Plan a Visit
Welcome to Shedd Aquarium, which serves as your portal to the aquatic animal world in Chicago. Discover playful penguins, colorful coral and beautiful belugas as you journey through oceans, lakes, rivers and reefs.
Find everything you need to plan a day at Shedd.
Admission
Members: Free General Admission every day.
Chicago residents: $19.95 Adult General Admission every day.
General Admission: Adult and children (3-11) prices vary - guests can save on Shedd admission by booking in advance. Learn more.
Know Before You Go
- Advance tickets highly recommended: Secure your spot by booking your tickets in advance. Find the dates you are looking for with ease, knowing first-hand when dates are sold out.
- Directions and Parking: Between public transportation and parking nearby, you’ll be on your way to Shedd in no time.
- Accessibility offerings: At the information desk, wheelchairs, assistive listening devices and noise-cancelling headphones are available on a first-come, first-served basis. See details on Shedd’s accessibility offerings.
- Restaurants: Bubble Net food court and Soundings Café will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 2 hours before the aquarium closes that day. Any food or drink you bring with you or purchase from machines must be consumed in designated areas.
- Experience Evolution: Shedd is in the process of creating dynamic new exhibits and experiences. During this transformation, select experiences may be unavailable to guests.
- Re-entry: Guests cannot re-enter after exiting the building.
Tips for a Great Visit
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Touch Experiences: Sea Star Touch and Sturgeon Touch are open all day every day. Stingray Touch and Stingray Feeding are open during the summer.
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Animal Chats: Check the calendar so you don't miss our daily Animal Chats to learn about birds, mammals, fishes and more!
- Animal Spotlights: Join us throughout the day as our animal care experts highlight amazing animal adaptations during these 10-minute presentations in the Abbott Oceanarium.
- Download the Shedd Go! App: Use the Shedd Go app to access the map, learn additional animal facts and explore exhibits. Available for Android and iOS.
- Shopping: Make your day at Shedd even more memorable by taking home the perfect souvenir!
Enhance your visit
Shopping and Dining
Make your day at Shedd even more memorable by taking home the perfect souvenir!
Sit down for a meal or grab a snack at one of our dining options, available on every floor.
FAQs
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Parking information for guests
All Museum Campus parking is owned by the Chicago Park District and managed by Standard Parking. Parking rates typically are higher during special events, and access may be restricted to special event ticketholders.
Street parking
Please note, until further notice, there will only be garage parking on the Museum Campus, no street parking on Solidarity Drive. If you choose to visit Shedd Aquarium, we strongly recommend arriving via public transportation.Lot parking
The Museum Campus also has several lots where you can park. Current rates, which can change without notice are:Soldier Field north garage
Up to 4 hours, $25
4 to 12 hours, $30
12 to 24 hours, $50
Special event, pay on the way in, $30East museum lot
$30Adler lot
Early bird, before 9:30 a.m., $12
Daily, $25
Night rate, after 4:30 p.m., $15For more information, visit soldierfieldparking.com.
Valet parking
Available most weekends for aquarium guests for $35 a vehicle, subject to limited availability. Take advantage of this service at the guest drop-off area on the south side of the aquarium, off Solidarity Drive. Please note that we cannot offer valet parking on certain Bears home-game days.Reserve a space with SpotHero
We recommend booking parking in advance through SpotHero. You can visit the Shedd Aquarium SpotHero parking page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up. New to SpotHero? Download the SpotHero app and enter code SHEDDCHI for 5% off your first spot! -
Our building is evolving! We are constructing a refreshed accessible entrance to more quickly and seamlessly connect guests with the aquatic animal world. During this transformation, guests will enter the aquarium along the half-circle driveway and proceed up the ramp behind the temporary ticketing booth. Learn more about this transformation as part Shedd’s Experience Evolution.
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We will continue to offer timed tickets. Please arrive during the time frame you select during your ticket purchase. If you need to change your arrival time after your purchase, please call 312-939-2438 and we’ll make every effort to accommodate.
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Our hours can change based on the day of week. For the most up-to-date schedule please visit our calendar page.
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- Members: Free admission. Please book tickets in advance, advance reservations are highly recommended due to the high demand for tickets.
- General Admission:Prices vary - Guests can save on Shedd Admission by booking in advance. Learn more.
- Chicago Residents: $19.95 adults / $14.95 children
- Discounts: Please visit our Discounts and Free Days page to see if you qualify.
Plan-ahead Pricing FAQs
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No, Chicago resident prices are not impacted by the plan-ahead pricing tool. Chicago residents enjoy a daily low price on general admission, with a set price of $19.95/adult.
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Shedd members should reserve their tickets in advance, but the price of a membership and the associated benefits are not impacted by the plan-ahead pricing tool.
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At this time, the plan-ahead pricing tool only impacts general admission costs and select aquarium events such as Jazzin’ at the Shedd for non-Chicago resident guests. Costs for Extraordinary Experiences and other programs are not impacted.
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You have the freedom to change the date or time of your visit after purchasing tickets. Should you select a new date or time with a higher admission cost, you will simply need to pay the difference to confirm the change. No refunds will be issued if you exchange to a less-expensive visit date and time.
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Prices may increase closer to your visit date. They will never go down, though they may start below current general admission prices. That is why it is always best to plan a visit further in advance so that you will have the greatest opportunity to save money.
Directions
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
Between public transportation and parking nearby, you’ll be on your way to Shedd in no time. See directions and parking options here.
Traffic Alerts
Chicago’s Museum Campus can host a variety of special events that affect traffic and parking. Check our traffic alerts to plan your best day at Shedd!