Walk in through the north doors and the first thing that happens is scale: a 90-foot-long titanosaur named Máximo fills Stanley Field Hall before you've even bought a map, with SUE the T. rex—the most complete T. rex skeleton ever found—watching from the balcony above. Budget the whole day if you can. The building is a full city block, and between the dinosaur halls, the real Egyptian tombs you walk into (not just past), and whatever special exhibit is running, three hours disappears fast.
How to Spend the Day
Morning (9:00 AM open)
Arrive at open if SUE and the main dinosaur halls are the priority — Stanley Field Hall gets genuinely crowded by midday, especially on a CityPASS weekend.
Midday
Inside Ancient Egypt (a real mastaba tomb you walk through) and the Grainger Hall of Gems are both less trafficked than the dinosaur wing — a good midday pivot once the morning rush thins out.
Lunch
Field Bistro (main level) or Explorer Cafe (ground level, seasonal patio) — both inside, no need to leave and lose your spot in line for a timed add-on exhibit.
Afternoon
Whatever special exhibit is running — check the live list below, since several (like the Pokémon Fossil Museum) need a separate timed-entry ticket on top of general admission.
How Chicago CityPASS® Actually Works Here (ELI5)
The short version: buy once online, get a mobile pass instantly, show it on your phone at the door.
- Buy Chicago CityPASS® online (button above) — you get a mobile pass delivered immediately, no printing needed.
- Use the email you buy with to set up the My CityPASS app or my.citypass.com — that's where your tickets, reservations, and attraction details live.
- If the attraction needs a timed entry reservation, reserve it through the app before you go — reservations are subject to availability, so earlier is safer, especially on weekends.
- At the door, show your mobile ticket on your phone. That's it — no separate line, no voucher exchange.
- You have 1 year from purchase to start using the pass; once you use the first attraction, the rest of the attractions are valid for 9 consecutive days.
Chicago CityPASS® admission to the Field Museum covers
general admission plus 2 standard add-on exhibitions — more generous than a flat general-admission ticket. One real exception worth knowing before you plan around it:
the Pokémon Fossil Museum is confirmed
not included in that CityPASS allowance — it's a separately timed, separately ticketed exhibit you book directly with the museum, CityPASS or not.
Parking
The Field Museum sits on Museum Campus, where all public parking is run by the Chicago Park District (Standard Parking) — rates are the same whether you're headed to the Field, Shedd, or Adler.
- Soldier Field North Garage — $27 for up to 4 hours, $32 for up to 12 hours. Open 5am–5pm; no overnight parking.
- East Museum Lot — $32 for up to 12 hours.
- Rates jump on Bears/Fire game days (as high as $55) — check the schedule before you go if you're visiting on a weekend.
- The museum's own site points visitors to SpotHero to pre-book a spot; a promo code FIELDCHI is listed for 5% off a new account.
Where to Eat
- Field Bistro (main level) — locally-sourced menu, quick-service plus a full bar.
- Explorer Cafe (ground level) — family-friendly, casual, seasonal outdoor patio.
- Free seating (bring your own food) is available in the Siragusa Center and near the Sea Mammals exhibit on the ground level.
- If you'd rather eat off-site, several casual spots (Aurelio's Pizza, Yolk, a Burger Bar) sit about a 10–15 minute walk away — worth it if you want a sit-down break mid-visit.
Getting There
1400 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago