Day trips · By train or car · Checked against operators’ and park agencies’ own pages
Day Trips from Chicago: Five Worth the Journey, with Trains from US$10
Find your Chicago experience
How to choose
Five trips, and three of them need no car. Choose by how you travel first: rail days follow a timetable, and car days follow you.
Good to know
- Left out: Oak Park and Evanston, a city train ride rather than a trip, and Galena, which we could not source to a one-day plan.
| Item | Minutes one way |
|---|---|
| Indiana Dunes, South Shore train | 71 |
| Milwaukee, Amtrak train | 89 |
| Harbor Country, by car | 90 |
| Option | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Indiana Dunes · train, 71 minutes | Beach and dunes on foot from the station; check the weekend timetable. |
| Milwaukee · train, 89 minutes | A city day in any season, on seven trains a day. |
| Harbor Country · car or Amtrak, 90 minutes by car | Michigan beach towns, reached by car or by Amtrak to New Buffalo. |
| Starved Rock · car, under two hours | Canyons and waterfalls with free entry, but only by car. |
| Lake Geneva · car, 83 miles | A lakeside summer town and shore path; the directions are for drivers. |
Indiana Dunes: 71 minutes by train, US$10 each way
A national park with train stations of its own. The South Shore Line stops at four stations in the park, and its beaches and trails lie within two miles of them, so this is a walking day.
- Take a South Shore Line train from Millennium Station; on the weekend timetable, Dune Park is 71 minutes away.
- Alight at Dune Park for the Visitor Center, 1.33 miles south, or at Beverly Shores for Lake View Beach, 1 mile north.
- Fix your train home before you set off; weekend trains run about two hours apart and can be revised or cancelled.
Good to know
- Passing through is free, but stopping to walk a trail or use the beach needs the park entry fee.
- Indiana Dunes State Park, a mile from Dune Park station, has its own fees and passes; none work between the two parks.
| Item | US$ per adult or vehicle | € |
|---|---|---|
| South Shore Line, Millennium Station to Dune Park, one way | US$10 | ≈ €9 |
| Park entry on foot or by bicycle, per person aged 16 or over, valid seven days | US$15 | ≈ €14 |
| Park entry by private vehicle, all occupants, valid seven days | US$25 | ≈ €23 |
On your own
The train and a walk cover it, with no car; walk-in entry is per person.
With a guide
No guided Indiana Dunes day trip from Chicago is on Mubboo; the train is the simple route.
The train is US$10 each way, and walk-in park entry is US$15 a person.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult or per vehicle as charted, fares and park entry only, excluding meals, parking and fuel
Milwaukee: 89 minutes by Amtrak, seven trains a day
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The easiest city day from Chicago, and the only trip here with a guided option. Amtrak’s Hiawatha reaches downtown Milwaukee in 1 hour 29 minutes, and it runs on Sundays too.
See or book a guided Milwaukee day trip
- Board the Hiawatha at Union Station; it runs seven round trips a day, six on Sunday.
- Get off at Milwaukee Downtown, then head for the Public Market, which is open every day.
- Pick your train home first and work the day back from it.
Good to know
- The Hiawatha serves two Milwaukee stops, Downtown and General Mitchell Airport; get off at Downtown for the city.
On your own
By train from Union Station: frequent, quick and car-free, so it suits any day of the week.
With a guide
A guided day by vehicle from Chicago, with a driver-guide and set stops; museum and brewery entry are extra.
Harbor Country, Michigan: 90 minutes by car, or Amtrak
A run of Lake Michigan beach towns across the state line. New Buffalo is the gateway, with an Amtrak station as well as road access.
- Drive about 90 minutes from downtown Chicago on I-94 and leave at Exit 4A or 4B for New Buffalo.
- Or take Amtrak’s Wolverine or Blue Water to New Buffalo station, which has a platform with shelter and free parking.
- Park downtown: street and lot parking is provided for the shops, restaurants and beaches.
Good to know
- Rideshare is available only on a very limited basis in the area’s natural sites, so do not count on it for the ride home.
- The South Shore Line’s Michigan City stop is 10 minutes south by road, another way to reach this shore by train.
On your own
Car or Amtrak both work; the towns and beaches are close to New Buffalo.
With a guide
No guided Harbor Country day trip from Chicago is on Mubboo; go independently.
Starved Rock: about 90 miles, free entry, car needed
A state park of 18 canyons and 13 miles of trails on the Illinois River, with waterfalls in spring and after heavy rain. Entry is free; the cost is the drive.
- Drive about 90 miles on I-80, less than two hours; neither the park nor the Lodge lists a train or bus.
- In the busy season, arrive early: lots close when full, most often Friday to Sunday from 11am to 3pm.
- Start at the Visitor Center, open 9am to 4pm but closed on some winter holidays; the park runs from 7am to sunset.
Good to know
- Visitors are not allowed on the trails after dark, so plan your last canyon before sunset.
On your own
Drive, and go early from mid-March to early November, when weekend parking fills.
With a guide
No guided Starved Rock day trip from Chicago is on Mubboo; go by car.
Lake Geneva: 83 miles by road, and a shore path
A Wisconsin resort town with a path around its lake. It is a summer walking day, and the visitor bureau’s directions are written for drivers.
- Drive about 83 miles from Chicago; the visitor bureau lists road distances and airports, not a train.
- Walk the Shore Path in daylight only; the shoreline is about 21 miles, and the path runs to almost 26.
- Stay on the path: homeowners ask visitors to keep out of lawns, gardens, piers and boathouses.
Good to know
- Strollers are not recommended, because parts of the path are uneven.
On your own
Drive, then walk one section; the whole shoreline is about 21 miles.
With a guide
No guided Lake Geneva day trip from Chicago is on Mubboo; go by car.
If you only do one
Milwaukee, if you have no car: 89 minutes by Amtrak on seven trains a day, so the day is easy to plan. In summer, swap it for the Indiana Dunes.
Good to know
- Choose the Dunes for a beach day; the trade-off is a thinner weekend timetable.
- Choose Starved Rock or Lake Geneva only with a car and an early start.
- Choose Harbor Country for a slower Michigan beach day.
Attractions & day trips from Chicago
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| South Shore Line one way, Millennium Station to Dune Park | US$10 | – |
| Indiana Dunes National Park entry on foot, per person | US$15 | – |
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult or per vehicle as charted, fares and park entry only, excluding meals, parking and fuel. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Where a guided day tour earns its money, and where it does not
A guide earns its price where the trip is hard to arrange: Milwaukee’s stops are set for you. The Dunes and Harbor Country are simpler by train, and Starved Rock and Lake Geneva suit a car.
Mubboo compares flights and tours and may earn a commission when a traveller uses a partner link. Booking and payment happen with the provider.
Questions people ask
Can I visit Starved Rock without a car?
Not reliably. Neither the park’s Q&A nor the Lodge’s directions lists a train or bus, and both give road routes. Drive, and go early on a busy weekend.
Do I pay to enter Indiana Dunes if I arrive by train?
Yes, if you stop to walk a trail or use the beach: visitors aged 16 or over pay per person, and the pass lasts seven days. Passing through the park does not need one.
Does the Milwaukee train run on Sundays?
Yes. Amtrak’s Hiawatha runs seven round trips a day, six on Sunday, and takes 1 hour 29 minutes each way.
Is Lake Geneva possible as a day trip without a car?
It is a driving day. The visitor bureau’s getting-here page lists road distances, 83 miles from Chicago, and airports, but no train or bus.
Plan deeper in Chicago
Sources (22)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Amtrak — Hiawatha Service, Chicago–Milwaukee — www.amtrak.com/hiawatha-train (checked 2026-09-19)
- South Shore Line — Train Schedules (effective April 2026) — mysouthshoreline.com/plan-your-trip/train-schedules/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- South Shore Line — Eastbound Saturday–Sunday timetable, April 2026 — mysouthshoreline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/EB-Wknd-April-2026.png (checked 2026-09-19)
- South Shore Line — Tickets & Fares — mysouthshoreline.com/tickets/tickets-fares/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- NICTD — July 1, 2025 fare table with Monon Corridor added (PDF) — mysouthshoreline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/NICTDFareTablewithMonon_R00.pdf (checked 2026-09-19)
- National Park Service — Indiana Dunes National Park: Fees and Passes — www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm (checked 2026-09-19)
- National Park Service — Indiana Dunes National Park: Public Transportation — www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/publictransportation.htm (checked 2026-09-19)
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources — Starved Rock State Park: Common Questions & Answers (PDF) — dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/parks/documents/starvedrock-common-park-qa.pdf (checked 2026-09-19)
- Starved Rock Lodge — Starved Rock State Park: hours, trails and canyons — www.starvedrocklodge.com/starved-rock-state-park/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Starved Rock Lodge — home page (distance from Chicago) — www.starvedrocklodge.com/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Starved Rock Lodge — Directions & Maps — www.starvedrocklodge.com/directions-maps/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Lake Geneva — Getting to the Lake Geneva Area — www.visitlakegeneva.com/explore/getting-to-lake-geneva-area/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Lake Geneva — Geneva Lake Shore Path — www.visitlakegeneva.com/things-to-do/shore-path/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce — Getting Here — www.harborcountry.org/getting-here/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- New Buffalo Business Association — downtown parking — newbuffalo.org/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Milwaukee Public Market — About Us (hours of operation) — milwaukeepublicmarket.org/about-us/about-us (checked 2026-09-19)
- Time Out Chicago — 31 Best Day Trips to Take From Chicago — www.timeout.com/chicago/travel/best-day-trips-from-chicago (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Chicago (the booking platform destination 673), term 'Milwaukee day trip' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=673&term=Milwaukee%20day%20trip¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Chicago (the booking platform destination 673), term 'Indiana Dunes' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=673&term=Indiana%20Dunes¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Chicago (the booking platform destination 673), term 'New Buffalo' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=673&term=New%20Buffalo¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Chicago (the booking platform destination 673), term 'Starved Rock' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=673&term=Starved%20Rock¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Chicago (the booking platform destination 673), term 'Lake Geneva' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=673&term=Lake%20Geneva¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
