Planning and Accessibility Resources

Plan ahead for an enjoyable outing to The Morton Arboretum.

Visit Essentials

General admission tickets are required, except for members. Plan ahead and save by buying tickets online in advance, for a price that is always $2 less than admission at the gate. Admission tickets will be emailed to you so you can present them to the gatehouse staff when you arrive. General admission includes all parking anywhere inside the Arboretum.

The grounds are open to visitors every day of the year from 7:00 a.m. to sunset, although only members are admitted from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. The Visitor Center is generally open between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with longer hours in spring and summer.

If you will be walking on paths or trails, we suggest bringing a water bottle. Water and refreshments are available in the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café in the Visitor Center, but there are no refreshments or water stations along the hiking trails and driving routes farther out.

Clothing and Protection

The Arboretum is an outdoor place, so dress appropriately for the weather.

Shoes: If you will be walking beyond the immediate area of the Visitor Center, the trails will be surfaced with wood chips or gravel rather than paved. Wear sturdy lace-up shoes.

Hats: For longer walks, a hat for sun protection is a good idea, especially in summer.

Bug spray and sunscreen: The Arboretum is all outdoors, so protect yourself against insects and sun exposure.

Accessibility Aide Admission

A guest who requires the help of an accessibility aide to visit may reserve one complimentary admission ticket for their aide when making their own general admission ticket purchase.

For more information about accessibility aide and companion admission, call 630-968-0074 or email trees@mortonarb.org.

Wheeled Mobility

Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome. Manual wheelchairs are available for loan in the Visitor Center at the Information Desk. Seated personal mobility scooters are allowed on the Arboretum’s paved trails and roads.

Service Animals

Service animals (including those that are in training) are welcome to accompany guests to The Morton Arboretum. Please let the gatehouse attendants know that you have a service animal with you when you enter.

Pets are not permitted except on select Dog Admission Days.

Staff or visitors may inquire about your service animal if it is not wearing a vest or label.

American Sign Language

Sign language interpretation is offered for scheduled programs and events, subject to availability.

If you need to schedule American Sign Language interpretation, please indicate this when you register or purchase tickets, or email Visitor Services at trees@mortonarb.org at least three weeks prior to the program.

Learn More about Accessibility at The Morton Arboretum

The Arboretum strives to create a safe, enjoyable, and engaging experience for all.

Explore all accessibility features and resources at The Morton Arboretum. If you have any questions or suggestions for how the Arboretum can meet specific needs, call 630-968-0074 or email trees@mortonarb.org.

Admissions and Arrival

General Admission

General admission tickets are required to visit. General admission includes parking everywhere inside the Arboretum, as well as access to the gardens, trails, woodlands, and prairies and the Sterling Morton Library.

Plan ahead and save by buying tickets online. The further in advance you buy your tickets, the more you save. Online admission is always $2 less than admission purchased at the gatehouse.

Discounted admission options are available, depending on eligibility.

Events, programs, and other ticketed experiences often require additional purchase.

Arboretum members can visit any day without purchasing general admission tickets, and they save on special event and education program tickets.

Stop by the Member Services Desk in the Visitor Center to learn more about becoming a member. You can apply the cost of your general admission tickets towards an Arboretum membership.

Arriving at the Arboretum

When you arrive at the Arboretum, you’ll be greeted at the gatehouse by friendly, helpful staff. They will scan the QR code on your emailed ticket, give you a printed Arboretum map and guide, and can direct you to parking and points of interest.

If you didn’t buy your tickets online, you can purchase them at the gatehouse. Prices will be $2 higher than if you buy them in advance online. You can apply the cost of your tickets toward an Arboretum membership in the Visitor Center.

After you park, make the Information Desk inside the Visitor Center your first stop for more tips and assistance.

The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during November and February, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during March and April, and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from May through October. The Visitor Center and the Gingko Restaurant and Café are closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Parking

Parking anywhere inside the Arboretum is included with the cost of general admission. There are 33 parking lots throughout the grounds. The main parking lot, parking lot P-1, is straight ahead as you leave the gatehouse. On busy weekends, Arboretum staff may direct you to an overflow parking area.

Refreshments and Restrooms

Food and beverages can be purchased at the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café in the Visitor Center. The Ginkgo Café offers grab-and-go items as well as hot and iced beverages. It is open during regular Visitor Center hours. A water bottle filling station is available near the restrooms. Seating is available in the main hall of the Visitor Center or outdoors in adjacent Arbor Court.

The Ginkgo Restaurant features hot and cold dishes and is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends. Seating is available indoors overlooking Meadow Lake or on the outdoor patio, weather permitting.

Indoor, accessible restrooms are available in the Visitor Center and in the Children’s Garden on the Arboretum’s East Side. On the West Side, indoor restrooms are available at the Thornhill Shelter near the Thornhill Education Center. Accessible portable toilets are available at two visitor stations along the paved Arboretum driving route.

Things to Do

For your first visit, we recommend that you park in parking lot P-1 and enjoy all the things to do near the Visitor Center.

Within easy walking distance, you’ll find the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café, the Children’s Garden, the Maze Garden, and accessible paths through the Conifer Walk and The Grand Garden and around the Meadow Lake. You might also explore the Sterling Morton Library’s collection in the Administration and Research Center at the west end of The Grand Garden.

Those who feel more adventurous can explore the Arboretum’s 1,700 acres by taking the main driving route from parking lot P-1 around the East and West Sides. Each of the 33 parking lots you’ll find along the road connects to walking trails that offer a unique experience of the Arboretum’s living tree collections and natural areas. You can’t get lost—the roads are all one way and loop back to the Visitor Center.

Refreshments and Restrooms

Refreshments and Picnic Areas

Lunch, coffee, snacks, water, and other beverages are available at the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café in the Visitor Center. A water bottle filling station is outside the restrooms.

Refreshments and water are not available further out in the Arboretum, along the roads or walking trails.

During some special events, food trucks and concessions are available in the Visitor Center area.

If you brought lunch or snacks, there are indoor and outdoor tables in the Visitor Center and Arbor Court. There are also three outdoor picnic areas:

• On the north side of Meadow Lake (near the north end of parking lot P-1)
• At the Big Rock Visitor Station (parking lot P-13 on the East Side)
• At the Prairie Visitor Station (parking lot P-25 on the West Side)

At both visitor stations the picnic areas are across the road with their own gravel parking areas.

Restrooms

Accessible indoor restrooms are located in the Visitor Center and in the nearby Children’s Garden on the Arboretum’s East Side. On the West Side, indoor restrooms are available at the Thornhill Shelter near the Thornhill Education Center at parking lot P-21.

Accessible portable toilets can be found at the Big Rock Visitor Station (parking lot P-13 on the East Side) and the Prairie Visitor Station (parking lot P-25 on the West Side).

Things to Do Near the Visitor Center

For your first visit, park in parking lot P-1 on the East Side and enjoy the central area near the Visitor Center.

Visitor Center and Arbor Court

The main Visitor Center building has accessible restrooms, places to sit, water fountains, and food and beverages for purchase at the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café. The Arboretum Store offers a great selection for that perfect souvenir or special gift. There are also wall maps and an Information Desk, where friendly staff can help you make plans for what you want to see.

Manual wheelchairs are available for loan at the Information Desk. Personal wheelchairs and strollers are welcome; seated personal mobility scooters are allowed on paved trails and roads.

Just outside the Visitor Center is a central courtyard called Arbor Court, which is a hub for nearby attractions and activities throughout the year. It has seating areas and colorful plantings in spring, summer, and fall.

Children’s Garden and Maze Garden

The Children’s Garden is far more than just a playground. It is a 4-acre outdoor play space, with one entry and exit, that encourages children to safely romp, climb, splash, see new things, and be amazed by the wonder of trees and nature. There are ponds, streams, things to climb on, and plenty of places for grownups to sit while children play.

It is designed for children from toddlers to 12-year-olds. Accessible restrooms are inside the garden. The Children’s Garden is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Next to the Children’s Garden is a twisty Maze Garden made of living green shrubs. Find the secret to reach the big sycamore tree for a towering view! Children love to solve the puzzle.

Colorful Gardens

Take a break amid shady trees and colorful flowers with a stroll through the nearby Ground Cover Garden, with tranquil paths and benches.

Continue through The Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden, with bright blooms, a sunny plaza, water fountains, and long vistas. There are plenty of places to sit and for families to gather.

Paved Paths

The Visitor Center is surrounded by paved, accessible trails that lead around lovely Meadow Lake and amid stately, cool trees in the Conifer Collection. These trails are perfect for a half-hour to hourlong excursion.

Two accessible paved paths connect to Arbor Court, the main courtyard. Meadow Lake Trail, about a half-mile long, circles a manmade lake. Its shoreline is planted with sweeps of native plants and towering trees. Look for birds and seasonal wildlife that enjoy the lake.

The Conifer Walk loops through the Arboretum’s collection of cone-bearing trees and shrubs from all over the world. Because most are evergreen, this is a lovely walk in winter. Looping paths allow you to take a ½- or 1-mile walk, and the path connects to the Meadow Lake Trail for a longer jaunt.

Sculptures and Art Exhibitions

The Arboretum hosts exhibitions of large-scale artworks created exclusively for its sweeping landscapes, with a new exhibition every couple of years. Most artworks are close enough to walk to from the main parking lot, along accessible paths, with one that will require a drive or a bike ride and a walk up a steep incline.

The current exhibition is Vivid Creatures, a collection of colorful, whimsical wildlife sculptures as tall as trees. Maps with the sculpture locations are available at the gatehouse and the Visitor Center Information Desk.

Festive Events

Throughout the year, there are lively events near the Visitor Center. Watch the website and the Arboretum’s social media for new events year-round.

• Nature Play for All is a spring event in the Children’s Garden, where children of all abilities can play and explore nature through accessible activities.
• Arbor Evenings outdoor concerts fill the air with music on Wednesday evenings in the summer, near Meadow Lake.
• Celebración de los Árboles celebrates the culture and trees of the Americas during Hispanic Heritage Month in September.
• In October, don’t miss the Glass Pumpkin Patch, an annual sale of fall-themed blown glass art and glassblowing demonstrations, near the Visitor Center.
• From mid-November through early January, the Arboretum’s trees are artistically lit for the festive, interactive Illumination experience. This event requires a ticket purchase.

Visit the Arboretum’s Events page and subscribe to the Arboretum’s newsletter for upcoming events.

Explore the Arboretum

There is much more to the Arboretum beyond the central area near the Visitor Center.

Once you have paid general admission, you can drive and park anywhere with no additional admission or parking cost. Altogether, there are about 9 miles (about 14 kilometers) of roads and 16 miles (about 26 kilometers) of paths and trails at the Arboretum on both sides of Illinois Route 53.

Seasonal Sights

During a drive along the Main Route or a walk along one of the many trails, you can enjoy the color and variety of the Arboretum’s trees and plants.

In spring, the grounds are full of color as gardens blossom, trees flower, and wildflowers bloom. Guests can check what’s blooming in the weekly Spring Bloom Report. In summer, the landscape is lush and green and the trails are shady and cool. In autumn, the Arboretum’s trees from around the world provide a vivid tapestry of color. Check the changing colors of its trees in the Fall Color Report to plan your visit.

Driving Route

You can enjoy many of the Arboretum’s vistas from your car along the easy-to-navigate roads. They are one-way, one-lane loops, with a 20-mph speed limit.

Follow the signs from parking lot P-1 to the East Side Main Route to tour the East Side. The entire loop—from parking lot P-1 back to the entrace—takes about 25 minutes to drive, but there are two shortcut loops if time runs short. Or, you can extend your tour to the West Side by following the signs for another 20-minute drive. There are 33 parking lots along the roads where you can stop to take pictures or take a walk along the trails.

Guided Tram Tours

To get an overview of the entire Arboretum without driving, take a ride aboard the Acorn Express, a shaded open-air tram tour that departs near Arbor Court in spring, summer, and fall. The driver will explain the landmarks and notable sights you see as you pass. Purchase tram tour tickets in the Visitor Center on the day of your visit. Tram tours run from late April to mid-November.

Walking and Hiking Trails

There are more than 16 miles (about 26 kilometers) of walking and hiking trails at The Morton Arboretum. Paths near the Visitor Center are paved and accessible. Most others are spread with wood chips for good footing, but are not usable with strollers or wheelchairs. All the trails are connected, and you can combine them for a very long walk if you choose. Many guests prefer to drive to one of the 33 parking areas that connect with the trail network to begin a walk.

Two visitor stations serve as hubs for the trail network. The Big Rock Visitor Station on the East Side (parking lot P-13) connects to a network of trails in oak woodlands. The Schulenberg Prairie Visitor Station on the West Side (parking lot P-25) is at a restored prairie that gives a sense of what the Illinois landscape looked like 200 years ago. Each visitor station has accessible portable toilets, nearby picnic tables, and a short paved path that is accessible for people who use wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers.

Biking

Bicycles are permitted only on paved roads. They are not allowed on the paved paths or woodchipped trails. Cyclists must ride in the direction of traffic. Bike rentals are offered throughout the summer.

Bicycle racks are available near the gatehouse; at the Visitor Center on the East Side; at the Big Rock Visitor Station on the East Side; at the Thornhill Education Center on the West Side; and at the Prairie Visitor Station on the West Side.

Learn more about biking at the Arboretum.

Natural Areas and Landscapes

More than half of the Arboretum’s land is managed to encourage as much biodiversity of native plants and animals as possible. These natural areas include the East Woods (parking lots P-8 through P-14), an extensive area of restored oak-dominated woodland, and the Schulenberg Prairie (parking lot P-25), one of the oldest restored prairies in the Midwest.

Tree and Plant Collections

Because The Morton Arboretum is a scientific institution and a living museum, many of its trees and plants are organized into formal collections that feature specimens of many species and plant families. These areas, such as the Magnolia Collection (parking lot P-5), the Oak Collection (parking lot P-8), and the Maple Collection (parking lot P-14), are lovely places, with trails and benches among the trees. You can admire the subtle but important differences between closely related trees.

The Arboretum’s West Side

Although many of the Arboretum’s attractions are on the East Side of Illinois Route 53, there is another whole area of beauty on the West Side. To explore the West Side, follow the road through an underpass near the Visitor Center.

On the West Side you will find the Thornhill Education Center, where many classes and events are held; the lovely Fragrance Garden nearby; and more walking paths and trails, including the paved but somewhat steep Joy Path.

Education Programs

The Arboretum has extensive nature and art education programs for adults and children. Programs take place both on the West Side, in and around the Thornhill Education Center, and on the East Side. Browse a list of upcoming classes for adults as well as children and family programs.

Rules and Policies

Making every visit to the Arboretum enjoyable and safe is our highest priority. For more information on rules and policies, see the FAQ and the Guest Policies.

Weather Delays and Closures

Some areas of the Arboretum may be closed temporarily when weather conditions create safety hazards. Please check the Know Before You Go page to learn about any temporary closures.

Dogs

Dogs are only allowed at the Arboretum on designated Dog Admission Days. Only certified service animals with a vest or label are allowed at other times.

Scooters and Drones

For guest safety, the following are not allowed: scooters, rollerblades, skateboards, longboards, e-scooters, kites, drones, and other sports equipment. Seated personal mobility scooters (for physical assistance) are allowed only on the paved trails and roads.

Smoking

Smoking and tobacco use are prohibited anywhere on Arboretum property, including vapes and smokeless cigarettes.