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Zoos

Pritzker Family Children's Zoo

📍 Lincoln Park, IL

4.5(84 Google reviews)👶All ages

Dedicated children's section of Lincoln Park Zoo featuring beavers, wolves, bears, and seals outdoors, plus an indoor climbing structure. Free admission, pram-friendly paths, and designed for under-5s.

Free admissionGreat for toddlersSeal exhibit highlightPram friendlyIndoor play areaLincoln Park Zoo
★★★★★Featured review by Karyna Falko

it was wonderful ☺️ My toddler and I really enjoyed walking around the zoo grounds and the animals. We'll come back a million times)

🏆 Family Action Verdict

Best for families with children under 5 who want a free, manageable zoo outing without the scale of a full zoo. The indoor play structure adds value on cooler days. Arrive early on weekdays to avoid summer camp groups that can dominate the indoor area.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

💡Arrive early on weekdays to beat summer camp groups in the indoor play area
Free street parking fills quickly near the zoo — use the nearby parking structures
🎟️Combine with the main Lincoln Park Zoo loop for a longer visit at no extra cost
🚗The seal exhibit is the crowd favourite — save it for when kids need a second wind

💬 What Families Are Saying

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4.5

84 Google reviews

Free and accessible40%
Perfect for under-5s30%
Animal variety20%
Indoor play available10%
K

Karyna Falko

2 years ago

it was wonderful ☺️ My toddler and I really enjoyed walking around the zoo grounds and the animals. We'll come back a million times)

P

prajakta oak

a year ago

Not too bad but probably because we went there on sunyny day,we could not see many animals in habitat..but you have to consider it is a free zoo.The best part is seal section..Kids really enjoyed.We loved the conservatory area with lots of different plants..You can get free parking near zoo if you are early in the morning.

G

Greg Fenton

a year ago

A fun area of the Lincoln Park Zoo that’s free and suitable for toddlers. My son had a great time climbing and playing in the indoor area. Outside, there are opportunities to see animals like a wolf and a bear, and there are interesting areas to explore.

R

Roman Sher

a year ago

Hello everyone! Thank you for reading my reviews! My family and I love this zoo. We visited a very interesting part of the zoo. Here we saw a cute family of beavers. There are children's attractions. I recommend visiting!

Reviews from Google

Overview

The Pritzker Family Children's Zoo is a free, pram-accessible section of Lincoln Park Zoo with outdoor animal habitats — beaver pond, wolf, bear, seal pool — and an indoor soft-play climbing structure. Sized for toddlers and preschoolers, the whole loop takes under an hour. The seal section draws the most excitement from young visitors.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday10:00 – 16:30
Tuesday10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday10:00 – 17:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday10:00 – 17:00
Sunday10:00 – 18:30

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