
Highest-rated free things to do in Illinois by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Illinois.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Illinois using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

#30. The Rookery Building
- Rating: 4.5/5 (420 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Maggie Daley Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,351 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum (ISAC)
- Rating: 4.7/5 (570 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Riverwalk
- Rating: 4.7/5 (806 reviews)
- City: Naperville DuPage County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Macy's on State Street
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,328 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Chicago Skyline
- Rating: 4.8/5 (750 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Lakefront Trail
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,455 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Chicago Chinatown
- Rating: 3.5/5 (644 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Water Tower Place
- Rating: 4.3/5 (806 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Lincoln Park Conservatory
- Rating: 4.6/5 (804 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. The Loop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,264 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Lincoln Tomb
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,028 reviews)
- City: Springfield
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Matthiessen State Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (524 reviews)
- City: North Utica
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Lake Michigan
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,853 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Union Station
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1,171 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Garden of the Gods
- Rating: 4.8/5 (419 reviews)
- City: Harrisburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Chicago Fed's Money Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (536 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Holy Name Cathedral
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,124 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Lincoln Home National Historic Site
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,918 reviews)
- City: Springfield
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Clarence F. Buckingham Fountain
- Rating: 4.4/5 (3,450 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Chicago Cultural Center
- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,085 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Route 66
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,265 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Starved Rock State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,636 reviews)
- City: Oglesby
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Garfield Park Conservatory
- Rating: 4.7/5 (874 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Navy Pier
- Rating: 4.0/5 (15,249 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Chicago Riverwalk
- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,157 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Lincoln Park Zoo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6,025 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Cloud Gate
- Rating: 4.7/5 (18,312 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. The Magnificent Mile
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15,834 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Millennium Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (25,251 reviews)
- City: Chicago
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.