Overview
Elk Grove Village is a Northwest Suburb of Chicago, just west of O'Hare International Airport.
3 sights · 1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Elk Grove Village
Busse Forest Elk Pasture
There has been a small elk herd here inside a seventeen acre enclosure since 1925. This location also has direct access to the 11 miles of trails in the Ned Brown Preserve (Busse Woods) that are great for running, biking…
Audubon Skate Park
Audubon Skate Park has 11,000 square feet of indoor space for skate boarders, inline skaters,quad skaters, and scooters (weekdays only). No bikes are permitted. Helmets are required, and they can be rented for $3. The pa…
Rainbow Falls Waterpark
Rainbow Falls Waterpark has more than a dozen different slides, pools, ponds, diving areas, and other features for all ages. There are also picnic grounds, a community center for parties, and a cafe on site. Proper bathi…
Ned Brown Preserve
A very large forest preserve that has picnicking, non-motorized boating, hiking trails, a place to fly model aircraft, biking, fishing, kite flying, bird watching, and snowmobiling. Open year round, there is an eight mil…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Chicago)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago — 5 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 20 mi away (major hub). Directions
Elk Grove Village is easily accessible by several Interstate highways. On the north side Interstate 90 Exit 70, Arlington Heights Road, and Exit 73, Elmhurst Road (Route 83) allow quick access to the village from Chicago, Rockford, or O'Hare Airport. Exit 70 provides access from Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Exit 73 provides accese from both Mount Prospect and DesPlaines, Illinois.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $85–$85 a night (typical $122), from 2 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $9 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$110, mid-range ~$180, comfortable ~$200.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Audubon Skate Park, Rainbow Falls Waterpark
- Lunch Lou Malnati's Pizza
- Afternoon Busse Forest Elk Pasture, Ned Brown Preserve
- Dinner Portillo's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
Go O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
"O'Hare remains one of the busiest airports in the country, and it is also one of the biggest hubs to fly to other locations in the United States and worldwide. Visitors can see a Brachiosaurus skeleton (Terminal 1), Butch O'Hare's WWII plate (Terminal 2), and the O'Hare Urban Garden (Terminal 3). Kids will enjoy the "Kids on the Fly" exhibit (Terminal 2). The Elk Grove Village Hall is about 10 miles west of O'Hare.
By car
Elk Grove Village is easily accessible by several Interstate highways. On the north side Interstate 90 Exit 70, Arlington Heights Road, and Exit 73, Elmhurst Road (Route 83) allow quick access to the village from Chicago, Rockford, or O'Hare Airport. Exit 70 provides access from Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Exit 73 provides accese from both Mount Prospect and DesPlaines, Illinois.
Interstate 290 splits the west side of the village and provides access from the northern and southern Chicago suburbs. The primary exit is Exit 4, Biesterfield Road (Route 53). Taking Beisterfield Road east leads directly to the Village Hall, Police Department, Elk Grove Village Public Library, and the primary shopping district. Exit 1B onto Higgins Road (Route 72) and heading east leads to the northern portion of the village.
Interstate 390 (completed in 2017) provides access from the western suburbs of Hanover Park and Schaumburg and other municipalities further to the west. The southern portion of the village lies mostly along Devon Avenue, and the eastern border is almost entirely Elmhurst Road (Route 83) which also borders O'Hare Airport. You cannot access O'Hare Airport directly from Interstate 390 or Elmhurst Road.
By train
Although there is not any access to Amtrak within the village, getting to and from the downtown Chicago Amtrak station is easily accomplished by using the nearby Metra commuter rail line that passes just south of the village. The east end of this Metra line ends at the same terminal in which Amtrak trains arrive and depart. Metra details are below.
By bus
There are no major bus companies routing through the village. Using the local commuter rail system, Metra (see below), to downtown Chicago will bring you near most intrastate and interstate bus lines.
Get around
By light rail train
Although there is no commuter rail station in Elk Grove Village, there are four Metra Rail Stations on the Milwaukee District West Line (MD-W) nearby. At the extreme west is the Roselle train station, further east is the Medinah train station, still further east is the Itasca train station, and at the extreme east is the Wood Dale train station. All of these stations are less than five miles from the Village Hall. Trains to downtown Chicago take about 50 minutes to arrive at Union Station. Metra fares and times can be found on their website Metra Rail. Parking for cars is available at all of the stations mentioned for $1.50/day, but does not provide for overnight parking.
By commuter bus
Elk Grove Village is served by three Pace Bus routes. Route 223, the Elk Grove - Rosemont CTA Station; Route 616 the Rosemont - Itasca Limited; and Route 757, the Oak Park - Schaumburg Limited. Check the Pace Bus routes and scheduled times at their website Pace Bus.
See
Parks and recreation
See Audubon Skate Park
Audubon Skate Park has 11,000 square feet of indoor space for skate boarders, inline skaters,quad skaters, and scooters (weekdays only). No bikes are permitted. Helmets are required, and they can be rented for $3. The park hosts summer camps, and the facility can be rented for parties.
See Rainbow Falls Waterpark
Rainbow Falls Waterpark has more than a dozen different slides, pools, ponds, diving areas, and other features for all ages. There are also picnic grounds, a community center for parties, and a cafe on site. Proper bathing attire is required, and street clothes are not allowed to be worn into the attractions.
Do
Do Ned Brown Preserve (Busse Woods)
A very large forest preserve that has picnicking, non-motorized boating, hiking trails, a place to fly model aircraft, biking, fishing, kite flying, bird watching, and snowmobiling. Open year round, there is an eight mile loop trail, and 11 miles of paved pathways. Two bridges enable visitors to access sites on both sides of the preserve on Higgins Road without crossing traffic.
Learn
There are not any colleges or universities within the Village of Elk Grove. The community is served by the following Junior Colleges.
- Harper College, 1200 Algonquin Road, Palatine, Illinois; 847-925-6707
- Oakton Community College, 1600 E. Golf Road, DesPlaines, Illinois; 847-635-1600
Eat
Eat Lou Malnati's Pizza
Amazingly delicious deep-dished pizza. A family owed business where everything is still hand made from scratch. Delicious salad dressing. Consistently among the best pizza restaurants in the Chicago area.
Eat Portillo's
A very popular 1950s-60s themed restaurant that provides inexpensive but good hot dogs, Italian beef, burgers, salads and shakes.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Nearby
Itasca
City / town · 1 listings · 2 mi away
Wood Dale
City / town · 2 listings · 3 mi away
Medinah
City / town · 3 listings · 5 mi away
Roselle
City / town · 3 listings · 5 mi away
Schaumburg
City / town · 16 listings · 5 mi away
Mount Prospect
City / town · 3 listings · 5 mi away
Des Plaines
City / town · 20 listings · 5 mi away
Arlington Heights
City / town · 11 listings · 6 mi away
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