Navy Pier was the last stop of our second day in Chicago, after Millennium Park and a deep dish lunch. We arrived in the early evening, which turned out to be the right call.
Here’s the thing worth knowing before you go: walking onto the pier is free. Everything on it is not. The gap between those two facts is where families get caught out.
Quick guide
Check the fireworks schedule before you pick your evening — they run on set nights in summer.
Entry to the pier: free. Rides, boats and attractions are priced individually.
Centennial Wheel: $21 adult (12+), $18 child (3–11), under 2 free. About 15 minutes, three full rotations.
Go in the late afternoon or early evening. The lights come on over the lake and it’s the best version of the place.
Don’t drive. Pier parking is expensive and the walk from Michigan Avenue takes about 25 minutes.
What it costs
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Entry to Navy Pier | Free |
| Centennial Wheel — adult (12+) | $21 |
| Centennial Wheel — child (3–11) | $18 |
| Centennial Wheel — under 2 | Free |
| Other rides, boats, attractions | Priced individually |
Centennial Wheel hours: Monday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–10pm, Sunday 11am–8pm. Prices and hours checked September 2026 — worth confirming before you go.
The Centennial Wheel — is it worth it with children?
Nearly 200 feet up, with 360-degree views over the city and Lake Michigan. The ride is three complete revolutions, about 15 minutes — and in quieter periods the operators sometimes give you a fourth, which stretches it closer to half an hour.
Fifteen minutes matters more than it sounds. It’s long enough to be a proper ride rather than a lap, and long enough that a child who decides halfway round that they don’t like heights is committed. The gondolas are enclosed, which helps.
For a family of four that’s $78 — worth knowing against the fact that you’ve probably already done one or two observation decks. If Skydeck and 360 Chicago are on your list too, the wheel is the one to drop; if this is your only view from above, it’s the friendliest of the three for small children.
It was our last stop, we were tired, and we just had a lovely walk around, without taking the activity.
Worth checking: the Centennial Wheel is now one of the nine attractions you can pick with a Chicago C3 pass. It’s also one of the cheapest on that list, which usually makes it a poor use of a pass slot. 👉 Is the Chicago CityPASS worth it? The maths
What you can do at Navy Pier for free
This is the section that makes the trip work on a budget:
- Walk the pier itself — the promenade, the lake on both sides, the skyline behind you
- Street performers, especially on summer evenings
- The fireworks, on scheduled nights in summer — visible from the pier and from the lakefront around it
- The gardens and the seating along the water
- Sunset over the lake — the reason to come late rather than early
We spent our evening doing mostly this: walking, watching, taking photos as the lights came on. It cost nothing and it was the right way to end a long day.
When to go, and when the fireworks are
Late afternoon into the evening is the answer. The pier is at its best when the light goes and the city switches on behind it, and it’s cooler than the middle of a Chicago summer day.
Fireworks run on set nights through the summer — check the current schedule before choosing which evening you go, because it turns an ordinary visit into the highlight of the trip. But we didn’t stay till the midnight.
Getting there — and why not to drive
Navy Pier is at 600 E Grand Avenue, at the end of the pier that runs out into Lake Michigan.
Parking at the pier is expensive, and you don’t need it. It’s roughly a 25-minute walk east from Michigan Avenue — we walked from Giordano’s — and buses run out to it. We had no car in Chicago for our whole trip and never wanted one. 👉 Our 3 days in Chicago with kids
Practical tips
- Bring a jacket, even in July. It’s noticeably colder on the water than on Michigan Avenue.
- Eat before you come, or plan to pay pier prices. There are plenty of restaurants; none of them are cheap.
- The Shoreline architecture cruises also leave from here, so you can pair the two. 👉 Our architecture river cruise with kids
- The wheel runs year-round, weather permitting — it isn’t a summer-only attraction.
Navy Pier With Kids: FAQs
Is Navy Pier free to visit?
Yes. Walking onto Navy Pier and along the promenade is free, including the street performers, the gardens and the summer fireworks. The rides, boat cruises and attractions are priced individually, so you can spend an evening there for nothing if you choose to.
How much does the Centennial Wheel cost?
As of September 2026 the Centennial Wheel costs 21 dollars for adults aged 12 and over and 18 dollars for children aged 3 to 11, with under 2s free. That is 78 dollars for a family of four. Prices change, so check before you go.
How long is the Centennial Wheel ride?
About 15 minutes, covering three complete revolutions. At quieter times the operators sometimes add a fourth rotation, which takes it closer to half an hour. The gondolas are enclosed, which helps with children who are nervous about heights.
What time should you visit Navy Pier with kids?
Late afternoon into the evening. The pier is at its best as the light goes and the city lights come on behind it, and it is cooler than the middle of a summer day. Check the fireworks schedule first, because they run on set nights through the summer and turn an ordinary visit into the highlight of a trip.
Where is Navy Pier and do you need to drive?
Navy Pier is at 600 E Grand Avenue on Lake Michigan. You do not need to drive. It is about a 25 minute walk east from Michigan Avenue and buses run to it, while parking at the pier is expensive. We had no car in Chicago at all and reached it on foot.
Is the Centennial Wheel open in winter?
Yes, the wheel operates year round, weather permitting, so it is not only a summer attraction. Bring warm clothes in any season though, because it is noticeably colder out on the water than it is on Michigan Avenue.
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