Chicago Riverwalk: Free Things to Do (Full Guide)
Most first-timers walk past the Chicago Riverwalk on the way to somewhere else — Navy Pier, the Loop, a dinner reservation — without realizing the walkway itself is one of the best free things to do in the city. It runs 1.25 miles along the south bank of the Chicago River, from Lake Michigan to Lake Street, split into six distinct sections that each feel like a different small park.
No ticket, no timed entry, no admission gate. Just skyline views from water level that most tourists only see from a paid boat cruise.
Contents
Quick answer: The Chicago Riverwalk is free to walk, open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM, and stretches 1.25 miles along the south bank of the Chicago River from Lake Michigan to Lake Street. The free highlights are the walk itself (skyline views most tourists pay for on a boat), the stepped-wood seating area between Clark and LaSalle, the floating wetland gardens near the Jetty, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near State Street, and — seasonally — the free ART on THE MART projection show on the Merchandise Mart. Boat tours, kayak rentals, water taxis, and restaurants along the way cost money; the path connecting all of it does not.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I genuinely use or believe in. Learn more.
Lili’s Picks
How I’d spend a free hour on the Riverwalk
I’d start at the Lake Street end and walk east toward the lake, so the skyline builds in front of you instead of behind you. Slow down at the stepped-wood seating between Clark and LaSalle — it’s shaded, it’s quieter than the streets above, and it’s the best spot to just sit for ten minutes without spending anything. If you’re there after dark on a Thursday through Sunday during the projection season, time it around the free ART on THE MART show; it turns a normal evening walk into something worth planning around.
- Best if you want: a free, low-effort way to see downtown Chicago from the water without paying for a cruise.
- Why it works: the whole 1.25-mile path is free, mostly flat once you are down at river level, and easy to break into shorter sections, with seating and skyline views along the way.
- Not ideal if: you’re set on getting out onto the water itself — for that you’ll want a Chicago Architecture River Cruise, which actually departs from docks along the Riverwalk.
- Before you go: check the official ART on THE MART schedule if you want to time your walk around the free light show — it does not run every night or year-round.
What Is the Chicago Riverwalk?
The Chicago Riverwalk is a public walkway built into the south bank of the Chicago River, running from Lake Michigan at the east end to Lake Street at the west end. It is open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM, and unlike almost everything else downtown, there is no admission and nothing you are required to buy to use it. The city built it out in phases over roughly a decade, and each finished stretch was designed with its own identity instead of one continuous, generic path — which is why it feels less like a sidewalk and more like a chain of small riverfront rooms stitched together along the water.
It sits one level below the street, which is part of why so many first-time visitors miss it entirely — you have to actually walk down to the river to find it. That’s also what makes it feel calmer than the streets above: less traffic noise, more water, and skyline views that put you at eye level with the boats instead of looking down at them from a bridge.
The Six Blocks, Section by Section
The most designed part of the Riverwalk is built as six connected blocks between State Street and Lake Street, each with its own focus. The Chicago Architecture Center lists them as the Marina, Cove, River Theater, Water Plaza, Jetty, and Confluence. Walking the full stretch takes about 30–40 minutes at an easy pace, longer if you stop.
The Marina — State to Dearborn
The first of the six State-to-Lake blocks, built around restaurant seating and public space near the DuSable Bridge area. It is the most food-and-drink-focused block — a good spot to grab a coffee or a drink before continuing west, even if you are not planning to sit down for a full meal.
The Cove — Dearborn to Clark
Built for recreation, with a boardwalk set close to the actual water level — this is where kayak rentals launch from, in a stretch sheltered from the bigger tour boats. Even if you’re not renting a kayak, it’s worth pausing here just to watch the water traffic from close range.
The River Theater — Clark to LaSalle
This is where the stepped-wood seating area sits — a shaded, amphitheater-style set of steps built into the riverbank under honey locust trees. It’s the single best free place to just sit on the entire Riverwalk, and it’s usually far less crowded than the blocks on either side of it.
The Water Plaza — LaSalle to Wells
The sunniest stretch of the Riverwalk, built around fountains, mist, and sprays that kids run through in warm weather, plus wide staircase seating. If you’re visiting with kids in summer, this is the block to build time around — bring a change of clothes.
The Jetty — Wells to Franklin
Built around environmental education, with floating wetland gardens designed to support the river habitat and attract wildlife. This is also the block facing the Merchandise Mart, which means it is the best vantage point for ART on THE MART — a free, roughly 30-minute light and video show projected onto the building’s riverside facade.
For 2026, the official ART on THE MART schedule runs Thursday through Sunday from April 9 to December 27, with start times shifting by season. According to Choose Chicago, the projection covers over 2.5 acres of the facade — and it costs nothing to watch.
The Confluence / Boardwalk — Franklin to Lake
The western end is often described as the Confluence or Boardwalk area, built around the river junction and boat activity. If a cruise is on your itinerary, check the exact dock on your ticket: many architecture cruises depart from river docks along or near the Riverwalk, but not every company uses the same boarding point.
Free Things You Can Actually Do Here
- Walk the full 1.25 miles — mostly flat and paved once you are down at river level, with seating, bridge views, and places to enter or exit along the way.
- Watch ART on THE MART — the free light show projected onto the Merchandise Mart, best seen from the Riverwalk between Wells and Franklin. In 2026 it runs Thursday through Sunday from April 9 to December 27, with seasonal start times.
- Sit at the stepped-wood amphitheater between Clark and LaSalle — shaded, quiet, and one of the few genuinely free places to rest downtown.
- Visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial just east of State Street — wide granite steps and a quiet river view, easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.
- Watch for wildlife at the floating wetlands near the Jetty — waterfowl and other river life are most likely in warmer months.
- Take skyline photos from water level — the same view many tourists pay for on a boat, free from any point along the path.
- Let kids run through the Water Plaza fountains between LaSalle and Wells in summer — no charge, just bring a towel.
What’s Along the Way But Not Free
The Riverwalk itself doesn’t charge anything, but plenty of what’s docked or built along it does. Worth knowing before you go, so nothing catches you off guard:
- Architecture river cruises — many boats depart from river docks along or near the Riverwalk. The 45-minute architecture tour from the Magnificent Mile is the shortest way to try it without committing a big chunk of the day. I like comparing this kind of ticket on Viator because eligible listings may show flexible cancellation or reserve-now-pay-later terms, but always check the exact dock, time, and cancellation window for your date before booking. For the full comparison of options, see the Chicago Architecture River Cruise guide.
- Kayak and paddleboard rentals — launch from the Cove block, priced by the hour.
- Restaurants and bars — concentrated in the Marina block near State Street, with a few scattered further west.
- Water taxis — run seasonally and can connect Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie/Union, and Chinatown, but schedules change, so check the current Chicago Water Taxi timetable before building your day around it.
Practical Tips
- Hours: open daily, 6 AM to 11 PM.
- Access points: stairs connect down from street level at multiple bridges, and ADA-accessible ramps are available at key points, including near State, Clark, and Franklin. You do not have to walk the whole thing from one end.
- Best light for photos: late afternoon into golden hour, when the glass towers along the river start catching the sun.
- Crowds: busiest on summer weekends near the Marina and Water Plaza blocks; the River Theater and Jetty blocks stay quieter even then.
- Combine it with: the Riverwalk connects easily on foot to Millennium Park and sits along most routes toward Navy Pier, so it’s easy to fold into a bigger day rather than treat as its own separate trip.
More from Chicago
The Riverwalk pairs naturally with a Chicago Architecture River Cruise if you want the same skyline from the water instead of the path. For a bigger-picture plan, the 3-day Chicago itinerary shows where a Riverwalk afternoon fits into a full trip, and the where to stay in Chicago guide covers which neighborhoods put you within easy walking distance of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chicago Riverwalk actually free?
Yes. The path itself has no admission fee and is open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM. Some things along it — boat cruises, kayak rentals, restaurants, and water taxis — do cost money, but walking the Riverwalk costs nothing.
How long does it take to walk the Chicago Riverwalk?
The full 1.25-mile stretch takes about 30–40 minutes at an easy pace without stopping. Budget more time if you plan to sit at the stepped seating, watch ART on THE MART, or stop at the floating wetlands.
What is ART on THE MART and is it really free?
ART on THE MART is a free light and video projection show displayed on the riverside facade of the Merchandise Mart, best viewed from the Riverwalk between Wells and Franklin. In 2026, it runs Thursday through Sunday from April 9 to December 27, with seasonal start times, and lasts around 30 minutes.
Is the Chicago Riverwalk stroller and wheelchair friendly?
Mostly, yes. Once you are down at river level, the path is mostly flat and paved, with stairs and ADA-accessible ramp access at multiple points. If accessibility is critical, check your exact entry point before you go, because not every street-level access point works the same way.
Where does the Chicago Riverwalk start and end?
It runs from Lake Michigan on the east end to Lake Street on the west end, along the south bank of the Chicago River. The most designed six-block section between State Street and Lake Street is usually described as the Marina, Cove, River Theater, Water Plaza, Jetty, and Confluence or Boardwalk.
