. There's also a small beach just for swimming, and the boat tours of the lake offer fantastic views of historic and modern-day mansions along the shore.

Kids and parents alike will love Safari Lake Geneva, a drive-through zoo experience where families can feed wild animals like alpacas and yaks. Heads up: plan for this adventure because online reservations are required. 

6. Kohler and Sheboygan, Wisconsin

In addition to swimming or boating in Lake Michigan, kids may enjoy two special gardens in Kohler and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The Bookworm Garden in Sheboygan features 70 different gardens with themes from classic children’s books. Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden hosts statues of 30 historic religious and mythic figures. Kids may also be able to celebrate bathroom design with Kohler’s museum and factory tour (for those who take potty humor seriously). 

7. St. Joseph, Michigan

This town's children's museum, carousel, splash pad, and beach with a playground make it a big hit for little kids. St. Joseph's cute downtown can be toured via a four or six-seater bike, and plenty of little shops and relaxing beaches make for a fun stay. End your weekend on a sweet note with cherry or peach picking from popular U-pick farms in the area. 

Bike through Kettle Moraine State Forest. Photo courtesy of the state 

Outdoor Day Trips From Chicago

A hike through one of our nearby state parks is among the best day trips near Chicago for families. We're lucky to be surrounded by a variety of parks, water, and outdoor activities on all sides. Read on for a sampling of where to take the kids.

8. Kettle Moraine State Forest

Kettle Moraine State Forest is located in Southern, Wisconsin. Just a 2.5-hour drive from Chicago, you'll find 22,000 acres of glacial hills, prairies, forests, and kettle lakes. The views here will make you think you've traveled days away from the city. If your kids love hiking, nature walks, and picnics, this spot is for you.

There's also a state campground if you'd like to spend the night or make a weekend out of it. You'll also find fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming, and horseback riding in parts of the state forest. 

9. Farmcation in McHenry County

Go berry picking at Stade's Farm & Market, then stay for a drive-in movie at McHenry Outdoor Theater. This trip could provide a flashback to a simpler time. On the way in or out, visit the Volo Museum and its Jurassic Gardens for lots of kitschy fun. You can also hike in Moraine Hills State Park

 
Kids hanging out at Starved Rock. photo courtesy of the author

10. Starved Rock 

Get ready for serious hiking at Starved Rock State Park's 13 miles of trails filled with waterfalls, sandstone overhangs, and spectacular overlooks. Families can also enjoy fishing and boating, or a stay at Starved Rock Lodge in luxury lodging or cabin rooms. The park is rich in Native American history, and kids can learn more about the Illinois tribe and French explorers Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette throughout the lodge and park.

11. Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells was the ultimate water park vacation for kids in the 1990s, and it's still a hit today. Stay at one of the area's 20 water park resorts for a weekend of sliding, wave pools, lazy rivers, and more. And when you get tired of that, take a boat tour on the Wisconsin River, visit the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory Science Center, or shop and dine in Downtown Wisconsin Dells. The new Elm Street Plaza hosts outdoor concerts on summer evenings.

Get out and hear some live music at the Ravinia Festival.

Suburban Staycations From Chicago

12. North Suburban Extravaganza

The classy North Shore has a lot to offer for families looking to get out of the city or other suburbs for a day or a weekend. Ravinia Festival in Highland Park is a wonderful outdoor concert venue with plenty of room to spread out and let the kids move around, and the best part? You can bring in a picnic.

Visit the Kohl Children's Museum for its Habitat Park and butterfly exhibits on a sunny day or its grocery store, art-making exhibit, or waterworks on a rainy day. Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe is also a unique respite for city families. Don't forget about the North Shore beaches! 

13. Oak Park

This near western suburb of Oak Park is worth the short trip from the city––families could even take the L or the Metra at off-peak hours. Architecture-loving families can enjoy interior tours of the Robie House and the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio or walk around the town to enjoy the buildings' exteriors.

The Oak Park Conservatory also offers a natural respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Wonder Works Children's Museum can give little kids the classic museum experience without the congestion of Navy Pier. Stop by Junction Diner for a train-themed lunch (it's also closed on Monday; maybe don't visit Oak Park on a Monday!) and Peterson's Ice Cream for an old-fashioned treat.

14. Naperville 

Take a Metra ride or drive out to Naperville, Illinois for a slightly smaller town feel, and to get kids out of the city. The western suburb’s Riverwalk offers almost two miles of brick paths with fountains, bridges, and outdoor sculptures.

Along the River Walk, visitors can rent paddleboats, paddleboards, or kayaks for a water adventure in the quarry. Downtown Naperville also has several family-friendly shops and restaurants including Anderson’s Bookshop and Sweet Home Gelato. Kids will also enjoy trips to the DuPage Children's Museum and Naper Settlement. 

15. Long Grove

Historic Long Grove, Illinois is a quaint small town less than an hour from downtown Chicago. With multiple festivals a year including Strawberry Festival, Irish Fest, and Apple Fest, there's something for everyone. You'll find vintage boutiques, bakeries, coffee, ice cream, and adorable small shops. Visit the Sock Monkey Museum to see the world's largest collection of handmade sock monkeys.  You'll also find live music and kids' carnivals on summer nights. Check out the city calendar for a list of the latest events.

Visit the Milwaukee County Zoo to see over 2,100 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Photo by the author

Cities and Towns Near Chicago That Make Easy Day Trips

16. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Less than two hours away, Milwaukee is a favorite day trip from Chicago for families. It offers many options for kid-friendly entertainment. (Fun fact: the Milwaukee County Zoo has elephants, which neither Chicago zoo has on display.) The city has both a children's museum and a science center. Kids and adults may enjoy a tour of Sprecher Brewing Company, where kids can see how soda is made and adults can learn more about beer—with a few age-appropriate samples for both kids and adults. Milwaukee Public Market provides lots of options for local favorite foods and treats. 

17. Rockford 

Rockford, the third-largest city in Illinois, has plenty of fun things to do with kids. The Burpee Museum of Natural History and the Discovery Center Museum rival bigger city museums for little kid experiences. Visit the Anderson Japanese Gardens or Nicholas Conservatory Gardens for a fun plant-based learning experience. Kids can also learn to wakeboard, kayak, or paddleboard on the Rock River from Rocktown Adventures or West Rock Wake Park. 

Spend the day in charming Galena.

18. Galena

Galena, Illinois is a small town located off the Mississippi River about 2.5 hours from Chicago. The town was once bigger than the Windy City before trains replaced the Mississippi River as the primary means of transporting goods. You can relive the city's heyday with a historic trolley tour or a visit to the home of Civil War hero and President Ulysses S. Grant. There's also boutique shopping, vineyards, scenic hills, quaint shops, and restaurants. We also found a super fun goat hike on our last trip for animal-loving kids!

19. Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin's state capitol is closer to Chicago than Illinois's state capitol, clocking in at just two and a half hours away, Madison has a fun children's museum, a free Museum of Contemporary Art, and tours of its state capitol building. It offers a beautiful lake with plenty of beaches, and you can check out parts of the University of Wisconsin while you're there. Family favorite restaurant and bar The Great Dane is a must-try for beer-loving parents—it also has lots of kid-friendly menu items like giant pretzels and cheese curds.

20. Springfield

Our state capitol should also make the list! It's three hours from Chicago, and heavily emphasizes its historical connection with Abraham Lincoln and Route 66. Visit the Lincoln Home, the Lincoln Library and Museum, and Lincoln's Tomb. After a visit to the State Capitol, have a Route 66 evening by visiting the Cozy Dog and a drive-in movie.

21. Indianapolis

Just a three-hour drive away, Indianapolis has a children's museum that is truly a full-day affair. It's literally a million square feet with a dozen permanent exhibits and several more rotating ones, with some extra outdoor exhibits in the summer. If you're there for a full weekend, you can also check out the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indianapolis 500 Speedway, and The Indianapolis Art Center. We recommend eating at Books and Brews, where you can find food (with a good kids menu), beer, and a used bookstore all in the same location.