When my kids were younger, they were early birds! In those days, I remember it being a challenge to find a kid-friendly spot that opened up before 9:00am. By the time 10:00am rolls around, we’re practically ready for lunch and naps! I love that the Chicago suburbs have so many amazing indoor places to check out with kids that open up bright and early.
Below, you’ll find a list of locations, where your early bird can play and explore. This guide will help you when you’re ready to get out of the house in the morning, as all the locations included open by 9:00am or earlier. Hours are updated as of March 2026; 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.
- Sensory Garden Playground (Lisle) – One of my kids’ favorite parks, it is being completed in phases and always adding new equipment. It opens at sunrise (7:00am) year round.
- Dupage Swimming Center (Aurora) – Hosts daily open swim from 7:00-9:00am. The pool is heated to a nice 93º.
- Morton Arboretum (Lisle) – Opens at 7:00am daily to the members and 9:00am to the public.
- McDonald’s tends to be open very early, often by 4:30am. Chick-fil-A restaurants are open by 6:30am, with some open even earlier. Scroll to the bottom of this article for a list of local fast food play places that have play places.
Spots That Open at 8:00am
- Pelican Harbor (Bolingbrook) – Open parent/tot swim opens at 8:00am Wednesday and Friday through May 24, 2026
- The Social Play (Brookfield) – Opens at 8:00am on Thursday, Friday and Sundays; 9:00 am other weekdays (closed on Wednesday and Saturday)
- 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
- Park District of La Grange Indoor Playground (La Grange) – Opens at 8:00am on weekends, opens at 9:00am most weekdays; see monthly calendar for changes
- Emily Oaks Nature Center (Skokie) – Building and Trails open at 8:00am Monday – Saturday; 10:00am Sunday
- Treetop Escape (West Chicago) – Opens at 8:00am Saturday and Sunday
Spots That Open at 8:30am
- 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, 9:30am Monday-Friday
- The Fort Indoor Playground (Naperville) – Opens at 8:30am on Sundays
Spots That Open at 9:00am
- Kiddy Club Playground & Sandbox (Aurora) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Phillips Park Zoo (Aurora) – Opens at 9:00am daily (closed Wednesday)
- 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
- The Social Play (Brookfield) Opens 9:00am daily
- 2 Hours of Freedom (Buffalo Grove) – Opens at 9:00am Tuesday, and Thursday-Sunday.
- 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
- Little Legends (Darien) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Lyman Woods Nature Center (Downers Grove) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Saturday; 10:00am on Sundays
- Marshmallow Play (Elmhurst) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- We Rock the Spectrum (Franklin Park) – Opens at 9:00am on Saturdays
- Peck Farm Park (Geneva) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Friday
- Pilcher Park Nature Center (Joliet) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Bird Haven Greenhouse (Joliet) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Lava Island (Kildeer)- Opens at 9:00am daily
- 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
- Morton Arboretum (Lisle) – Opens at 9:00am daily to the general public, 7:00am to Arboretum Members
- DuPage Children’s Museum (Naperville) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Knoch Knolls Nature Center (Naperville) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Saturday
- KidsWork Children’s Museum (New Lenox) – Opens at 9:00am Tuesday – Saturday; 10:00am on Sundays
- Hyper Kidz (Niles) – Opens 9:00am daily
- 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 during select months throughout the year
- Funlandia (Palatine) – Opens at 9:00am Monday-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 & Play Cafe (Schaumburg) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- M&M Playland Cafe (Schaumburg) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- We Rock the Spectrum (Shorewood) – Opens at 9:00am on weekdays
- The Exploratorium (Skokie) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Wednesday and Friday – Saturday
- Klein Creek Farm (West Chicago) – Open 9:00am daily; closed Tuesday and Wednesday
- Cantigny (Wheaton) – Open at 9:00am daily, closed Tuesdays (7:00am during the summer)
- Cosley Zoo (Wheaton) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Hyper Kidz (Wheaton) – Opens at 9:00am daily
- Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center (Willow Springs) – Opens at 9:00am daily; closed Fridays
- Little Fox Clubhouse (Yorkville) – Opens at 9:00am Monday – Friday. Little Fox Clubhouse will permanently close as of May 15, 2026.
Other Ideas for Fun Spaces Open Early
Another idea for early play is your local library! Most libraries in the suburbs open early, usually by 9:00am on weekdays. Many libraries even host morning storytimes for early risers. Check out our 10 Best Children’s Libraries with Play Areas! Make sure to call and verify the hours before you head out.
Local Fast Food Play Places that 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:
- 295 N Weber Rd, Bolingbrook, IL 60490
- 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
- 892 W 75th St, Naperville, IL 60540
- 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
Did we miss any play spots that open early? 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!
