Museum · Chicago
Adler Planetarium: free entry days, tickets & hours
America's first planetarium, on Northerly Island's tip, with dome shows, space exhibits and a classic skyline view.
Independent guide, not the official Adler website. Official links are under Sources.
Adler is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: Illinois Resident Discount Days: free Museum Entry for Illinois residents on listed 2026 dates; Museum Entry for U.S. military personnel and veterans and their families (up to five); One free adult Museum Entry for teachers.
- Otherwise: adult general admission, starting price — $25.
Calendar
Free days at Adler
For Illinois residents
- MON26OCTMonday, 26 October 2026 · in 3 days
- TUE27OCTTuesday, 27 October 2026 · in 4 days
- WED28OCTWednesday, 28 October 2026 · in 5 days
- MON9NOVMonday, 9 November 2026 · in 2 weeks
- TUE10NOVTuesday, 10 November 2026 · in 3 weeks
- MON16NOVMonday, 16 November 2026 · in 3 weeks
Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Remaining 2026 free dates for Illinois residents: 26-28 Oct, 9-10 and 16-18 Nov, 7-9 Dec.
- The program is called 'Illinois Resident Discount Days' but Museum Entry is free; sky shows are extra.
- Museums for All (EBT/Link or WIC) is $1 per guest here, not free.
- On Tuesdays and Thursdays the public can only enter from 11am.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free dayIllinois Resident Discount Days: free Museum Entry for Illinois residents on listed 2026 dates | Illinois residents | Free Museum Entry only; dome shows cost extra. Use your zip code as the promo code online and bring Illinois ID or proof of address. 28 Oct is a Wednesday (4-10pm opening). | No |
| Free forFree Museum Entry for U.S. military personnel and veterans and their families (up to five) | military members and families | Shows can be added for a fee. | No |
| Free forOne free adult Museum Entry for teachers | teachers | — | No |
Official prices
Adler ticket prices
| Adult general admission, starting price — Children from $13. City of Chicago residents get $5 off all passes. Dome shows are add-ons. | $25 |
| Star Pass: one year of unlimited entry plus unlimited dome shows (individual) — Pays for itself in about two visits with shows. | $65 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult general admission, starting price). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Adler
All tickets and tours on GetYourGuide
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 09:00–16:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 11:00–16:00 |
| Wed | 16:00–22:00 |
| Thu | 11:00–16:00 |
| Fri | 09:00–16:00 |
| Sat | 09:00–16:00 |
| Sun | 09:00–16:00 |
Friday-Monday 9am-4pm; Tuesday and Thursday 11am-4pm (mornings reserved for school field trips); Wednesday evenings 4-10pm with timed entry. Last admission one hour before closing. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
Adler: common questions
Is Adler free?
Adler has no free entry for everyone. Also free: Illinois Resident Discount Days: free Museum Entry for Illinois residents on listed 2026 dates; Museum Entry for U.S. military personnel and veterans and their families (up to five); One free adult Museum Entry for teachers. Otherwise the official ticket costs $25.
When are the free days at Adler for Illinois residents?
Upcoming free dates for Illinois residents: Mon 26 Oct, Tue 27 Oct, Wed 28 Oct and Mon 9 Nov. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
Who gets free entry to Adler?
Military members and families — shows can be added for a fee.. Teachers.
How much is a ticket to Adler?
Adult general admission, starting price costs $25 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Adler
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
Write a review
Sources
Where this comes from
- adlerplanetarium.org/tickets/ · checked Friday, 23 October 2026
- adlerplanetarium.org/plan-your-visit/
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.