What is there to do in Naperville?

Stroll the scenic Riverwalk along the DuPage River, explore the walkable downtown's shops and restaurants, visit Naper Settlement (a living-history museum village), take kids to the DuPage Children's Museum, and enjoy the parks and events. It's a polished, family-friendly suburban getaway about 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago.

Is Naperville worth visiting?

As a pleasant, upscale suburb with a lovely Riverwalk and downtown, yes — especially for families or as a quieter base near Chicago. It's not a major tourist destination, but its dining, shops and riverfront make an enjoyable day. Many visitors combine it with a Chicago trip.

How do I get to Naperville from Chicago?

About 45 minutes to an hour by car (I-88), or take the Metra commuter train (BNSF line) from downtown Chicago's Union Station right into Naperville — an easy, traffic-free ride of roughly an hour. The train makes a car-free day trip simple.

Very — it's consistently ranked among the safest cities of its size in the US, and the downtown, Riverwalk and neighborhoods are comfortable day and night. Standard care with valuables in parked cars applies. Emergency number: 911.

Do I need a car in Naperville?

Downtown and the Riverwalk are walkable, and Metra connects it to Chicago car-free. But a car helps for reaching Naper Settlement, the malls and the wider suburbs, which are spread out. For a downtown-and-Riverwalk visit, you can manage without.

When is the best time to visit Naperville?

Late spring through fall for the Riverwalk, patios, farmers' market and festivals (the summer Ribfest is a tradition); fall is crisp and colorful. Winters are cold and snowy but the downtown lights up for the holidays. Summer and early fall are loveliest.

When was Naperville established?

Naperville was founded around 1831.

What languages do people speak here?

English; Spanish is spoken by 40+ million people — dominant in parts of Miami, LA, Texas and the Southwest.

What is the nearest major airport?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) — about 33 km away.

What timezone is it in?

Naperville is in the UTC-5 to UTC-10 timezone.

Naperville IL Guide: Riverwalk & Downtown Day Trip

Q: What is Naperville known for?

Naperville is known as: A prosperous Chicago suburb with a scenic Riverwalk, a charming downtown, and a top-ranked, family-friendly quality of life.

Airports near Naperville

Major airports with scheduled airline service within 62 mi of Naperville.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Chicago, IL

ORD KORD

21 mi

from city center

680 ft

elevation

Scheduled service

large airport

Official site Wikipedia

Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, IL

MDW KMDW

21 mi

from city center

620 ft

elevation

Scheduled service

large airport

Official site Wikipedia

Gary/Chicago International Airport

Gary, IN

GYY KGYY

39 mi

from city center

591 ft

elevation

Scheduled service

medium airport

Official site Wikipedia

Chicago Rockford International Airport

Chicago/Rockford, IL

RFD KRFD

57 mi

from city center

742 ft

elevation

Scheduled service

medium airport

Wikipedia

Airport data from OurAirports (public domain).

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Naperville at a Glance

Known asA prosperous Chicago suburb with a scenic Riverwalk, a charming downtown, and a top-ranked, family-friendly quality of life

Founded1831

CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)

Local pride: Naperville, one of Chicago's largest suburbs, is regularly ranked among the best places to live in America. Its centerpiece is the Riverwalk — a beautifully landscaped path along the DuPage River, built by volunteers for the city's 1981 sesquicentennial and now the pride of its lively downtown.

Nearby places to explore

Chicago 29 mi Evanston 32 mi Rockford 60 mi Milwaukee 90 mi South Bend 98 mi Madison 111 mi

Famous Places Near Naperville

Edward Hospital Naperville, Illinois Naperville Central High School Naper Settlement Moser Tower and Millennium Carillon Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium

Nearby places via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

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