Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed by Lija Scheiman, CEO, leading the TaxiBambino Content Audit Team
Once you're in Chicago, the question changes from "how do we get in from the airport" to "how do we get around all week". The 'L' trains, buses and water taxis cover the centre well, and children under 7 ride the CTA free. A car comes into its own for the trips the trains don't reach: the zoo in Brookfield, the Indiana Dunes, Six Flags, or a day out in the suburbs. Arriving by plane? See our separate O'Hare and Midway airport guide.
The CTA with children and buggies
Rider | CTA fare |
Ages 0 to 6 | Free with a fare-paying adult |
Ages 7 to 11 | Reduced fare: $1.25 train, $1.10 bus |
Adults | $2.50 train, $2.25 bus |
Strollers can stay open with the child buckled in, but keep them out of aisles and doorways and fold them when the bus or train gets crowded.
Strollers are never allowed on escalators, so look for lifts.
110 of 146 rail stations are accessible, and every bus is.
Water taxis
Chicago Water Taxi | Shoreline Water Taxi | |
Stops | Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie/Union (West Loop), Chinatown | Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue, Museum Campus, Union Station/Willis Tower |
Children | 3 and under free, older children pay the adult fare ($10 one way) | Children 3 to 12 from $18 for a day pass, infants free |
Season | Usually March to December | Usually May to September |
Buggies | Must be folded and carried on board | Ask when booking |
A water taxi to Chinatown or the Museum Campus is a trip in itself for most children.
Car seats in Chicago taxis and ride apps
Illinois requires every child under 8 to ride in an appropriate restraint, and children under 2 rear-facing unless they're already 40 lb or 40 inches (625 ILCS 25). The law is written for non-commercial vehicles, so Chicago taxis aren't clearly required to provide or use a seat, and in practice they don't carry one for you.
Ride apps don't solve it either: Uber's car-seat service launched in New York and Los Angeles, and car seats aren't among the ride options Uber lists for Chicago. For a toddler on the Kennedy or Lake Shore Drive, the dependable option is a car booked with the seat already fitted.
Day trips where a car (and a seat) makes sense
Destination | Why families go |
Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Brookfield | The big zoo in the western suburbs, renamed in 2024 for its 90th anniversary |
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee | About 45 minutes from the Loop. Busiest in July and August |
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe | Gardens north of the city with a Nature Play Garden for children |
Morton Arboretum, Lisle | A large arboretum in the western suburbs |
Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana | Lake Michigan beaches and dunes across the state line |
What we see in Chicago
Chicago is our second-busiest US destination, with 104 completed family transfers in the past 12 months. Four in ten were for groups of four or more, so it's worth telling us everyone's age when you book, and we'll send a vehicle with room for all the seats. December was our busiest month, followed by June and April.
Family favourites in the city
Chicago Children's Museum, Navy Pier: for babies to pre-teens. Children under 1 go free, and it's closed on Tuesdays.
Beaches: Chicago's lakefront beaches are open for swimming from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day, with lifeguards from 11 am to 7 pm. Beaches include 31st Street Beach south of the Loop.
Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (the Bean): free, open 6 am to 11 pm.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: children aged 1 to 12 from $8,.
Garfield Park Conservatory: free for Chicago residents. Visitors pay $10 for adults and $5 for children 7 to 17, and booking is required.
360 Chicago: the 94th-floor observation deck on Michigan Avenue. Children's tickets are $19.
Lincoln Park Zoo: free and open every day of the year.
Winter in the city
January in Chicago averages about 25°F, with around 11 inches of snow in a normal January. From 1 December to 1 April, an overnight parking ban (3 to 7 am) applies on 107 miles of main streets, snow or not. If you're renting a car for the week, check your street before parking overnight.
Choosing a seat
Rear-facing seat: under 2, unless 40 lb or 40 inches.
Forward-facing harness seat: toddlers who have outgrown rear-facing.
Booster: older children under 8.
All seats we arrange meet US federal standard FMVSS 213. Bigger family? See our vehicle fleet.
Travelling on? See our guides for Denver Airport and Philadelphia Airport. Browse all our car seat options or every city on our destinations page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do kids ride free on Chicago trains and buses?
Children aged 0 to 6 ride the CTA free with a fare-paying adult. Ages 7 to 11 pay a reduced fare.
Can I take a stroller on the 'L'?
Yes. Keep it out of the aisles and doorways, fold it when the train is crowded, and use lifts rather than escalators.
Is there Uber with a car seat in Chicago?
Uber's car-seat service launched in New York and Los Angeles, and it isn't listed among Uber's Chicago options. Book a car with a seat in advance.
When can kids swim at Chicago beaches?
From the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day, when lifeguards are on duty from 11 am to 7 pm.
How far is Six Flags Great America from downtown Chicago?
About 45 minutes by car, to Gurnee.
Travel Safely with TaxiBambino
Knowing the law is one thing; having the right seat ready when you need it is another. TaxiBambino.com connects families with certified child-seat taxis and airport transfers in Chicago and 150+ destinations worldwide. Infant seats, forward-facing seats and boosters for all ages, booked in advance so nothing is left to chance.
About this page
TaxiBambino is operated by Avaren Group AB (org. nr 559536-5247), Nacka, Sweden, and arranges family taxis and transfers with child seats fitted in advance through vetted local partners. Contact: [email protected].
Sources: CTA: riding with children · CTA: fares · CTA: accessibility · Chicago Water Taxi: FAQ · Shoreline water taxis · Chicago Park District: beaches · City of Chicago: winter parking restrictions · Uber: Uber Car Seat launch
This page is reviewed and updated regularly. For the most current official rules, always check your destination country's government transport authority.