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Outdoors Lincoln Park, Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo

An outdoor spot in Lincoln Park, Chicago, free to visit and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Morning.

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Lincoln Park Zoo in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · license

Why go

Free zoo set in a lakefront park, with conservatory and nature boardwalk nearby.

It is one of 19 curated places we feature in Chicago, alongside 6 activities, 5 sights and 4 places to eat. 4 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Lincoln Park
Price
Free
Time needed
2 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 5 beyond Chicago. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Lincoln Park Zoo

    Free zoo open every day of the year, with lions, gorillas and polar bears a few minutes from the lake.

    Activity · Lincoln Park · 0.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights

    The city's free zoo turns into a light show with millions of bulbs from late November to early January.

    Activity · 0.0 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Lincoln Park Conservatory

    Free 1890s glasshouse full of palms, ferns and orchids; warm and green on a grey January day.

    Sight · Lincoln Park · 0.2 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    R.J. Grunts

    Burger-and-brunch spot across from the zoo, open since 1971 as the first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant.

    Food · Lincoln Park · 0.2 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    North Avenue Beach

    Lakefront beach and pier on the Lakefront Trail with one of the best views back to the Gold Coast skyline.

    Outdoors · Lincoln Park · 0.8 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Kingston Mines

    Blues club on Halsted Street since 1968, with two stages and bands playing until the early hours.

    Drinks · Lincoln Park · 0.9 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Lincoln Park Zoo is a stop on our Chicago & Great Lakes route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo is our only outdoors pick in Chicago; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Chicago guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Chicago run from 32°F in January to 77°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Lincoln Park Zoo itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Chicago from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Chicago weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Lincoln Park Zoo, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Chicago, IL 60614, USA
Coordinates
41.92170, -87.63364
Destination
Chicago, Illinois

Lincoln Park Zoo: quick answers

How much time do you need at Lincoln Park Zoo?

Plan on about 2 hours at Lincoln Park Zoo. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Lincoln Park Zoo?

Our pick: Morning.

Is Lincoln Park Zoo free?

Yes, we list Lincoln Park Zoo as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Lincoln Park Zoo?

Lincoln Park Zoo is at Chicago, IL 60614, USA, in Lincoln Park. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Lincoln Park Zoo?

Lincoln Park Zoo appears on Chicago & Great Lakes, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Lincoln Park Zoo to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Chicago.

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Also in Chicago

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.