CHICAGO SELF-GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Design Your Own Museum Day: Self-Guided Summer Visits at the Art Institute of Chicago
A 1–2 hour recommended self-guided visit that lets school groups and families explore the collection at their own pace using scavenger hunts, audio tours, and educator resources—this guide organizes planning tools, logistics, and what to expect.
Design Your Own Museum Day: Self-Guided Summer Visits at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Inside one of Chicago’s great museums, a self-guided summer visit hands you the map and the time: wander galleries at your own pace, follow a ready-made route or invent your own, and use free tools—scavenger hunts, audio guides and educator packets—to shape an interactive experience for Pre-K–12 groups and learners of all abilities.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Customize your path through the collection
Design your own gallery tour or select a ready-made route; planning resources from the museum—floor plans, curator recommendations and activity templates—let you tailor the visit to age, theme, or time available.
Interactive resources for every learner
Engage students with scavenger hunts built with JourneyMaker, downloadable educator resources and audio tours available through the museum’s free mobile app for Apple and Android devices.
Short visits, big impact — and lunch logistics
Visits are recommended for 1–2 hours; note that during summer the museum cannot provide lunch-room reservations and the museum café is first-come, first-served—groups are encouraged to plan sack lunches in nearby parks or explore dining on Michigan Avenue or State Street.
What the day feels like
What the visit feels like
A self-guided summer visit compresses the museum into a focused, active hour or two: students move between chosen galleries, stop at key works identified in a curated hour-long highlights list or a custom scavenger hunt, and use mobile audio or printed educator materials to prompt close-looking and conversation.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this visit suits best, and when to reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Summer visits are best kept to 1–2 hours as recommended; expect higher visitor volume and limited on-site lunch accommodations during peak season.
Bring mobile devices if you plan to use the museum’s free audio-tour app (available for Apple and Android), printed activity sheets or scavenger hunt materials created with JourneyMaker, and any planned sack lunches for use in nearby parks.
Consult the museum Floor Plan and the Visit page for hours, maps and health-and-safety information; use ‘Ask an Educator’ for tailored route suggestions before arrival.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long should our visit be?
The museum recommends 1–2 hours maximum for a self-guided visit.
Can the museum reserve a lunch room for our group?
No—during the summertime the museum cannot provide lunch-room reservations; the museum café is first-come, first-served.
Are there resources to help me plan activities for students?
Yes—the museum offers Ask an Educator guidance, JourneyMaker for scavenger hunts, downloadable educator resources, and a ‘What to See in an Hour’ highlights guide.
Can we use audio tours during our visit?
Yes—audio tours are accessible on Apple and Android devices via the museum’s free mobile app.
What if members of our group need accessibility accommodations?
The museum’s Accessibility Page provides resources for learners of all abilities to help plan an inclusive visit.
Where can we eat since the museum won’t provide a lunch room?
Groups are welcome to enjoy sack lunches in neighboring parks or explore dining options on Michigan Avenue or State Street.