The 21 most epic Metra day trips from Chicago

Heritage Corridor, Lemont station
Walking time from station: About 15 minutes

Multiple ziplines, climbing walls, a mountain bike course, hiking trails and more await you at The Forge: Lemont Quarries, a 300-acre recreation area stocked with just about every outdoor activity you can imagine, including mountain biking, kayaking and laser tag. Thrill-seekers should start with an unlimited explorer pass at the park's gigantic Eight Towers jungle gym and climbing course, where you can try your hand at a ropes course or cruise along two miles of ziplines. 

Union Pacific North, Ravinia station
Walking distance from station: About 1 minute 

One of the oldest and most genre-diverse music venues in the U.S. is just a short train ride north of the city—and steps away from the Metra stop through a turn-of-the-century gate. Since 1904, Ravinia Festival has hosted countless artists from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington to The Beach Boys and Aretha Franklin, and from 1919-1931 was even known as the “summer opera capital of the world.” You can catch year-round programming of headliners and up-and-coming artists, but the real magic happens May to September during outdoor concerts under the canopy of trees. Bring your own booze and bites for a cozy evening. And a huge bonus? If you’re visiting Ravinia for a summer concert, show your ticket for free Metra fare to and from the show. 

Milwaukee West, Elgin station
Walking time from station: Four minutes

Fans of the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who will feel right at home at the Blue Box Cafe and deli in charming downtown Elgin, where they can enjoy themed drinks like the Impossible Girl latte, delicious sandwiches and other delights alongside show-related ephemera and views of the Fox River. After you've had your fill, check out what else the walkable downtown has to offer, including the rotating exhibits at the Gail Borden Public Library or Side Street Studio Arts. If you get hungry again, treat yourself to something sweet at Al's Café & Creamery. Those seeking a longer trek can head over to Lords Park, a 108-acre green space with a zoo where you can say hello to bison, elk and other animals.

Union Pacific North, Braeside station
Walking time from station: About 25 minutes

You won't be able to explore the full extent of the sprawling Chicago Botanic Gardens in just one day, but a 2.3-mile narrated tram tour will help you get an overview of the lush landscape, from the Japanese garden to native plant-filled McDonald Woods. Don't miss the Garden's stunning collection of Bonsai trees (some of which are more than 100 years old) that's on display through October every year.

Union Pacific North, Wilmette station 
Walking distance from station: About 25 minutes 

At a towering 191 feet, the gleaming white, ornately crafted dome of the Baha’i House of Worship overlooks the blue waves of Lake Michigan in the North Shore suburb of Wilmette. As the only temple in North America and one of just a few in the world, it’s a beacon for this faith’s followers. Stop to admire the architecture and the nine gardens–planted with the intention of holding a variety of colors and scents, or relax near one of the reflecting pools or fountains. Everyone is welcome at events ranging from introductions to faith to meditation and lectures. Photography is permitted—just be sure to follow the regulations and treat all subjects with dignity.

Union Pacific West, Elmhurst station
Walking distance from station: About five minutes

Want to plan an afternoon full of art and architecture? In addition to housing a rotating selection of contemporary art shows, the Elmhurst Art Museum includes the McCormick House, a sleek modern building designed by Bauhaus phenom Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Bonus: Your admission fee also comes with a self-guided audio tour of Elmhurst's modern architecture, which includes designs from Mies, Frank Lloyd Wright and more.

Union Pacific North, Kenosha station
Walking distance from train: About 15 minutes

Tens of thousands of years ago, wooly mammoths used to roam across the Midwest's icy expanses. You can witness that legacy firsthand just over the Wisconsin border at the Kenosha Public Museum, which features a permanent exhibition based around Hebior, the largest and most complete mammoth skeleton ever discovered on our continent. The skeleton—found in Kenosha County during the '60s—is housed in Milwaukee, but the exhibit takes a deep dive into its excavation and archaeological importance. While you're there, check out tons of other exhibits on fine art, Wisconsin history and more.

Union Pacific North, Fort Sheridan station 
Walking time from station: 9 minutes

What was once an army base in suburban Highwood is now a peaceful 250-acre forest preserve (Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve) with 3.65 miles of trails and one of North America's busiest flyaways for migratory birds—more than 200 species of birds have been spotted here. Take the winding path down to the shoreline for one of just a few places in Lake County that offers free access to picturesque views of Lake Michigan. Walking along the shoreline is permitted; swimming is not.

After you've worked up an appetite from all that hiking, visit Doña Paty's steps away from the Metra station for tacos, towering cemitas and micheladas on the colorful patio, or Koya for inventive sushi rolls.

BNSF Railway, Hollywood station
Walking time from station: About 10 minutes

While Lincoln Park Zoo is a great (and free) way to spend an afternoon, Chicagoland’s largest collection of animals is found in Brookfield. Opened in 1934, the 235-acre Brookfield Zoo is home to over 3,400 animals and more than 500 species. See the orangutans, monkeys, gorillas and gibbons that populate Tropic World or stroll through Great Bear Wilderness for grizzly and polar bears, Mexican gray wolves, bison and bald eagles. The park prides itself on using moats and ditches instead of cages, and is open 365 days a year.

Heritage Corridor, Joliet station
Walking time from station: About 26 minutes 

Meander almost two miles along rows of abandoned concrete arches and cement staircases that lead nowhere at the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site, an outdoor park that was once home to the second largest steel mill in the United States. After being left abandoned for decades, the Forest Preserve District of Will County acquired the land and preserved it for public use. Extend your visit in the “City of Stone” with a daytime or after-dark tour of the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, an early 1800s facility located just north of Iron Works.

BNSF Railway, Congress Park station
Walking time from station: About five minutes

Whether you're into classic hits like Space Invaders and Pac-Man or harder-to-find titles such as Hammer Away and Godzilla, you're sure to find something to love among the more than 900 arcade games at Galloping Ghost Arcade. No need to bring coins or stock up on tokens, either—visitors play a flat $25 entry fee and are free to play unlimited games all day long (or until the arcade closes at midnight or 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, at least).

BNSF Railway, Naperville station
Walking time from station: About 15 minutes

If you've ever enjoyed a post-dinner cappuccino at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago (or similarly ritzy joints), you've probably had Sparrow Coffee. Notoriously exacting in its approach to roasting beans, the company provides custom roasts to two-thirds of the city's Michelin-starred chefs. You can try a cup for yourself—minus the four-star dinner tab—at the roaster's airy Naperville outpost, where lattes are foamed from the delicate milk of locally-farmed Jersey cows. Don't forget to grab a bag of beans on your way out.

Metra Electric, Flossmoor station
Walking time from station: 1 minute

In 1996, Flossmoor natives Dean and Carolyn Armstrong turned the town's historic old train station into a popular neighborhood restaurant and brewery. Today, you can alight at the Flossmoor Metra station and head across the street to Flossmoor Station, where you can enjoy their award-winning standards like the Pullman Nut Brown Ale and the Panama Ltd. Red Ale, or intriguing seasonals like Do You Have a Moment To Talk About Skateboarding? Pale Ale and For the Sesh Irish Stout, a Celtic brew with molasses and vanilla. The best time to visit is naturally in the summer, when after you've explored the "brew caboose" taproom, you can sample your brews on their expansive deck, complete with cozy fire pits.

Union Pacific Northwest, Park Ridge station 
Walking distance from station: About 2 minutes 

With an Indiana limestone facade with Minnesota granite, a 100-foot tower, cast-iron marquee and Mayan-inspired details, this art deco theater built completed in 1928 is one of the few of its kind to last into the next century. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, downtown Park Ridge’s Pickwick Theatre almost closed for good in early 2023, but architecture and movie lovers can celebrate. The ornate palace survived the scare–and a controlled fire for a Chicago Fire filming in August 2022. You can also take the Metra to other similarly styled theaters in suburbs throughout the region like Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove, Glen Art Theatre in Glen Ellyn and Lake Theatre in Oak Park.

Union Pacific West, Geneva station
Walking time from station: About 15 minutes

Once you've toured the Robie House and walked up and down the streets of Oak Park, turn your attention toward some of Frank Lloyd Wright's other Chicagoland masterpieces. The Fabyan Villa Museum in Geneva was once a country retreat for Colonel George and Nelle Fabyan; now, visitors are welcome to tour the couple's extensive Japanese art collection and learn more about the home's Prairie-style architectural flourishes from a trained docent. Tours of the home and the estate's tranquil Japanese gardens are available from May through September. 

Metra Electric, University Park station
Walking time from station: About 25 minutes

You'll find everything from a towering Paul Bunyan statue to abstract works of steel at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, located on the campus of Governors State University in suburban University Park. Entry to the park is free, but keep an eye out for special events throughout the year like farm-to-table dinners, pottery auctions, trick-or-treating and more.

South Shore Line, Dune Park station
Walking time from station: About 14 minutes

One of the country's newest national parks, Indiana Dunes National Park is home to more than 2,000 acres of rolling sand dunes, beaches, forests and trails perfect for a long day of hiking. It's a bit of a walk from the train to the visitors center—about 1.3 miles—but easily accessible on the Dunes Kankakee Trail. 

BNSF Railway, Berwyn station 
Walking time from station: About 40 minutes 

Want to know what happens to your poop after you flush? Tour the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, one of the largest in the world, serving 2.3 million people from Chicago and 46 other communities. The plant cleans over 700 million gallons of wastewater per day—and it’s not all doo-doo. A snapping turtle, 50-foot extension cord, two opossums and a prosthetic leg are just some of the other unlikely items that ended up at facilities. Learn about reducing contaminants, removing organic material, a bunch of fun facts and more. And it doesn’t even stink. Tours by appointment only.

Union Pacific Northwest, Woodstock station 
Walking time from station: About 5 minutes

Fans of Bill Murray’s classic 1993 film Groundhog Day can visit the actual filming location via the Metra. The Woodstock Opera House, a giant Victorian home portrayed as the “Cherry Street Inn” in the film, and a Groundhog Day mural in downtown Woodstock can all be spotted within a short walking distance from the Metra station. Visitors can also recharge at Ethereal Confections, a cafe and sweet shop specializing in homemade chocolate bars and tasty bark.

We know—heading out to Naperville may not be Chicagoans’ favorite pastime, but the riverwalk is definitely a sight to see. Along the suburb’s branch of the DuPage River and central Centennial Park is a winding walkway with plenty to gaze upon.  The pathway features almost two miles of bridges, fountains and outdoor sculptures. On your way there from the train, take a stroll through the classic Midwestern architecture of Naperville’s Historic District.

Metra Electric, 111th Street (Pullman) station

Walking time from station: 4 minutes

Take the Metra straight to Pullman National Historical Park, the first model industrial community in the country. Although still within the city limits, it's definitely a site to add to your must-visit list and the Metra is easiest way to get there. Administrative buildings, the century-old Hotel Florence and original housing are all preserved in the historical district. Overflowing with history, the Pullman district is the perfect spot for an informative and educational day trip. Be sure to book a walking tour from May to October—and don’t miss out on the nearby Pullman Club Coffee House, too.