Translated Museum Guides

Know Before You Go: Visiting during COVID

We can’t wait to see you at the museum! Use these tips to plan a safe, fun visit.

A young boy wearing a face mask poses for a photo next to a dinosaur bone that's twice his height, in front of a mural of a rocky landscape. Another young boy and a man take his photo.

Is the Field Museum open? 

The Field is open 9am to 5pm every day. 

Our priority is to maintain a safe environment for all of our visitors and staff while letting you reconnect with the exhibits you know and love. Read on for details about health and safety at the Field, buying tickets, and what to know before you go.

 
 

 

Mask policy

Face masks are required for everyone two years and older, regardless of vaccination status. This is to ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers. 

Masks should be worn at all times inside the museum except for when eating and drinking in designated areas. Thanks for helping to keep the Field Museum safe for everyone to enjoy.

Additional safety measures

  • Hand sanitizer stations are installed throughout the building 
  • High-traffic areas are cleaned regularly
  • Exhibitions that have small spaces are temporarily closed. Browse all open exhibitions.
  • A digital map lets you navigate the museum using your own device
  • Timed tickets help prevent overcrowding

Getting tickets

All tickets have an entry time. Please arrive at your designated time so you can enter promptly and have plenty of space to explore the museum. We recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to secure your preferred date and time. You can also buy tickets in person at the museum, though day-of availability is not guaranteed.

Choose your ticket package

Arriving at the museum 

When you arrive at the Field, you can enter through our main South entrance on McFetridge Drive. The East entrance is also open and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

If you’ve already purchased a ticket, be prepared to show your printed ticket or your mobile device with the ticket. 

When you’re ready to leave, you can use the East, South, or North exit. 

Directions and parking

A sidewalk leads to the Field Museum’s East entrance, a one-story atrium with gardens next to it. A sign indicates that the entrance is wheelchair accessible.

The accessible East entrance is on the side of the building that's closest to Lake Michigan and farthest from Lake Shore Drive. 

© Google

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Amenities 

Please review all updates to our services as you plan for your visit. 

Food 

The Field Bistro on the main level is open 9am–4:30pm and offers a menu of locally sourced food with quick grab-and-go service. The Explorer Cafe, located on the ground level, is open 11am–3pm and has family-friendly offerings. Both restaurants are operating at reduced capacity with tables that are spaced farther apart. 

You can also bring a lunch or snack in a closed container. Please enjoy it in the designated picnic areas on the ground level: in the Siragusa Center and at the tables near the Sea Mammal dioramas. Bottled water is available for purchase, or you can bring your own closed water bottle and refill it at one of the contactless filling stations (all manual fountains are shut off).

Store

For all your natural history-themed gifts and souvenirs, the museum store is open 10am–5pm, or you can shop online anytime. All store purchases directly support our staff and collections.

Restrooms

There are accessible restrooms on every level, including three family-friendly restrooms on the ground level. 

An all-gender, single-stall restroom is available on the ground level near the James Simpson Theatre, and the restroom at the East entrance has a family restroom with an adult changing table. Our restrooms feature reminders asking you to maintain a six-foot distance from others and thoroughly wash your hands.

Coat check

Our coat check is currently closed. Please only bring bags or coats you can carry with you.

Wheelchair and stroller rentals

Wheelchairs are available for visitors to borrow at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis.

Strollers are available to rent for $3 (or $5 for double strollers) on a first-come, first-served basis.

Both wheelchairs and strollers are available at the East and South entrances and are fully sanitized between uses.

Accessibility at the Field

We felt so safe on our first return visit. The Field is really doing great taking necessary steps to keep everyone healthy. As members, we look forward to visiting often.

Kelsey M., Facebook

Everyone was safe, masked up, and socially distant. My babies were so happy to be able to get out of the house and do something.

  santanas_xo, Instagram

Frequently asked questions

No, but please stay home if you’re not feeling well or have any symptoms of COVID-19. You can reschedule your ticket by contacting visitorservices@fieldmuseum.org.

Yes, each staff member’s temperature will be taken when they arrive for work at the museum.

We cannot guarantee entry outside of your reservation window due to City and State guidelines for capacity. Please speak with Field Museum staff once you arrive to create a new reservation for the next available time slot.

Legal disclaimer 

COVID-19 warning: We have taken enhanced health and safety measures—for you, our other guests, and our staff. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting the museum. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By visiting the Field Museum, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. Please help keep each other healthy.