Lincoln Park & Zoo

The Basics

Lincoln Park’s 1,200 acres (485 hectares) stretch for six miles (10 kilometers), from North Avenue north to Diversey Parkway, where it narrows along Lake Michigan and continues until the end of Lake Shore Drive. Most of the park’s pleasures are natural, though one of its highlights is sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens’Standing Lincoln, which shows the 16th president deep in contemplation, located in a garden east of the Chicago History Museum. From a little dock in front of pretty Café Brauer, a 1908 Prairie School architectural creation, you can rent two-person paddleboats and cruise the South Pond. Other notable attractions include the Lincoln Park Conservatory, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, and North Avenue Beach. Guided tours take place mostly on foot or bike—both natural ways to explore the park’s trails and paths while listening to in-depth history and interesting facts from a guide.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Admission to the park is free; admission to each attraction within the park varies.

• Although dining options in the park itself are limited, simply wander into the Lincoln Park neighborhood to find restaurants and bars galore.

• Most of Lincoln Park and the zoo are accessible to wheelchair users. There are accessible parking places along Cannon Drive.

How to Get There

Lincoln Park is easily accessible by buses and El trains. Parking is limited on the residential streets of the populous Lincoln Park neighborhood, so public transportation is your best option.

When to Get There

The Windy City’s various seasons bring out different activities in the park. Stroll down the miles of walking paths to see the leaves turning in the fall; bundle up to watch local kids sledding on winter snow days; rent a bike to pedal through the blooming gardens in the spring; or bring a blanket and some sunscreen to sunbathe in the summer.

Lincoln Park Zoo

One of the park’s main highlights is the free Lincoln Park Zoo, which is open every day (though hours vary; check the website). Exhibits include the Regenstein African Journey, where you can get surprisingly close to animals who swim, hop, and crawl in natural environments. Enter via the Gateway Pavilion and snag a map, which shows times and locations for animal feedings, training demonstrations, and free zookeeper talks about various animals.

Ways to explore

Most of the park’s pleasures are natural, though it is also home to the Chicago History Museum and the Prairie School-style Café Brauer building. Guided tours take place mostly on foot or by bike—both eco-friendly ways to explore the park’s trails and paths while listening to history and facts from a guide. You can also learn about flora and fauna at the Lincoln Park Conservatory and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, stroll around the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and North Pond, check out animals from across the globe at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and take a dip at North Avenue Beach.

Accessibility

Most of the attractions inside Lincoln Park are fully accessible to wheelchair users.

Age limits

The park and zoo are among the most family-friendly destinations in Chicago, with play spaces and children’s programs.

What to pack

Beach gear, picnic supplies, mosquito repellent, camera

What to wear

Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hat

Not allowed

Each attraction inside the park has specific rules and regulations; check the website in advance of your visit.

Amenities

Restrooms, drinking fountains, sports facilities, picnic areas, playgrounds

Address

Lincoln Park stretches along the lakefront from North Avenue to the end of Lake Shore Drive, and is easy to reach by car or public transportation. You can walk or bike from many attractions on the north side of Chicago’s downtown.

Driving

Take DuSable Lake Shore Drive north from downtown to Fullerton Avenue. Park in several large paid lots along North Stockton and North Cannon drives near the zoo, conservatory, and nature museum.

Public transportation

Take buses 22, 36, 151, or 156 to the western edge of the park. Alternatively, take the Brown or Purple elevated trains to the Armitage station or the Red line to the Fullerton station, both of which are a short walk east to the park.

Best times to visit

The park is open daily from 6am to 11pm and is busiest midday, especially when the zoo, conservatory, nature museum, and other top attractions are open.

Best days to visit

Weekdays are quieter than weekends and holidays, when locals and visitors flock to the zoo and other park highlights.

Best months to visit

This open-air park is best enjoyed in the more temperate spring and fall seasons, though North Beach is a popular spot to beat the summer heat.

Special events

The zoo, conservatory, nature museum, and other cultural attractions located inside Lincoln Park hold special exhibitions, festivals, and events year-round. Check each website for updated calendars.