enjoy your visit — visiting the garden

2012 Hours of Operation

In the morning, enjoy a cup of coffee, a newspaper, and one of the best made-to-order omelets on the North Shore in the Garden Café, then stroll through 24 display gardens and four natural habitats. The Chicago Botanic Garden is open 365 days each year. Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset, with extended summer and winter holiday season hours.

The West Road will be closed to pedestrian traffic during the week for the safety of our visitors during our shoreline restoration project.

	Spring Hours April 1 – June 1	Summer Hours June 2 – September 3
Garden Grounds*	8 a.m. – sunset	7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Regenstein Center**	9 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily April 13 – 19 the building will be closed for event set up. The Lenhardt Library and Regenstein School will be open. April 17 – 23, the Greenhouses will be closed.	9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily
Gatehouse	April 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. weekdays 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. weekends May 1 – June 1 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	7 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily
Membership Desk	8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily	8 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily
Visitor Center Information Desk	8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends	8 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center	9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily Closed Saturday, May 19	9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily (The rooftop garden is subject to early closing. Contact the Information Desk for details.)
Plant Information Service	9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Saturday noon – 4 p.m. Sunday closed holidays	9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Saturday noon – 4 p.m. Sunday closed holidays
Lenhardt Library	10 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays noon – 4 p.m. weekends closed holidays	10 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays noon – 4 p.m. weekends closed holidays
Garden Café	8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. weekends	8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily Garden Grille open until 9 p.m. (last order taken at 8:30 p.m.)
Rose Terrace Café	Open select weekends in May, weather permitting, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.	11 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily weather permitting
Garden Grille	Open select weekends in May, weather permitting, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.	11 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily (last order taken at 8:30 p.m.)
Garden Shop	10 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. weekends	10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Wheelbarrow Shop	Opens May 26 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday	11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday – Sunday and Labor Day
Grand Tours	Starting April 20 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily, extended weekend hours May 1 – June 1 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily, weather permitting	10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily weather permitting
Bright Encounters Tours	Starting April 30 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. daily extended weekend hours May 1 – June 1 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting	10:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. daily weather permitting
Walking Tours (Free)	Beginning June 4	10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. weekdays weather permitting Tours meet at the Crescent Garden. Inquire at the Information Desk for confirmed departure times.
Garden Trolley	May 13 – 27 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sundays Glencoe Metra station to Chicago Botanic Garden	Saturday, June 2 ONLY, and Sundays June 3 – October 28, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Glencoe Metra station to Chicago Botanic Garden
Model Railroad Garden	Opens May 12 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily weather permitting	10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily weather permitting Extended hours to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 6 – August 29.
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden	Closes at 6 p.m.	Closes at 6 p.m.
Tool Shed Information Center	Opens mid-May 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday	11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday

*Special event areas may extend past posted sunset closings.
On June 22 the Garden and services will close at 3 p.m. for the Summer Dinner Dance.
**Extended hours for class participants