Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Wide age range and fully indoor venue carry it, though the activities are more side-by-side than hands-together.
How the Dad Score breaks down
Scored August 2026- Together time14/20
- Three static simulators are built for kids, so you can race alongside her.
- Low faff14/20
- Set daily hours from 10am and tickets sold online or at the box office.
- Value16/20
- $20 adult, $15 child 4-12, free under 4, for a full day of activities.
- Age span18/20
- Family Zone is explicitly aimed at ages 2 to 16.
- Weatherproof20/20
- The whole show, Family Zone included, runs indoors at McCormick Place.
Editorial, never paid. How the Dad Score works
The Family Zone is a corner of the Chicago Auto Show built for children aged 2 to 16, tucked among the hundreds of cars on the McCormick Place show floor. There is a Power Wheels track, a fishing activity from Toyota Tacoma, an electric school bus to climb aboard, a Chicago Children's Museum play area, and six racing simulators, three of them built for smaller drivers.
Why it works for a dad and child
The static simulators let you both take the wheel side by side, and the wider show gives you hundreds of cars to walk round and talk about together.
When is Chicago Auto Show?
Chicago Auto Show runs 7 to 16 Feb 2027 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Is Chicago Auto Show worth it with kids?
girl.dad gives Chicago Auto Show a Dad Score of 82/100. Wide age range and fully indoor venue carry it, though the activities are more side-by-side than hands-together.
What should we plan for at Chicago Auto Show?
It is a motoring event at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Best age on the listing is 2-16, and the price band is $$.