Overview
Franklin Park is a village in the Chicagoland area, near O'Hare International Airport. Incorporated in 1892, the town is steeped in train culture; it's served by three Metra stations, has a large train yard, and celebrates its history with a train museum and festival. In addition, there is a burgeoning suburban downtown, a large Hispanic population (which means great food), and many community gathering places.
5 sights · 4 things to do · 4 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Franklin Park
The Franklin Park Public Library
Has a 1909 first edition of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago viewable by appointment.
Downtown Franklin Park
Has been put on a construction hold, many businesses having been uprooted with nothing to replace them. However, it's a pleasant stroll through local restaurants, new condominiums, and delicious Mexican markets and baker…
B-12 Tower Museum
It's an over 100 year old restored track-switching tower, open every year in May for the local festival "Railroad Daze" (although you can peek inside any time of year). Nearby is an orange caboose that makes for nice pho…
Veteran's Memorial
A pleasant park dedicated in honor of any Franklin Parker who fought in a war (and there's a surprising number). The cannon on site is a must-see. Across the street is the police station with the old-fashioned star sign …
The Fire Museum
A small affair, but for fire engine buffs there is a Peter Pirsch engine purchased in 1927 on display. Everything is viewable through the window from the outside.
Railroad Daze
An annual festival held downtown every May or June. Attractions include walk-on special and unique train displays, a wide variety of food vendors, a carnival, mini-train rides, a model train display and live music.
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 — 3 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
Grand Avenue and Mannheim Road are two major arteries that run through the village. O'Hare International Airport is nearby, accessible by Mannheim Road. Franklin Park has three Metra stations: Belmont Avenue Station on Metra's North Central Service, which provides daily rail service between Antioch, Illinois and Chicago (at Union Station); and Franklin Park Station and Mannheim Station on the Milwaukee District/West Line which connects Chicago to Elgin, Illinois.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Franklin Park Public Library, Downtown Franklin Park, Veteran's Memorial
- Lunch Leu's Oriental Chop Suey
- Afternoon The Street Dance & Car Show, The Pool on Pacific
- Dinner Grand Stand Pizza
- Evening Mike O'Donnell Pub
Day 2
- Morning B-12 Tower Museum, The Fire Museum
- Lunch Tacqueria La Tarreta
- Afternoon Railroad Daze, The Franklin Park Ice Arena
- Dinner Squab Gyros
- Evening Sneakers Sports Bar and Grill
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Food is Franklin Park's hidden gem. Any Mexican Bakery downtown, on Franklin Avenue, will have huge, cheap treats that you probably won't find in your local bakery. They can be hit or miss, but if you don't like what you bought then spend 75 cents for something else.
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
Grand Avenue and Mannheim Road are two major arteries that run through the village. O'Hare International Airport is nearby, accessible by Mannheim Road. Franklin Park has three Metra stations: Belmont Avenue Station on Metra's North Central Service, which provides daily rail service between Antioch, Illinois and Chicago (at Union Station); and Franklin Park Station and Mannheim Station on the Milwaukee District/West Line which connects Chicago to Elgin, Illinois.
Get around
By car is the most efficient way, but PACE bus routes 319 and 325 run through Franklin Park and connect it to nearby Northlake, River Grove, Elmwood Park, and Rosemont.
See
See Downtown Franklin Park
Has been put on a construction hold, many businesses having been uprooted with nothing to replace them. However, it's a pleasant stroll through local restaurants, new condominiums, and delicious Mexican markets and bakeries.
See B-12 Tower Museum
It's an over 100 year old restored track-switching tower, open every year in May for the local festival "Railroad Daze" (although you can peek inside any time of year). Nearby is an orange caboose that makes for nice photos.
See Veteran's Memorial
A pleasant park dedicated in honor of any Franklin Parker who fought in a war (and there's a surprising number). The cannon on site is a must-see. Across the street is the police station with the old-fashioned star sign and a park with a gazebo (known as Roger Hamill Village Square) where bands play in the summer.
See The Fire Museum
A small affair, but for fire engine buffs there is a Peter Pirsch engine purchased in 1927 on display. Everything is viewable through the window from the outside.
Do
Do Railroad Daze
An annual festival held downtown every May or June. Attractions include walk-on special and unique train displays, a wide variety of food vendors, a carnival, mini-train rides, a model train display and live music.
Do The Street Dance & Car Show
Takes place every July downtown. Area bands come and play as local businesses and restaurants set up stands and all kinds of cars are shown off, with trophies awarded.
Do The Franklin Park Ice Arena
A great place to cool off in the summer, with a freestyle skating rink and a larger, hockey-oriented main arena.
Do The Pool on Pacific
A small pool. While Gouin Park Pool is larger but a bit more out of the way.
Buy
Franklin Park is not exactly known as a shopping mecca. Besides Ace Hardware, all the big name stores and malls are in the nearby towns, while locally there isn't much more than a pawn shop, video stores, and grocery stores, all of which are on Grand Avenue.
Eat
Food is Franklin Park's hidden gem. Any Mexican Bakery downtown, on Franklin Avenue, will have huge, cheap treats that you probably won't find in your local bakery. They can be hit or miss, but if you don't like what you bought then spend 75 cents for something else.
Eat Grand Stand Pizza
It was voted the best thin crust pizza by Fox Chicago in 2005, and it shows. Ordering a slice is good, but it's the whole pizzas that will win over your taste buds.
Eat Leu's Oriental Chop Suey
Cheap and delicious.
Eat Squab Gyros
Yummy and greasy.
Drink
Drink Mike O'Donnell Pub
A typical Irish-style pub.
Sleep
Most hotels and motels are on Mannheim Avenue, servicing airport patrons. Super 8, Best Western, Sottrel Hotel; pretty much drive down Mannheim and look for something with O'Hare in the name.
Go next
- Chicago, of course.
- Rosemont, north of Franklin Park, is chock full of convention centers and major Chicagoland events often take place here, including ACen. Rosemont is also home to the Chicago Wolves hockey team. Oh, and there's a Blue Line stop.
- Oak Park, home of Frank Lloyd Wright, is a 25-minute drive south.
- River Grove has a forest preserve, golf course, Triton College, and Gene's & Jude's, the best Chicago-style hot dogs around (unless you love Portillo's, in which case head to Northlake).
Nearby
Schiller Park
City / town · 4 listings · 2 mi away
Melrose Park
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Rosemont
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Elmhurst
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Hillside
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Park Ridge
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Wood Dale
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