13 Chicago Suburbs Worth Leaving the City to Visit

From Oak Park to Elmhurst, Chicagoland’s action-packed suburbs are anything but boring.

There’s never a dull moment here in Chicago. Our fair city always has plenty to do, from thrift stores to coffee shops, to fun and romantic spots perfect for dates. That said, one of the best things about the city is its proximity to a whole slew of beautiful suburbs that have more to offer than pristine lawns and cul-de-sacs. In that spirit, here are our favorite Chicago suburbs that are more than worth the commute.

Arlington Heights Park District
Arlington Heights Park District

Arlington Heights

Distance from Chicago: 45 minutes
Arlington Heights is one of the closest places to Chicago where you can take a day trip and feel like you’ve traveled far, far away from the city’s bustle. Take the 45-minute train ride (or half-hour-ish car trip) northwest past the convention centers of Rosemont and you’ll find a municipality that really can offer day trippers anything they could want. First, indulge in some shopping over at Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese marketplace in the midwest. Grab yourself some pastries and sweets at a selection of fine pastry shops, bakeries, and chocolatiers, and then hop over to Books Kinokuniya to pick up some manga, collectibles, or a squishy-comfy Pikachu pillow. Then, watch the sunset over Lake Arlington and take in a show at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center before your twilight trip back home. For nature lovers, the nearby 3,500+ acre Busse Woods forest preserve is one of the area’s best, boasting an elk pasture, ancient upland forests, almost 13 miles of trails, and Cook County’s largest fishing and boating waters.

Wilder Mansion
Wilder Mansion

Elmhurst

Distance from Chicago: 35 minutes
Young families moving out of the city often build their first nest in this sprawling suburb, home to an array of eateries from the trendy 151 Kitchen to the old-school classic Roberto’s. Snap some pics at Wilder Mansion, do some biking on the Prairie Path, and catch movies al fresco all summer long at Wilder Park. Summer also brings live music at the gazebo in Wild Meadows Trace Park, with nearby dive bar Spring Inn acting as the perfect post-concert destination. Fans of golf and shopping will definitely want to stop by Oak Brook beforehand, where the massive Oak Brook Center and Oak Brook Golf Club beckon visitors from near and far.

Milk Money Brewing
Milk Money Brewing

La Grange

Distance from Chicago: 20 minutes
Why you should visit: Another popular settling down spot for first-time homeowners, La Grange boasts a small but lively main drag just off the Metra stop along La Grange Road where bars and restaurants like Palmer Place and Milk Money Brewing add loads of character. The vibe is endlessly quaint and cute, with the town also known for fun summer programming including a pet parade and arts fest. Nearby Hinsdale is another pretty little town just off the Metra line. Hop off here for a breezy stroll down the tree-lined sidewalks while drooling over upscale homes.

Pickwick Theater | James Andrews1/Shutterstock

Park Ridge

Distance from Chicago: 30 minutes
The hometown of Harrison Ford and Hillary Clinton sits just beyond the border of family-friendly northwest side hoods like Edison Park and Norwood Park, making for a stress-free diversion on the way to nearby O’Hare. Catching a movie at the historic Pickwick Theatre is an absolute must for any first-timer, while nature fans should make a beeline to the Des Plaines River Trail before stopping off for a well-deserved cold one at craft hotspot Beer on the Wall. Nearby Des Plaines is home to both Rivers Casino and legendary tropical bar Tiki Terrace.

Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars

Geneva

Distance from Chicago: 1 hour
With close proximity to Chicago mixed with its own charming small-town aesthetic that feels a world away, Geneva has a little bit of everything—from a ridiculously cute Downtown dotted with tree-lined bars and restaurants to a wealth of nature at nearby parks and the Fox River, which runs through town. A leisurely stroll down Third Street's intimate bar and restaurant scene is a near-perfect way to spend an afternoon, as is taking in a minor league baseball game at the Kane County Cougars stadium (aka Northwestern Medicine Field) here in the summer. A side trip to the equally cool but slightly larger adjacent riverside town of St. Charles is a must, where you can sip drinks at bars along the river or take in a show at the historic Arcada Theatre.

Woodstock Groundhog Days
Woodstock Groundhog Days

Woodstock

Distance from Chicago: 1.5 hours
As the town where much of the Bill Murray classic “Groundhog Day” was filmed, Woodstock is instantly recognized thanks to iconic film locations like the Woodstock Opera House. (The town even goes as far as to host a Groundhog Days festival every February with film screenings, beer tastings, and something called “groundhog bowling.”) But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a cool little hamlet with a surprisingly decent music scene, yours to enjoy at popular local watering holes like Liquid Blues. Be sure to make a detour over to Boone Creek Conservation Area and take advantage of miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. The area is also home to a variety of endangered, protected species of birds, turtles, and other creatures.

The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park

Oak Park

Distance from Chicago: 40 minutes
Arguably Chicago’s coolest and most famous suburb, Oak Park made a name for itself as the hometown of Ernest Hemingway as well as the town where architect Frank Lloyd Wright spent much of his early career. In addition to the Hemingway Museum and a compelling assortment of architecture tours detailing the world’s largest collection of Wright-designed buildings, Oak Park is an artsy bike-friendly town as well as a culinary hub with more than 150 eateries including the standout Sen Sushi Bar. Even if you don’t have a full day to spend here, simply driving through and taking in the architecture for a half hour or so is more than worth the trip out. Freddy’s Pizza in nearby Cicero is a veritable local institution. 

Northwestern University
Northwestern University

Evanston

Distance from Chicago: 25 minutes
Evanston may be suburban, but it doesn’t always feel like it, with a wealth of city-quality bars and restaurants including Ward Eight, as well as Edzo’s Burger Shop, arguably the best place in the entire Chicagoland area to grab a burger and shake. Meanwhile, the town’s lakeside location offers plenty of enviable views at local parks and beaches, and even though construction of the Wildcats’ new stadium will mean that there’s no football to be found in Evanston for a little bit, there’s still plenty of Big Ten action to be found at Welsh-Ryan Arena. You can also catch a concert at the excellent but underrated music venue SPACE while diving into some of the finest classic Chicago-style grub in the region at casual joints like the hungover-Northwestern-student haven Chicken Shack. Venture just across Evanston’s northern border to the neighboring town of Wilmette to check out the stunning Baha’i Temple, one of only eight such temples in the world and the only one in the US (not to mention one of the most beautiful places in Illinois).

Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo

Riverside

Distance from Chicago: 20 minutes
With the bulk of it designated a National Historic Landmark, greenery is king in this town designed by famed landscape architect and Central Park mastermind Frederick Law Olmsted in 1869, making it one of the oldest planned communities in America. The town is devoid of traffic lights, with gas lamps illuminating the routes along winding streets that follow the Des Plaines River beside ample green space that creates a park-like vibe everywhere you look. Traditionally, there hasn’t been a ton to do here outside of high school house parties, but that’s all starting to change with the opening of a few new bars and restaurants in recent years including the standout La Barra. A trip to the world-famous Brookfield Zoo in the neighboring town of Brookfield is a must, followed by a night of inebriation at the infamous local watering hole, Irish Times.

Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Chicago
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Chicago

Flossmoor

Distance from Chicago: 45 minutes
Is it wrong to make a trip to the suburbs strictly to visit a brewery? Not when the suburb is Flossmoor and the brewery is the legendary Flossmoor Station, built into a historic former train station and now serving award-winning brews in one of the loveliest settings in all of Chicago (they’ve even got a caboose out back, so you know it’s legit). Surrounded by verdant landscaping, the town is also a haven for golfers and is just a short ride from Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (where you totally saw your first Mötley Crüe concert with your parents... or at least wanted to). Hit the Holy Trinity of South Suburban brews with side trips from Flossmoor Station to Blue Island’s Rock Island Public House and Tinley Park’s Soundgrowler, both within a 20-minute drive of Flossmoor.

Ravinia Festival
Ravinia Festival

Highland Park

Distance from Chicago: 50 minutes
With former resident Michael Jordan and current resident Billy Corgan (who operates a tea shop and art studio in town called Madame ZuZu’s), Highland Park is packed with beautiful lakeside homes and iconic filming locations that have made their way into many classic ‘80s films, from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Sixteen Candles to Risky Business. These days, the town offers a lively downtown scene, plus two beaches, a handful of golf courses, and plenty of bars in nearby Highwood. But one of the best things to do here is take a leisurely drive down scenic Sheridan Road (which winds through several posh North Shore suburbs) before stopping off for an outdoor summer concert at the always-ravishing Ravinia. Just across the border from Highland Park is the town of Glencoe, home to the utterly beautiful and incredibly date-worthy Chicago Botanic Garden.

elmwood park illinois
Flickr/Rachel

Elmwood Park

Distance from Chicago: 1 hour
After you’ve done our unofficial “The Bear”-themed food tour of Chicago, Elmwood Park should be your next culinary conquest. The suburb lays claim to the original old-school locations of Johnnie’s Beef, Old World Pizza, and Armand’s, not to mention Russell’s Barbecue and Alpine Food Shop. A trip to the Bourdain-approved Johnnie’s is reason enough for a visit, but stick around and explore this ethnic Italian enclave to discover your new favorite Chicagoland staple. Either way, you aren’t going home hungry. A drive past the beautiful homes in neighboring River Forest leads you to the notorious row of Irish bars along Madison Street in Forest Park, where you can cap off a night of heavy boozing with even heavier delights by way of Chicago hot dog icons Portillo’s and Parky’s.

Morton Arboretum
Flickr/Michael Kappel

Naperville

Distance from Chicago: 35 minutes
There’s a difference between living somewhere and visiting a place, and there are certainly worse places to visit than Illinois’ fifth-largest city. The highlight would have to be exploring the bars and restaurants along the brick paths and covered bridges of the Naperville Riverwalk. A close second? Sipping your way through the respectable area craft beer scene led by Solemn Oath Brewery alongside Two Brothers Tap House in nearby Warrenville and Hopvine in neighboring Aurora. With 16 miles of hiking trails and 4,000+ species of trees, nearby Morton Arboretum is Chicago’s closest thing to a national park. Naperville Ribfest is definitely worth hitting.

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Jay Gentile is an award-winning freelance journalist specializing in travel, food & drink, culture, events and entertainment stories. In addition to Thrillist, you can find his work in The Washington Post, The Guardian, CNN Travel, Chicago Tribune, Lonely Planet, VICE, Outside Magazine and more. Follow @thejaygentile.

Sam Greszes is a contributor for Thrillist.