Best Family-Friendly Hotels in North Side
Twenty of North Side's hotels flag as family-friendly, the largest single group on this corridor, and the reason becomes clear fast: Kohl Children's Museum sits in Glenview, Busse Woods forest preserve borders Elk Grove Village, and LEGOLAND Discovery Center anchors Schaumburg's Woodfield Mall district, giving families three real destinations to plan a stay around rather than one. Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Deerfield leads with full kitchens in every suite, useful for a family cooking even one meal a day rather than eating out for every stop. Motel 6 Glenview sits two minutes' walk from Kohl Children's Museum itself, about as close as a family-friendly budget stay gets to a specific attraction on this list.
North Side's family appeal rests on three specific attractions rather than a broad kid-friendly reputation: Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview, Busse Woods near Elk Grove Village, and the LEGOLAND Discovery Center and Woodfield Mall cluster in Schaumburg. A family picking a base here should pick the town nearest whichever of those three matters most, since driving between them eats a meaningful chunk of a day trip. Glenview and Elk Grove Village suit museum-and-nature days, Schaumburg suits shopping-and-indoor-play days, and Deerfield sits in between, closer to golf and dining than to any specifically kid-focused attraction.
Where to stay
Three Attractions Worth Planning Around
Family-friendly here mostly means kid-friendly amenities layered onto a business or extended-stay hotel rather than a resort built for children specifically. Kitchens matter most: Residence Inn Deerfield, Extended Stay America Itasca and Woodfield Mall, and Comfort Inn & Suites Mundelein-Vernon Hills all offer kitchens or kitchenettes, letting a family skip at least one restaurant meal a day across a longer stay. Pools show up across most of the list too, indoor options at Embassy Suites Deerfield and Holiday Inn Express Deerfield/Lincolnshire mattering more than outdoor ones given Illinois winters cut the outdoor pool season short.
Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Deerfield rates 8.8 and builds every suite around a full kitchen, backed by free breakfast, an outdoor pool, a gym and a bar for parents once the kids are settled. Nine taxi-minutes from Chicago Botanic Garden and four to Scrambled for a family breakfast out, it suits a multi-night family stay better than a one-night stop, since the kitchen only pays off once a family actually cooks in it. The twenty-two-minute O'Hare run and one-hour-twelve-minute public transit option matter for families flying in rather than driving.
Motel 6 Glenview, IL - Chicago North sits two minutes' walk from Kohl Children's Museum, about as close as a budget stay gets to a headline family attraction on this corridor, at a 7.2 rating with free parking and pet-friendly rooms if the family dog is along too. The trade-off for that proximity is a simpler room than the Marriott or Hilton options elsewhere on this list, with no pool or kitchen, better suited to a museum day trip than a longer family vacation base with a full week of activities planned.
At a 7.2 rating, Extended Stay America Suites - Chicago - Woodfield Mall puts a kitchen and free breakfast within walking distance of Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology and Egg Harbor Cafe, four minutes on foot, built for families splitting time between Woodfield Mall's shopping and LEGOLAND Discovery Center's indoor play. The studio-style suites suit a family wanting to cook breakfast before a full day out rather than managing a sit-down meal with tired kids first thing, and the walkable stretch of shops nearby fills an evening once the kids are done with LEGOLAND for the day.
Comfort Inn & Suites Mundelein-Vernon Hills rounds out the family list at an 8.4 rating, an indoor pool, hot tub and kitchen-equipped rooms giving a family somewhere to swim regardless of the Illinois weather outside. Six taxi-minutes from Vernon Hills and thirty-two from O'Hare, it suits a family prioritizing a quieter, less office-park-dense pocket of the corridor over proximity to any single headline attraction, with the indoor pool doing most of the entertaining on a rainy or cold day when a drive to Glenview or Schaumburg feels like too much.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a family stay I would choose Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Deerfield, rated 8.8: every suite has a full kitchen, breakfast is free and there is an outdoor pool for warm days, with Chicago Botanic Garden nine taxi-minutes away. If Kohl Children's Museum is the main plan, I would look at Motel 6 Glenview, a simple budget motel two minutes' walk from the museum, with free parking and a coin laundry.
4.5Guest scoreFamilyThe Glen Club
An eighteen-hole course built into the stay
View hotel →Why guests love itThe Glen Club splits a family day well: one parent can play the eighteen-hole course while the others walk nine minutes to Kohl Children's Museum. Breakfast is included, and kitchen-equipped rooms make simple meals easy for younger children. The restaurant and bar cover dinner, and parking is free. A 9 rating across 706 reviews backs it up. I would reserve it for a golf-minded family rather than a single night.
4.4Guest scoreFamilyResidence Inn by Marriott Chicago Deerfield
Full kitchens built for a longer family stay
View hotel →Why guests love itFull kitchens in every suite are the reason I would send families to the Residence Inn Deerfield for a longer stay: meals for children become easy to manage. Breakfast is free, the outdoor pool works in summer, and pets are welcome. Chicago Botanic Garden is nine minutes away by taxi and O'Hare about twenty-two. An 8.8 rating from 422 reviews supports it as a calm, self-sufficient base.
4.4Guest scoreFamilyLincolnshire Marriott Resort
Golf, spa and four dining options in one resort
View hotel →Why guests love itWith a golf course, pools, a hot tub and a spa on one site, the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort lets a family spend a full day without driving anywhere, which is why I like it for a weekend. Four dining options keep meals varied for children. Par-King Skill Golf, eight taxi-minutes away, is an easy outing for younger players. O'Hare is about twenty-five minutes off, and an 8.8 rating from 2,353 reviews backs it.
4.4Guest scoreFamilyTO PLATFORM
Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-North Shore/Skokie
Free breakfast steps from Old Orchard Road
View hotel →Why guests love itOld Orchard Rd is three minutes away on foot, so this Hampton Inn & Suites in Skokie is one of the few places on this list where I would leave the car parked. Breakfast is free, and the indoor pool gives children an evening activity in any season. Parents get a fitness center and a business center. O'Hare is about twenty-five minutes by taxi, and an 8.8 rating from 1,846 reviews backs it.
4.3Guest scoreFamilyCourtyard by Marriott Chicago Highland Park/Northbrook
An American restaurant near Chicago Botanic Garden
View hotel →Why guests love itChicago Botanic Garden, only four minutes away by taxi, is my main reason to suggest this Courtyard to families, since a half-day visit fits in easily. The indoor pool gives children an evening activity, and the restaurant and bar mean nobody has to drive out for dinner. O'Hare is about twenty-five minutes away, handy on arrival or departure days. An 8.6 rating from 504 reviews supports it as a practical base between Highland Park and Northbrook.
4.2Guest scoreFamilyTO PLATFORM
Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago North Shore Deerfield
All-suite comfort with a bar one minute away
View hotel →Why guests love itEvery room at the Embassy Suites Deerfield is a suite, and with free breakfast, an indoor pool and a hot tub, I find it one of the easiest family bases in Deerfield. The restaurant and bar cover evenings, and Cadwell's Grille is a one-minute walk for a change. O'Hare is about twenty minutes away by taxi. An 8.4 rating from 1,949 reviews supports the choice for a stay of several nights.
4.2Guest scoreFamilyLa Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Bannockburn-Deerfield
Indoor pool and a full breakfast near Deerfield's offices
View hotel →Why guests love itAn indoor pool and a hot tub make this La Quinta in Bannockburn an easy family pick in any season, and the free breakfast covers mornings without planning. Wi-Fi and parking are free, and the on-site restaurant helps on evenings when nobody wants to go out. Lake Forest is seven minutes away by taxi and O'Hare about twenty-two. An 8.4 rating from 978 reviews backs my choice.
4.2Guest scoreFamilyHoliday Inn Express & Suites Chicago-Deerfield/Lincolnshire by IHG
Pool and breakfast at a lower price point
View hotel →Why guests love itAn indoor pool and a hot tub are rare at this level, and they are why I like this 2-star Holiday Inn Express between Deerfield and Lincolnshire for families. Breakfast and parking are free, and an area shuttle helps on days without a car. Par-King Skill Golf is seven taxi-minutes away for younger children, and O'Hare about nineteen. An 8.4 rating from 610 reviews supports it, and parents get a fitness center.
4.2Guest scoreFamilyDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Libertyville - Mundelein
A pan-Asian restaurant and bar under one roof
View hotel →Why guests love itThe free weekday area shuttle is the detail I would plan a family stay around at this DoubleTree between Libertyville and Mundelein, since it saves a car on working days. The indoor pool keeps children busy in any season, and the pan-Asian restaurant and bar handle dinner on site. Pets are accepted. Mundelein Park & Recreation District is ten taxi-minutes away, O'Hare thirty-three, and the rating stands at 8.4 from 1,236 reviews.
4.2Guest scoreFamilyComfort Inn & Suites Mundelein-Vernon Hills
An indoor pool between Mundelein and Vernon Hills
View hotel →Why guests love itKitchen-equipped rooms, free breakfast and an indoor pool make this Comfort Inn & Suites a practical family base between Mundelein and Vernon Hills, and I would pick it for a stay of several nights. The hot tub and fitness center are there for parents. Vernon Hills is six taxi-minutes away, while O'Hare is about thirty-two, so it suits a car-based trip. An 8.4 rating from 159 reviews supports it.
4.2Guest scoreFamilyHoliday Inn Express & Suites Chicago - Prospect Heights, an IHG Hotel
An airport shuttle one minute from the corner
View hotel →Why guests love itThe airport shuttle is what I would use most at this Holiday Inn Express in Prospect Heights, with O'Hare sixteen taxi-minutes away, so a family can skip a rental car on arrival or departure day. Breakfast and parking are free, and parents have a fitness center and a business center. The hotel stands one minute's walk from Milwaukee Ave & Apple Dr. An 8.4 rating from 334 reviews supports the choice.
4.1Guest scoreFamilyChicago Marriott Suites Deerfield
All-suite comfort with a cocktail bar downstairs
View hotel →Why guests love itEvery room at Chicago Marriott Suites Deerfield is a suite, and that separate space is what I value most for a family sharing one room. Parkway Grill is two minutes away on foot, the outdoor pool works in summer and parking is free. O'Hare is about twenty minutes by taxi. With an 8.2 rating from 1,047 reviews, I see it as a reliable 4-star base for a few nights in Deerfield.
4.0Guest scoreFamilyTO PLATFORM
Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Deerfield
A 24-hour gym for an unpredictable schedule
View hotel →Why guests love itPortillo's is three minutes away on foot, which makes this Courtyard in Deerfield easy for a family dinner without the car, and that is my first argument for it. The indoor pool works in any season, the on-site restaurant is there for other evenings, and the 24-hour gym suits parents. Chicago Botanic Garden is nine taxi-minutes away and O'Hare about twenty-one. An 8.0 rating from 527 reviews backs it.
3.8Guest scoreFamilyExtended Stay America Suites- Chicago - Itasca
A kitchen and free breakfast for the long stay
View hotel →Why guests love itStudio suites with a full kitchen are the reason I would consider this Extended Stay America in Itasca for a family on a longer stay, since meals for children are easy to prepare. Breakfast and parking are free and pets are accepted. Busse Woods, seven taxi-minutes away, is the nearest green outing, and O'Hare is about twenty-three minutes off. A 7.6 rating from 493 reviews points to a plain, functional 2-star stay.
3.7Guest scoreFamilyBaymont by Wyndham Glenview
Free breakfast and a gym near Kohl Children's Museum
View hotel →Why guests love itKohl Children's Museum, nine taxi-minutes away, is the reason I would point families to this 2-star Baymont in Glenview. Breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking are free, which keeps a short stay simple, and there is a fitness center for parents. O'Hare is about eighteen minutes away by taxi, handy for a first or last night. A 7.4 rating from 807 reviews fits a basic budget hotel rather than a destination in itself.
3.6Guest scoreFamilyTO PLATFORM
Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago North Shore (Skokie) by IHG
A heated pool in Skokie's walkable pocket
View hotel →Why guests love itA heated indoor pool and a hot tub are the family assets I would highlight at this Holiday Inn & Suites in Skokie, useful in any Chicago season. The restaurant and bar cover dinner on site, parking is free, and Touhy/Carpenter is four minutes away on foot. O'Hare is about twenty-two minutes by taxi. With a 7.2 rating from 2,800 reviews, I would book it for practicality rather than polish.
3.6Guest scoreFamilyTO PLATFORM
Motel 6 Glenview, IL - Chicago North
Two minutes from Kohl Children's Museum
View hotel →Why guests love itKohl Children's Museum is two minutes away on foot, and that single fact is why I would mention this budget Motel 6 in Glenview to families. The rooms are simple, but parking is free, pets are accepted and a coin laundry helps on a longer trip. O'Hare is eighteen taxi-minutes away. A 7.2 rating from 1,105 reviews fits a no-frills stay planned around the museum rather than the motel itself.
3.6Guest scoreFamilySuburban Studios Arlington Heights - Elk Grove
A kitchen and laundry for a longer stay
View hotel →Why guests love itA kitchen and a full-service laundry make Suburban Studios a practical choice for a family staying a week or more near Elk Grove, and that is how I would use it. Breakfast, parking and Wi-Fi are free, and there is an exercise room for parents. Busse Woods, three taxi-minutes away, gives children room outdoors, and O'Hare is fourteen minutes off. A 7.2 rating from 1,060 reviews suggests modest expectations.
3.6Guest scoreFamilyExtended Stay America Suites- Chicago - Woodfield Mall
A kitchen suite steps from Woodfield Mall
View hotel →Why guests love itWoodfield Mall is close, and Egg Harbor Cafe is four minutes away on foot, so this Extended Stay America works for a family that wants meals and errands nearby, which is how I would use it. The kitchen-equipped studios make longer stays with children easier, parking is free and pets are accepted. The Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology is the same short walk away. A 7.2 rating from 438 reviews suggests a basic 2-star stay.
Local tips
- 1Base near Glenview for Kohl Children's Museum, near Elk Grove Village for Busse Woods, or near Schaumburg for LEGOLAND and Woodfield Mall.
- 2Book a kitchen-equipped suite at Residence Inn Deerfield or Extended Stay America if staying more than two nights with kids.
- 3Choose an indoor pool over an outdoor one. Illinois weather makes outdoor pools unreliable even in warmer months.
- 4Motel 6 Glenview suits a quick museum day trip on a budget better than a longer family base with more amenities.
- 5Pack for driving between attractions. Kohl Children's Museum, Busse Woods and Woodfield Mall sit in three different towns.
- 6Check breakfast hours before an early museum opening. Free breakfast windows vary by property and can run later than a family needs.