Open year-round. Closed Thanksgiving (Nov 26) and Christmas Day. The Centennial Wheel runs daily all winter; the outdoor Pier Park rides are closed for the season.
About Navy Pier
Navy Pier is Chicago's mile-long lakefront pier with the 200-foot Centennial Wheel, restaurants, the Chicago Children's Museum, Shakespeare theater and boat cruises. Walking the pier is free, and you only pay for what you ride or see. The real cost here is parking, so the cheapest way in is transit or a validated off-site garage.
Tickets and prices
There is no admission fee to enter Navy Pier. Attractions sell their own tickets. Centennial Wheel standard tickets were about $21 for ages 12+ and $18 for ages 3-11 in spring 2026, and WGN put the usual price near $25 in May 2026; check the official ticket page for today's rate.
Buy on the official siteDeals we found
Partner garages (Grand Plaza, Ogden Plaza, Millennium Park) run about $15 when validated at Navy Pier Guest Services. Don't prepay or you lose the rate.
See the dealEating at a participating pier restaurant gets garage parking validated to about $20 for up to 2.5 hours.
See the dealGroups of 20 or more get discounted Centennial Wheel and Pier Park ride tickets plus food court certificates.
See the dealPromo codes
Coupon sites list codes for Navy Pier, but none we found are real. Free entry and validated parking are the deals.
Good to know
- Address
- 600 E. Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
- Hours
- Sept 8-Dec 31, 2026: Sun-Thu 11 AM-8 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-10 PM. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; Christmas Eve 11 AM-5 PM.
- Parking
- On-site garages start around $21 for the first hour, up to about $65 for 24 hours; validated off-site garages about $15
- Phone
- +1-312-595-7437
- Type
- Pier/boardwalk · run by Navy Pier Inc.
- Official site
- navypier.org
Don't miss
- Centennial Wheel, 200 feet over Lake Michigan, open daily year-round
- Free summer fireworks Wednesdays and Saturdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day
- Chicago Children's Museum
- Chicago Shakespeare Theater
- Seasonal Pier Park rides: carousel, tea cups and Light Tower ride
- Lakefront cruises and the Butterfly House
Little ways to save
Parking can cost more than the wheel. Take the CTA or use a validated $15 off-site garage instead of the $21-and-up pier garages.
The wheel ride is about 15 minutes, three full turns. Sunset is the best seat in the house.
Kids under 18 need an adult escort after 5 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Lockers are $7 standard if you're carrying bags around the city.
Questions people ask us
Does it cost money to get into Navy Pier?
No. Entry is free. You pay only for attractions like the Centennial Wheel, museums, shows and cruises.
How much is the Navy Pier Ferris wheel?
Standard Centennial Wheel tickets were about $21 for adults and $18 for kids 3-11 in spring 2026. Kids 2 and under ride free.
How much is parking at Navy Pier?
Pier garages start around $21 for the first hour and reach about $65 for 24 hours. Validated partner garages nearby are about $15.
What are Navy Pier's hours this fall?
From Sept 8 to Dec 31, 2026, it's open 11 AM-8 PM Sunday to Thursday and 11 AM-10 PM Friday and Saturday.
More parks nearby
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Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago
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Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Rockford
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Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park
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Pirates' Cove Children's Theme Park
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Enchanted Castle
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Where these prices come from: Official hours and admission page, Official FAQ page, Centennial Wheel 10th anniversary page, WGN, Centennial Wheel turns 10 (May 2026), The Better Vacation, wheel guide (updated Apr 2026), Chicago Food Tours parking guide (updated May 2026). Prices checked October 2026 by John Foster. Prices change, so confirm on the park's site before you go.