Itching to get out of Naperville for the day? There's a ton to do right here at home in Naperville, of course, but sometimes a road trip is the best kind of family fun!
To make planning easier for you, we've compiled a list of 12 places to explore within a 3 hour drive of Naperville.
Is there a spot your family loves within driving distance of Naperville that isn't listed here? Tell us about it by dropping me a line at maryannep@macaronikid.com.
Please note: While we've done our best to keep information current and up to date, please check with attractions before heading out
 | by Daveynin-Flickr |
The Morton Arboretum (7.8 miles – 16 minutes)
The Arboretum features plant collections and gardens amid natural landscapes of woodlands, prairie, lakes, and streams. Its living collections include 222,000 plant specimens representing 4,650 different kinds of plants. Additionally, guests can enjoy 16 miles of hiking trails, nine miles of roads, a Children’s Garden, educational programs and exhibits, the Sterling Morton Library of botanical literature and art, a Visitor Center with a museum store and a restaurant, special events, and seasonal exhibitions.
4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 968-0074
 | by Discover DuPage |
Cantigny (8.5 miles – 19 minutes)
Cantigny is a 500-acre park in Wheaton, Illinois, 30 miles west of Chicago. It is the former estate of Joseph Medill and his grandson Colonel Robert R. McCormick, publishers of the Chicago Tribune, and is open to the public.
Cantigny is committed to investing in the community by sharing our exceptional venue with the public for recreation and learning. Enjoy festivals, concerts, golf, dining, programs, classes, and more at Cantigny.
1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
(630) 668-5161
 | by Ycumari photography-flickr |
Brookfield Zoo (24.8 miles – 32 minutes)
Welcome to Brookfield Zoo! Enjoy our 235-acre zoological park, featuring more than 2,400 animals belonging to over 400 species.
Among the many things to see and do is the Dolphin Show, Hamill Family Wild Encounters, the penguins, apes and monkeys, lions, tigers, elephants and giraffes.
8400 W 31st St, Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 688-8000
 | by Jeremy Thompson-flickr |
Six Flags Great America (57 miles – 1 hour and I minute)
Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor are two great parks that you can experience at one destination. Located in Gurnee, Illinois, Six Flags Great America is 45 minutes north of Chicago and south of Milwaukee. Six Flags Great America offers endless adventures for the entire family with 17 heart-pounding coasters, a 20-acre water park, spectacular shows, a nighttime parade and three children’s areas. Try Tsunami Surge will be the tallest water coaster in the world at a height of 86 feet! Reach a top speed of 28 miles per hour over 950 feet of enclosed tunnels and open-air slides featuring three gravity-defying blasts and five breathtaking drops, along with five hairpin turns.
1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 249-1776
 | by Tom Gill-flickr |
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (63.3 miles – 1 hour and 30 minutes)
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore provides visitors with a 15-mile stretch of beach along Lake Michigan’s southern shore that’s perfect for a beach day getaway. Fifty miles of diverse trails weave along the lakeshore where visitors can hike, bike, ride on horseback, snowshoe, cross-country ski, or bird watch.
1215 N State Rd 49, Porter, IN 46304
(219) 395-1882
 | by Illinois Office of Tourism |
Starved Rock State Park (70.7 miles – 1 hour and 13 minutes)
Starved Rock State Park is a wilderness area on the Illinois River in the U.S. state of Illinois. It’s known for its steep sandstone canyons formed by glacial meltwater. Several, including the St. Louis, French and Wildcat canyons, have waterfalls. A wooded trail leads to Lover’s Leap Overlook, with views of the river and Starved Rock Dam. Park wildlife includes white-tailed deer, bald eagles and migratory birds.
2678 E 875th Rd, Oglesby, IL 61348
(815) 667-4726
 | courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
Lake Geneva, WI (79 miles – 1 hour and 32 minutes)
Explore Lake Geneva, a waterside city that’s the perfect place to relax on the beach, venture together on a hike, shop in one-of-a-kind boutiques and experience rich culture. From a simple picnic to an adventurous lake day, there are plenty of memory-makers at this destination — and there is fun for everyone.
Things to do in Lake Geneva
https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/things-to-do/
 | by Anderson Japanese Gardens |
Anderson Japanese Gardens (80.8 miles – 1 hour and 22 minutes)
Anderson Japanese Gardens is a beautiful, outdoor setting that inspires the mind and energizes the soul.
Our twelve-acre landscape of streams, waterfalls, winding pathways, and koi-filled ponds has been rated one of North America’s highest quality Japanese gardens for more than a decade.
318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, Illinois 61107
1 815 229 9390
 | by 123rf.com/profile_keifer |
St. Joseph, Michigan (120.2 miles – 1 hour and 59 minutes)
St. Joseph is a city in southwest Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan. Along the lake, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, sandy Silver Beach features a restored 1910 carousel and a pavilion. Near Tiscornia Park and its dune-backed beach, the 2 North Pier lighthouses date from the early 1900s. The Curious Kids’ Museum offers hands-on exhibits, including a play veterinarian clinic, apple orchard and farm. Stroll along the beautiful streets of this quaint little city, admire the lighthouses, eat ice cream, or hunt for souvenirs.
Things to do in St. Joseph’s
https://vacationidea.com/michigan/best-things-to-do-in-st-joseph-mi.html
 | by 123rf.com/profile_rudi1976' |
Madison, Wisconsin (147.5 miles – 2 hours and 24 minutes)
Madison is where tradition meets innovation. The city is far more than a college town and home to the state capital.
Madison is also where families come to bond on the lake, friends reunite over food and drinks and art and history lovers enjoy live music and museums galore.
Something is always going on here, from farmers markets to outdoor concerts, that makes everyone, no matter their age, feel right at home.
Things to do in Madison
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/things-to-do
 | by Wikipedia, |
Holland Michigan (176 miles - 2 hours 58 mins)
Discover Holland Michigan and discover your new favorite getaway waiting to welcome you. Where little moments become lasting memories. Where the spirit of adventure collides with an inviting mix of history and hospitality. A place where we explore, shop, eat, drink, play, and relax. A place where a culture of craft inspires our breweries, restaurants, and people. A place with small town charm and big city amenities.
Things to do in Holland
https://www.downtownholland.com/attractions/
 | by Illinois Office Tourism |
Springfield, Illinois (179.3 miles – 2 hours and 53 minutes)
Springfield delivers both serious history lessons and lighthearted slices of Americana. But the city where Lincoln lived is known for informative sites that put a relatable face on a larger-than-life figure.
Things to do in Springfield
https://visitspringfieldillinois.com/
