While Brookfield Zoo Chicago can feel vast and adventurous, the Hamill Family Play Zoo is a centralized area with interactive exhibits designed for hands-on learning and play. Parents can let their kids play without needing to stay right next to them at all times. Strategically placed benches make it easy to sit back and watch your kids have fun. Nothing offers greater peace of mind than knowing your little ones will have a great time—without spending your day chasing them around! There’s even a cozy corner with cushions at the popular Tot Spot, just outside the Greenhouse, where your infant can get their wiggles out or even nap.
Everything in this two-acre play area is designed to be touched, climbed on, or played with—keeping even the most energetic kids engaged.
At the Vet Clinic, kids can pretend to be veterinarians while “caring for” stuffed animals. The clinic has doctor jackets, instruments, exam tables, and a giant X-ray board for kids to check the health of plush animals. It's not unusual to see new friends working together to keep the animals safe and healthy.
The Greenhouse offers a sensory experience for children, with plants, soil, and water play. Kids are invited to grab a spray bottle and water the plants. On warmer days, this often turns into “watering” a sibling, but it is all in good fun.
In the Zoo Workshop, staff members guide guests through prepared craft designed especially for small hands. There’s a variety of materials like scrap paper, feathers, pine cones, markers, glue, and more, and a drying rack that keeps kids’ projects safe while they play. Check back each month for a new themed project!
The Hamill Family Play Zoo is also home to koalas Brumby and Willum. These charismatic marsupials chew on eucalyptus leaves before tucking into the nook of a tree for a daily 18- to 22-hour nap. The best time to see one of these cuties is when the Zoo opens in the morning, but the sleeping koalas also offer an informative experience and help kids develop a respect and appreciation for vulnerable wildlife.
The Honeybee Observation Hive is a new addition to the space for learners of all ages. Securely visible through a two-layered enclosure, these rescued bees help highlight the important role bees play in our ecosystem. You can safely watch hive activity, pretend to be a bee in the play area and enjoy creative exploration while learning about these pollinators.
Animal care specialists and volunteers are often on hand with Animal Ambassadors, giving kids an opportunity for up close encounters with a variety of animals. You can also explore Hamill Family Play Zoo Wild Encounters, where kids can see Nigerian dwarf goats, reindeer, Bennett’s wallabies, and more!
Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Sensory-Friendly Room is located in the Hamill Family Play Zoo. It is a quiet space that provides a low-sensory environment and a calming atmosphere. The room includes a variety of fidgets, sensory-support materials, comfortable seating, and dimmable lights. Additionally, a resource center here provides guests with visual schedules, noise-reducing headphones, and other materials that help create an inclusive guest experience.
Chicago weather is unpredictable, to say the least. Fortunately, whether you live in the area or are visiting, Hamill Family Play Zoo offers indoor activities and habitats, so you won’t have to cancel plans due to bad weather. Likewise, the play zoo’s shaded outdoor areas and water features help everyone keep their cool in the summertime. Despite its popularity, the play zoo offers some quiet spots—a great alternative on busy days at the zoo.
Families learn about animals, nature, and conservation through fun, interactive experiences, including live animal encounters that strengthen their connection to the animals. Children learn about different habitats, how animals fit into food chains, and most importantly, how they can protect the places where animals live with sustainable behaviors—all while playing in one of the zoo’s best play spaces.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago, a 235-acre zoological park with over 3,500 animals from over 500 species, can be a long day for kids (and parents!). The Hamill Family Play Zoo is the perfect pit stop for a break between the zoo’s many attractions. It offers secure, open spaces for kids to roam and explore and seating areas for parents to relax and enjoy a much-needed breather. Shaded picnic tables in the space are perfect for snack time or lunch breaks, and the parent-friendly atmosphere is a judgment-free zone. While your children make new friends exploring interactive experiences, you might find yourself connecting with fellow parents.
While Brookfield Zoo Chicago has an entry fee, there is never a charge to enter the Hamill Family Play Zoo. So, whether you begin or end here, stop by for a respite during your visit, or make it the ultimate destination on your next zoo trip. Either way, the play zoo is a must-visit for families who want a full day’s worth of fun without breaking the budget.
While the Hamill Family Play Zoo does not charge an additional admission fee, a Brookfield Zoo Chicago entry and parking fee is required. To make this easier, purchase tickets in advance; visit BrookfieldZoo.org to buy tickets online.
Open 363 days a year, Brookfield Zoo Chicago offers memberships as well as single-day admission. As of February 2025, general admission pricing to Brookfield Zoo Chicago is as follows:
Adults: $29.95
Seniors, 65 and over: $24.95
Children 3 to 11: $20.95
Zoo admission and all available attractions are free for children aged two and under.
Note: Brookfield Zoo Chicago offers free admission for all on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from January 2 to February 27, 2025. Parking fees and attraction fees still apply.
Insider Tip: If you’re a Chicago Public Library cardholder, you may check out an Explore More Illinois pass that provides four complimentary general admission passes to the Zoo.
The Hamill Family Play Zoo is on the south side of the zoo, so we recommend parking at the south entrance. Once you enter the zoo, the Hamill Family Zoo is just ahead on the right, about 40 yards from the Zoo’s South Gate entrance. With your stroller safely parked outside and a place to check your coats just inside the door, you won’t have to drag your belongings around the building and can focus on the fun.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is located at First Avenue between Ogden Avenue and 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, just 14 miles west of downtown Chicago. It is easy to reach by car (I-290 West or I-55 South takes about 25 minutes) or train. The Metra BNSF Line is a relaxed 25-minute ride from Chicago’s Union Station to the zoo stop (Hollywood Station) or Riverside Station, where you can take a short walk to the zoo entrance.
North Gate Main Entrance
8400 31st Street, Brookfield
South Gate Entrance
3300 Golf Road, Brookfield
Rivaling some of Chicagoland's best children’s museums, Hamill Family Play Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago offers plenty of reasons to get out of the house, even in the coldest temperatures. Indoor activities and habitats will keep kids entertained for hours while parents play along or sit back and watch all the action from conveniently located benches. If the weather is warm, this play space provides a must-visit, quiet break from all the excitement at the zoo. Add the Hamill Family Play Zoo to your itinerary for an easy, fun, and stress-free zoo trip.
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