Membership FAQs

Your caregiver may use your membership to bring your children to visit Shedd, but they cannot use it to visit without your children. To add your caregiver to your account, please call the Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284

• All aquarium guests can find metered parking on Solidarity Drive. Parking is available at several Museum Campus lots and the North Garage at Soldier Field. Rates are set by Standard Parking and are subject to change. Shedd cannot validate parking for members. We do, however, offer limited valet parking on weekends.

• Aquarium Council Members receive on-site parking at Shedd as a benefit of their membership. Parking access is subject to availability and must be reserved two days ahead of your visit by contacting [email protected]. Learn more about this level of membership.

Members Jazzin', 6-10 p.m. on May 28, 2025, is free to all members with special, members-only programming. Members receive discounted pricing on all other Jazzin' at the Shedd events every Wednesday evening through August.

Members at the Advocate ($275) level and above enjoy access to special privileges at partnering institutions through the American Zoo and Aquarium Reciprocity program. See the list of applicable organizations on the AZA website. Please note that benefits vary by institution and are subject to changes at the discretion of our partners. We strongly recommend you check with each respective institution to confirm your specific benefits before visiting. 

Need to upgrade or renew your membership before traveling? Call the Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284, or email [email protected]. 

Your Shedd membership is greener than ever! A digital member card is available through your account when you log in. Your username is the email address associated with your membership, used to access ticket reservations and member–exclusive benefits online.

Not sure what email address to use? Call the Member Hotline at 312-692-3284 or email [email protected]

• Enjoy all Shedd has to offer members by logging in to your account. Your username is the email address associated with your membership. You should only share your login information with named cardholders who you want to access these benefits, as your free tickets have a daily limit by household. A named cardholder must be present on the day of your visit to use member tickets.

• Alternatively, named cardholders are always able to reserve available tickets with a Shedd representative over the phone through our Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284. 

• Please contact us at [email protected] or call our Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284 for assistance.
• You can update your password by requesting a password reset on the website.

• No, children under 18 years old are not permitted to visit without a parent or guardian. 
• Teens (ages 14-17) currently enrolled in Shedd Teen programs may attend without an adult. Pre-registration and signed participation waivers are required to participate. 
• Members at the Family level and above may designate an adult caregiver to bring their children, but the caregiver cannot use the membership to visit without the children. To add your caregiver to your account, please call the Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284.

Members fuel the important work we do to protect our shared blue planet. As a member, your unrestricted contribution sustains daily operations at the aquarium, which includes providing essential care for 32,000 animals at Shedd and those we help in the wild.

• For the best experience, members are encouraged to reserve free tickets online in advance due to high demand. Please login with the email address associated with your membership to reserve your free member tickets. (A named cardholder 18 years or older must be present to use member tickets.)

• You may also call the Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284 to reserve tickets.

• We do our best to accommodate all members. However, tickets sell out quickly and we reserve the right to turn guests away. Please refer to our online calendar to decide what day and time to visit that works best for you.

Show your member ticket at checkout or use your digital member card on your account to access these discounts at the aquarium:

• 40% discount on 4-D Experiences
• 10% discount at the Shedd Store
• 10% discount at Shedd restaurants
• 10% discount at our online store

• Shedd’s historic home is evolving, as part of our Experience Evolution, to meet the needs of our animals, community and guests. Throughout the process, Shedd remains open, and there are always new things to do and see while construction is ongoing.

• When booking tickets, use our Plan Ahead tool to find a day and time to visit that works best for you. Members visit free all year long!

• Visit our Today at Shedd Calendar to plan your Shedd visit.

• Shedd offers AZA reciprocal members two tickets at 50% of the price at your booked time.
• Redeem you AZA discount here sheddaquarium.org/aza
• If you have trouble booking online, please call the Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284, or email [email protected] for assistance.
• Proof of membership at the reciprocal AZA institution may be required at check-in. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended for all guests due to the high demand for tickets.

Memberships may be purchased online, by phone, or by mail:

• Purchase your membership online.
• Call our members hotline at 312-692-3284, seven days a week.
• Send a check to:

Attn: Membership Department
Shedd Aquarium Society
29017 Network Place
Chicago, IL 60673-1290

• Online: Login into your Shedd account and renew your membership support online.
• By Phone: You can call our Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week.
• By Mail: We send you a letter before your membership expires with a return envelope already addressed to Shedd
• Send a check to:

Attn: Membership Department
Shedd Aquarium Society, 29017 Network Place
Chicago, IL 60673-1290

Your Shedd membership is good for one year through the end of the month of purchase (e.g., if you purchase a membership January 1, 2024, your membership will expire January 31, 2025).

Right away! You can call the Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284 or email [email protected] for assistance with accessing your member benefits. To ensure a seamless entry experience, be sure to reserve your free member tickets online in advance of your first visit. 

No. A Shedd Aquarium membership is a donation to the institution and is not eligible for a refund.

You can share Shedd with someone in any of three ways:

1. Purchase a gift membership online.
2. Call the Membership Hotline at 312-692-3284.
3. Send a check to:

Attn: Membership Department
Shedd Aquarium Society
29017 Network Place
Chicago, IL 60673-1290

The gift recipient will receive an instructional welcome email the morning after your purchase is processed.