Chicago to Milwaukee Drive With Kids
A Lake Michigan state park in northern Illinois is a nice way to break up the trip, and Discovery World makes a good indoor backup on arrival.
The drive
- Distance
- Just 90 miles north of Chicago
- Typical drive time
- Just 90 minutes
Measured from Chicago, as stated by the official source listed at the bottom of this page. Traffic, weather and stops with kids add time, so plan for a longer day than the map shows.
Kid-friendly stops on the way
Each stop was checked on its own official site. Open it before you go for current hours, prices and any closures.
Illinois Beach State Park
Zion, IL
A state park stretching 6.5 miles along the sandy Lake Michigan shore, with dunes and swales.
Official siteDiscovery World
Milwaukee, WI
A science museum and aquarium in Milwaukee.
Official site
Need more ideas before you leave? Browse things to do with kids in Chicago or plan a different route.
Free road-trip stop checklist
Stop before everyone runs out of patience: how to plan a real break to burn energy, pick an indoor backup in case it rains, and add up the family total before you pay. One page, emailed now. Then The Weekend Scout once a week: one family outing idea for the weekend. Free. Unsubscribe from any email.
Three things to plan before you leave
- Leave Chicago outside rush hour, since traffic sets the pace on this drive.
- Lakeshore stops can be windy and cold, so bring an extra layer.
- Keep an indoor option ready for bad-weather arrival days.
Checked against: Visit Milwaukee: getting here, Visit Milwaukee: about Milwaukee (checked )
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Plan the Chicago to Milwaukee family drive with a Lake Michigan state park and a science museum in Milwaukee.
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