I love that the Chicago suburbs have so many amazing indoor places to go with kids! The challenge for me has always been to find indoor spots that open early to take my early risers. By the time 10:00 rolls around, we’re practically ready for lunch and naps!
Below, you’ll find a list of indoor locations to take your early birds. All the locations included open by 9:00am or earlier. This guide should help you when you’re ready to hit the ground running, but aren’t sure where to go.
Hours are updated as of March 2024; if you’re going to make a long drive to visit one, be sure to check their website or give them a call to make sure they aren’t unexpectedly closed.
Places That Are Open Extra-Early
- Forest the Fox’s Playbox (Westchester) – Opens at 5:30am Monday – Friday and 7:00am Saturday – Sunday. (Call ahead about weekend closures due to private reservations.)
- McDonald’s tends to be open very early, by 4:30am. Chick-fil-A restaurants are open by 6:30am, with some open even earlier. Scroll down for a list of local fast food play places that have play places.
Spots That Open at 8:00am
- Pelican Harbor (Bolingbrook) – Open swim opens at 8:00am Wednesday and Friday through May 24, 2024
- Get Air (Des Plaines) – Opens at 8:00am Sundays for Toddler Time
- Get Air (Downers Grove) – Opens at 8:00am Sundays for Toddler Time
- Wilder Park Conservatory (Elmhurst) – Opens at 8:00am daily
- The Grove – Interpretive Center (Glenview) – Opens at 8:00am Monday – Friday; 9:00am Saturday – Sunday
- Hodgkins Park District Zoom Zone (Hodgkins) – Opens at 8:00am Monday – Friday; 10:00am Saturday
- Bird Haven Greenhouse (Joliet) – Opens at 8:00am daily
- Cafe Level Up and Lounge (La Grange Park) – Opens at 8:00am daily
- Emily Oaks Nature Center (Skokie) – Opens at 8:00am Monday – Saturday; 10:00am Sunday
- Treetop Escape (West Chicago) – Opens at 8:00am Saturday – Sunday
Spots That Open at 8:30am
- Let’s Play Work (Forest Park) – Opens at 8:30am Monday – Thursday; 9:30am Friday; 10:00am Saturday – Sunday
- The Playpen Glen Ellyn (Glen Ellyn) – Opens at 8:30am Saturday – Sunday; 9:00am Monday, Wednesday – Friday
- Bella’s Bouncies (Lake Villa) – Opens at 8:30am Saturday – Sunday
- The Fort Indoor Playground (Naperville) – Opens at 8:30am on Sundays
Spots That Open at 9:00am
- Bright Futures Play Place (Arlington Heights) – Open play begins at 9:00am Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Bartlett Nature Center (Bartlett) – Opens at 9:00am daily (closed Sundays)
- Crabtree Nature Center (Barrington) – Opens at 9:00am daily (closed Fridays)
- Hyper Kidz (Bolingbrook) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- 2 Hours of Freedom (Buffalo Grove) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Adler Planetarium (Chicago) – Opens at 9:00am Friday – Monday
- Field Museum (Chicago) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Shedd Aquarium (Chicago) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Lyman Woods Nature Center (Downers Grove) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Saturday; 10:00am on Sundays
- Elmhurst Gymnastics Center (Elmhurst) – Open gym at 9:00am on Fridays through March 22, 2024
- Marshmallow Play (Elmhurst) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- KidsWork Children’s Museum (Frankfort) – Opens at 9:00am Tuesday – Saturday; 11:00am on Sundays
- We Rock the Spectrum (Franklin Park) – Hours vary, but sometimes opens at 9:00; see site for details
- Peck Farm Park (Geneva) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Friday
- Pilcher Park Nature Center (Joliet) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Park District of La Grange Indoor Playground (La Grange) – Opens at 9:00am most weekdays; see calendar for changes
- Waterlemon (La Grange) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Friday; usually closed on weekends for private parties
- Sagawau Environmental Learning Center (Lemont) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- DuPage Children’s Museum (Naperville) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Knoch Knolls Nature Center (Naperville) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Saturday
- River Trail Nature Center (Northbrook) – Opens at 9:00am daily; closed Fridays
- Park District of Oak Park – Cubhouse Indoor Playground (Oak Park) – Opens at 9:00am Tuesday – Saturday
- Lake Katherine – Frank Passarelli Nature Center (Palos Heights) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Friday; 10:00am Saturdays
- Glacial Park Lost Valley Visitor’s Center (Ringwood) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Trailside Museum of Natural History (River Forest) – Opens at 9:00am daily; closed Fridays
- Kids Art & Cafe (Schaumburg) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- The Exploratorium (Skokie) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Wednesday and Friday – Saturday
- Grand Bear Falls Water Park (Utica) – Hours vary, but often opens at 9:00am
- Cosley Zoo (Wheaton) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center (Willow Springs) – Opens at 9:00am daily; closed Fridays
- Nelly’s Playground (Wood Dale) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Friday
Another idea for early play is your local libray! Most libraries in the suburbs open at 9:00am on weekdays; check the hours before you go to confirm.
Play Places Open Early
If you’re looking to include breakfast with a play place, taking your kids to McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A is also a fun way to fuel up for the day and have your kids burn off some energy.
McDonald’s Play Places
McDonald’s has indoor play places at the following locations:
- 225 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
- 920 N York Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126
- 445 W Roosevelt Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
- 7850 Ogden Ave, Lyons, IL 60534
- 350 E St. Charles Rd, Villa Park, IL 60181
- 11110 W 31 St, Westchester, IL 60154
- 31 E 63rd St, Westmont, IL 60559
- 2401 63rd St, Woodridge, IL 60517
- 2310 W 75th St, Woodridge, IL 60517
Chick-fil-A Play Places
Chick-fil-A indoor play places tend to be good for toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary schoolers. The spaces have toddler activities on the ground and a small climbing structure with a slide. They list indoor play places at the following locations:
- 4435 Fox River Center Drive, Aurora, IL 60504
- 185 N. Randall Road, Batavia, IL 60510
- 354 W. Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale, IL 60108
- 245 N. Weber Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60490
- 6007 S. La Grange Road, Countryside, IL 60525
- 235 S. IL Route 83, Elmhurst, IL 60126
- 717 E. Butterfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
- 2 Winston Plaza, Melrose Park, IL 60160
- 950 N. Elmhurst Road, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
- 7201 W. Cermak Road, North Riverside, IL 60546
- 935 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
- 301 E. Loop Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
- 7101 Kingery Highway, Willowbrook, IL 60527
Do you know of a play spot that opens by 9:00am that we missed? Let us know so we can add it! If you’re looking for more inspiration, our easy outings for tired parents and our massive map of things to do with kids in the Chicago suburbs are here!
