Field Museum
Chicago, IL
A large natural history museum on Chicago's lakefront, known for its dinosaur skeleton and wide-ranging collections. Plan a half day, arrive at opening and combine it with a walk along the nearby museum campus.
The Field Museum grew out of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and opened in 1894 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago. The current Classical-style building opened on May 2, 1921, and stands on the lakefront Museum Campus, together with the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. According to the museum, it holds nearly 40 million objects and specimens covering biodiversity, fossils, meteorites, gems and anthropology.
The museum is known for "Sue," a T. rex about 40 feet (12.3 m) long and 13 feet (4 m) tall at the hip, which according to Wikipedia died at age 28. With over a million visitors in 2022, the museum is busy. Arrive early in the morning and plan on half a day. Afterward you can explore the Museum Campus along the water. Downtown Chicago is not suitable for RVs.
- Nearest town
- Chicago, IL
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 41.8663, -87.6170
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Nearby
© Chris Lawrence from Blacksburg, VA, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Route 66 Begin Sign
© Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
© Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois · CC BY-SA 2.0Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
© Chris Light · CC BY-SA 4.0West Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park
Campsites nearby
- Des Plaines Methodist Camp GroundCampsite18 mi from Field Museum
- Camp Shabbona WoodsCampsite18 mi from Field Museum
- Camp Bullfrog LakeCampsite18 mi from Field Museum
- Camp SullivanCampsite19 mi from Field Museum
All campsites in Illinois · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Field Museum?
Field Museum is in Chicago, IL, at GPS 41.8663, -87.6170. It is about 39 mi from Michigan City.
Can you camp near Field Museum?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Des Plaines Methodist Camp Ground, about 18 mi away; within 25 mi there are 4 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Field Museum?
Places worth a stop nearby: Route 66 Begin Sign (1 mi), Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (1 mi), Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (9 mi) and West Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park (27 mi).
When is the best time to visit Field Museum?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)