Morton Arboretum — Lisle, Illinois

Address4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532

HoursGrounds open daily, 365 days a year, 9:00 a.m. to sunset (members 7–9 a.m.); last entry 1 hour before sunset; Children's Garden 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; grounds admission is free on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (official)

PricesPlan-ahead priced: tickets cost less the further ahead you buy; online tickets are always $2 less than at the gatehouse

Price notesNo fixed published rate, so priceVal is null. Timed-entry tickets include parking. Museums for All discounted advance tickets: see Perks.

Age notesAll ages; the Children's Garden is open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (official).

BookingTimed-entry tickets required; buy online in advance or by phone (630-725-2066).

Suggested timeAbout 3.5 hours

ParkingParking is included with admission (official tickets page).

Hours in detailGrounds open daily, 365 days a year, 9:00 a.m. to sunset (members 7–9 a.m.); last entry 1 hour before sunset; Children's Garden 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; grounds admission is free on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (official)

ParkingParking is included with admission (official tickets page). PAGE-VERIFIED SUPPLEMENT (Accessibility Visitor's Guide): marked accessible parking spaces are in lot P-1 near the Visitor Center and lot P-21 near the Thornhill Education Center (West Side); in P-1 the accessible spaces and the pathways to the Visitor Center have smooth pavers (the rest of P-1 has uneven permeable pavers), the furthest P-1 spot is a quarter-mile from the Visitor Center entrance, and P-1 frequently reaches capacity on high-visitation days. A Drop-Off Circle in front of the Visitor Center can be used for drop-off including rideshares.

StrollersNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (Accessibility Visitor's Guide): strollers can use the paved paths near the Visitor Center and the other named paved routes, but the guide states verbatim in substance that many trails through the 1,700 acres are wood-chip and 'are not usable by wheelchairs and strollers'; path conditions at this outdoor institution may change daily with the weather.

AccessibilityNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (Morton Arboretum Accessibility Visitor's Guide, read in full): paths near the Visitor Center on the East Side are paved and accessible, but many trails farther out in the 1,700 acres are spread with wood chips and are NOT usable by wheelchairs and strollers (short paved trails exist at the Big Rock and Prairie visitor stations). Named accessible routes with surface/grade detail include Meadow Lake Trail (0.55 mi, paved asphalt, typical grade 3%), the Grand Garden (paved concrete, ~0% grade), Conifer Walk and Ground Cover Garden; the Children's Garden (4+ acres) is accessible for wheelchairs across the vast majority of its area, with paved paths and accessible wooden ramps and bridges (some features involve climbing). The Visitor Center, Ginkgo Café and Restaurant and The Arboretum Store are wheelchair-accessible; accessible restrooms are in the Visitor Center (East and West pavilions) and the Children's Garden, with accessible portable toilets at Big Rock (P-13) and Prairie (P-25) visitor stations. Manual wheelchairs are available for free loan, first-come first-served, at the Visitor Center with a photo ID (availability can be limited on high-visitation days); all Acorn Express tram tours are accessible for wheelchairs, and charging outlets for personal scooters/power wheelchairs are available in the Visitor Center. A guest who requires an accessibility aide may reserve one complimentary admission ticket for their aide when buying their own general admission ticket. ASL interpretation is offered for scheduled programs/events (request when registering, or email Visitor Services at least three weeks prior, subject to availability). Service animals, including those in training, are welcome; pets are not permitted except on select Dog Admission Days. Contact: Visitor Services 630-968-0074 / trees@mortonarb.org.

Sensory notesNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (Accessibility Visitor's Guide, Children's Garden Sensory Supports + Visual Schedules): guests with sensory processing needs may borrow, at no cost, a sensory bag containing headphones, fidgets, visuals and other calming tools, checked out at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center or from any Children's Garden staff/volunteer. The Children's Garden also provides seasonal social stories, an activity choice board, a visual schedule sheet and 'first/then' card, a proprioceptive activity board, and a sensory map identifying triggers and quiet areas. Sensory-Friendly Times in the Children's Garden offer a modified, quieter experience, capacity limited to 75 people, on select Mondays from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., with advance online sign-up required. Visual schedule books (designed for guests on the autism spectrum or with learning/developmental disabilities, covering the Visitor Center Area, Meadow Lake Trail, Children's Garden and Thornhill Education Center area) are loaned free, first-come first-served, from the Visitor Center Information Desk with a photo ID.

Family facilitiesNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (Accessibility Visitor's Guide): accessible restrooms, including a family restroom, are located in the Children's Garden's Central Plaza near the picnic pavilion; the partially covered picnic area there has accessible picnic tables. Accessible drinking fountains with bottle fillers are in the Visitor Center, plus an outdoor accessible fountain in the Children's Garden (turned off in winter).

Verified perk: Museums for AllEBT cardholders may purchase discounted general admission tickets in advance on the Arboretum's website or by calling 630-725-2066; up to eight tickets online. The Arboretum's own page does not publish the discount rate.