Chicago Botanic Garden

About

The Chicago Botanic Garden spans 385 acres across nine islands and offers one of the most welcoming outdoor experiences in the Midwest. Located in Glencoe, Illinois, just north of Chicago, this living museum features 27 distinct display gardens, four natural areas, and nearly 2.6 million plants from around the world.

Visitors can wander through the serene Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden, where carefully placed stones and flowing water create a meditative atmosphere. The English Walled Garden bursts with color through the growing season, while the Sensory Garden invites you to touch, smell, and listen. The Heritage Garden tells the story of plants that shaped human history, and the Waterfall Garden offers a peaceful spot to sit and watch cascading water.

One of the best ways to take it all in is aboard the free tram tour, which winds through McDonald Woods, the Japanese Garden, and the Regenstein Learning Campus. Narrated tours run regularly during the season, giving you context and history as you ride.

The Garden hosts seasonal exhibitions, concerts, and educational programs throughout the year. Spring brings thousands of bulbs into bloom. Summer features the Butterflies & Blooms exhibition, where you can walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies in a mesh enclosure. Fall foliage across the islands is spectacular, and winter brings the popular Lightscape holiday light experience.

Admission to the Garden is free, though there is a parking fee. The grounds are open every day of the year except December 25. Plan for at least two to three hours, though you could easily spend a full day. The Visitor Center has a cafe and gift shop, and several food options are available throughout the grounds during peak season.

Whether you're a serious plant enthusiast or just looking for a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, the Chicago Botanic Garden delivers. It's a space designed for everyone, with wide paths, gentle terrain, and thoughtful design that makes the natural world feel truly open and inviting.

Accessibility

The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the most wheelchair-accessible outdoor attractions in the region. Nearly all areas of the Garden are accessible by wheelchair, with wide, paved paths throughout the grounds. Automatic sliding glass entryways make building access easy for wheelchair users and those with mobility devices.

Free wheelchairs are available at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible parking is located in parking lots 1 and 2, close to the main entrance.

The Garden offers a free wheelchair-accessible tram that takes visitors through McDonald Woods, the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden, and the Regenstein Learning Campus. This is an excellent option for visitors who want to experience large portions of the Garden without extensive walking.

The terrain is generally flat, which makes it manageable for manual wheelchair users, power chair users, and visitors with limited stamina. Paths are well-maintained and wide enough for side-by-side travel.

The Sensory Garden was designed with multi-sensory engagement in mind, featuring plants chosen for their textures, fragrances, and sounds, making it a highlight for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

For visitors with specific accessibility needs beyond what's listed here, contact the Garden directly for current details about restroom accessibility, assistive listening devices for tours, service animal policies, and any temporary path closures that might affect your visit.

More accessible places in Illinois

• Adler Planetarium (Chicago)
• National Museum of Mexican Art (Chicago)
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
• Lincoln Home National Historic Site (Springfield)
• DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (Chicago)
• Garfield Park Conservatory (Chicago)