
Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.5/5
Based on 58 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket worth booking?
Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket is a 2-hour experience in Chicago, United States, from $73 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.5/5 rating across 58 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 63 / 100
- Rating
- 4.5/5 (58)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $73 per person
Visit the Field Museum like a VIP on this one- hour early access VIP tour. Head inside the Field Museum at 8am before it opens to the general public and see our most famous exhibition with a Museum expert. Start your vis
What you get
About this experience
Visit the Field Museum like a VIP on this one- hour early access VIP tour. Head inside the Field Museum at 8am before it opens to the general public and see our most famous exhibition with a Museum expert. Start your visit with a personalized tour of the Field's awe-insipiring and ever-popular Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet and SUE the T. rex. Get to know the many creatures that have roamed the earth throughout history. Spend time with SUE, the world's largest and most complete T. rex and take pictures without crowds. Head down to Stanley Field Hall to learn about Maximo the titanosaur before stopping in the Field Bistro for a break. You can continue exploring the rest of the Museum on your own. The VIP tour is limited to 20 people to ensure a more intimate experience.
What's included
Included
- All-Access Admission Ticket
- Private docent tour before the Museum opens to the public
What you'll see and do
Field Museum
The Museum’s 35 permanent exhibitions feature our core collections! See SUE, the world’s largest and most complete T. rex fossil ever found! Discover Ancient Egypt with 23 mummies inside a recreated Egyptian tomb. Be dazzled by the Grainger Hall of Gems and the Hall of Jades. Meet the famous man-eating Lions of Tsavo, or journey to the glittering Aztec empire in Ancient Americas. Explore Evolving Planet, where giant sloths, woolly mammoths and dinosaurs roam! Say hi to Máximo, our new titanosaur, and the largest dinosaur ever discovered. Don't forget to leave time for a 3D movie, breakfast or lunch or a beer flight tasting in the Field Bistro. With nearly half a million square feet of open gallery space, we have plenty of room to let everyone safely explore!
Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, Illinois, 60605-2827, United States
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Field Museum · 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, Illinois, 60605-2827, United States
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Field Museum - Chicago
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 58 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
10 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
5 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
58 verified traveler reviews for Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Callisto, our tour guide,...
Callisto, our tour guide, was incredible. We were fortunate we were the only people in the tour. Callisto took the time to review the entire exhibit and answer all our questions.
via Viator
Worth it so you can get a nice picture with Sue
Guide was OK, but I really just wanted to see Sue. I guess they wouldn't like us wandering the museum by ourselves but that is what I wanted to do. I wished we stayed longer with Sue but had to go on and get educated some more. Only gripe I have is that we weren't told where to meet. Museum is huge and has multiple entrances. Luckily, a hot dog vendor on the street told us that groups usually meet at the East entrance. We made it with minutes to spare. Please let people know where to meet.
via Tripadvisor
Katie and Sue at the Field Museum
The exclusive tour was a really great experience. I went with my partner and Katie was our tour guide. She was very friendly/helpful. We exchanged tidbits about our interests and goals as the museum is so big. We chose a weekday and there was an event that same day. There weren't any large crowds after our tour ended. Not sure if the day or event was a contributing factor. We got to take photos and videos throughout the exhibits without others in the background. There are some fun interactive spots that I imagine are swamped by children. The best part was seeing Sue! The T-Rex is a must visit. The museum contact on viator was also very helpful as we got lost trying to find our way around the museum. They provide good instructions. If you need an ATM, there's one nearby where the outside food concessions are.
via Viator
Well Worth the Price
As museum people, we jumped on this opportunity for an early access tour. There were only two other people on our tour and all of us showed up 15 minutes early so no time was lost waiting for the temporally challenged. Our guide, Mariah, was friendly, charming, and very knowledgeable. She guided through the museum, supplemented the exhibits, and answered all our questions. It was especially nice to see Sue, the T-rex. Without the crowds. After the tour, which coincided with the opening of the museum, we visited other exhibits at the museum. The museum filled quickly, particularly as school groups started to arrive, so we were very happy to have had this early access opportunity, particularly with such an outstanding guide as Mariah.
via Viator
The Early Access Tour is Well Worth the Price
As museum people, we jumped on this opportunity for an early access tour. There were only two other people on our tour and all of us showed up 15 minutes early so no time was lost waiting for the temporally challenged. Our guide, Mariah, was friendly, charming, and very knowledgeable. She guided through the museum, supplemented the exhibits, and answered all our questions. It was especially nice to see Sue, the T-rex. Without the crowds. After the tour, which coincided with the opening of the museum, we visited other exhibits at the museum. The museum filled quickly, particularly as school groups started to arrive, so we were very happy to have had this early access opportunity, particularly with such an outstanding guide as Mariah.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 20
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 63
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Chicago.
How much does Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket cost?
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Prices start at $73 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Chicago usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Chicago is not rushed.
Is Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.5/5 across 58 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Chicago, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket?
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Around 20 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Chicago can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Chicago and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Chicago within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Chicago?
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Chicago's signature experience is still the architecture boat cruise, and the difference between the docent-led originals and the party-boat imitators is the single biggest quality gap in the city. Beyond the river: gangster history walks, Art Institute access, deep-dish and hot-dog crawls, and skydeck timed entry. Outty Ranking leans on guide credentials and how consistently the promised route runs. On Outty we rank every Chicago experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Original Chicago Architecture Interiors Tour: Dazzling Interiors, Chicago Murder Mystery Tour, Chicago Favorites Ultimate Food and Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
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May to October. Winter cruises stop running when the river ices. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Chicago?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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