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A Chicago Bears home game is today. Increased traffic and very limited parking are expected. Valet parking is also not available. Learn more.

Monday, October 5, 2026

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Coming Up:

At 10:00  AM

Anaconda Live

Amazon Rising

Beluga Rescue Chat

Amphitheater
At 10:30  AM

Kelp Forest Chat

Oceans
At 11:00  AM

Penguin Chat

Underwater Viewing

Must See Tour

View Tomorrow's Full Schedule
Open 9 am - 5 pm (Early Close)
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    Before You Arrive

    • Planning Your Visit
    • Tickets & Pricing
    • Directions & Parking
    • Discounts & Free Hours
    • Visit FAQs
    • Accessibility
    • Group Visits

    At the aquarium

    • An icon of the Shedd building's grecian facade. Today at Shedd
    • A map icon. Aquarium Map
    • Soundings Café in Shedd's Oceanarium serves up paninis, soups and sandwiches. Shopping & Dining
    • Rockhopper penguins have long, feathery yellow "eyebrows" of feathers above their eyes. Animal Encounters
    • A giant Pacific octopus with eight arms covered in round, grasping suckers spread out to feel its habitat. 4-D Experiences
    • A guest gently touches the rough, prickly surface of a sea star in sea star touch. See all experiences

    Exhibits

    • A view of Shedd Aquarium from above with a new, large entry pavilion attached to the building's south side. Experience Evolution
    • The Wonder of Water exhibit. Wonder of Water
    • A young visitor stands next to a brightly lit habitat as huge fish and turtles swim by beyond the glass. Amazon Rising
    See all exhibits
  • Animals

    Animals

    • A black tip reef shark, observed by Shedd researchers in the Bahamas, cruises overhead. Sharks
    • Beluga whale Beethoven looks out of the water at Shedd Aquarium. Belugas
    • A juvenile Barbour's map turtle peers interestedly at the camera, the sharp ridges at the top of its shell's dome distinctive. Turtles
    • Rockhopper penguins have long, wispy feathers that sweep back from above their eyes like eyebrows. Penguins
    • Sea otter Luna peers interestedly at a visitor behind the scenes in Shedd's Oceanarium. She has her long body comfortably wedged into a large rubber bucket. Sea Otters
    • The mandarin dragonet is a tiny fish about the size of one's thumb, constantly fanning its fins as it searches for food along the reefs where it lives. See all Animals

    Protecting Animals & Habitats

    • A mussel's size is measured as part of a freshwater mussel survey. Center for Species Survival
    • A sea lion sits in a bucket of water in a California rescue and rehabilitation facility. Global Conservation Partnerships
    • A woman crouches on a pair of plant beds floating in the Chicago river, checking the ties that keep them together. South Branch Initiative
    See all conservation research

    Animal Care

    • Animal Rescue & Response
    • Animal Hospital & Labs
    • Animal Wellbeing
    • Animal Enrichment
    • Animal Stories
    • Explore Animal Care
  • Programs & Events

    Programs & Events

    • Laguna perches on the edge of a habitat behind the scenes at Shedd Aquarium. Animal Encounters
    • Under the purple-lighted canopy protecting Shedd's north terrace from the elements, a man spins a woman as they dance salsa to a stage of live musicians in the background. He is wearing nice but casual white shirt and brown dress slacks, and she is wearing a comfortable, breezy striped yellow and black dress with tasteful ruffles at the hem. Evening Events
    • A girl and a dolphin look at each other through the glass in underwater viewing. The dolphin and the girl are about the same size. Youth & Families
    • A group of participants in Shedd's Kayak for Conservation program float in single-person kayaks on the Chicago river, surrounded by greenery and with a bridge in the distance. Conservation Action
    • Educators work on an activity together during Shedd's annual Science Educator Conference. Educators
    • A beluga and calf peer at an underwater camera in Shedd's Oceanarium. All Programs & Events

    Upcoming Events

    • A filefish investigates the eye socket of a plastic skull. Día de los Muertos Ritmo del Mar
    • A moon jelly stands out from a smack of jellies at Shedd Aquarium Haunted House Party
    • A yellow sea horse in oceans gallery, its long snout and curved neck distinctive. Calm Waters
    See all Events

    Host an Event

    • Weddings, Parties, More

    Beyond Shedd

    • Travel with Shedd
    • Online Learning
    • Marine Ecology Course
    • Freshwater Ecology Course
  • Act & Support

    Action Spotlights

    • An image of a glass containing several plastic pellets, often called nurdles, found in a natural waterway. Reduce Plastic Pollution
    • A young girl signs her name on a posterboard at Shedd Fight the Foam
    • A group of people, some carrying buckets, walk through grasslands. Restore Local Habitats
    Act with Shedd

    Support

    • A man and his son sit together gazing up at the huge glass wall of a wild reef habitat as it curves above them. Become a Member
    • A tiny baby penguin sits in the cradle of someone's palm. Make a Gift
    • A black family smiles as they are presented by an animal handler with a beautiful green-winged macaw. Join Aquarium Council
    Support Us

    More ways to support

    • Volunteer at Shedd
    • Join Teacher Advisory Council
    • Eat Sustainable Seafood
    • Keep Sharks Swimming
  • Educators
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  1. < SHEDD AQUARIUM
  2. < PARKING FAQS

Parking FAQs

  • Please note, street parking on museum campus is available but is subject to closure by the Chicago Park District for events around campus at any time. 

  • The Museum Campus also has several lots where you can park. Current rates, which can change without notice are:

    Soldier Field north garage
    Up to 4 hours, $27
    4 to 12 hours, $32
    12 to 24 hours, $52
    Special event, pay on the way in, $30

    East museum lot
    $30

    Adler lot
    Early bird, before 9:30 a.m., $13
    Daily, $27
    Night rate, after 4:30 p.m., $17

    For more information, visit soldierfieldparking.com.

  • Available most weekends for aquarium guests only, for $35 a vehicle, subject to limited availability. Take advantage of this service at the guest drop-off area on the south side of the aquarium, off Solidarity Drive. Please note that we cannot offer valet parking on certain Bears home-game days.

  • Reserve a space with SpotHero
    You can reserve parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation's leading parking reservations app. To reserve your parking spot, visit the Shedd Aquarium SpotHero Parking Page.

  • Once you have dropped off your group, please park buses in the 18th Street turnaround just west of DuSable Lakeshore Drive. This location is conveniently located within walking distance of all Museum Campus locations as well as the South Loop (via a pedestrian bridge).

    See the full bus parking guidelines here. 

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John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605 312-939-2438

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