Hotels near The Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum is 1,700 acres of trees in Lisle, 25 miles west of downtown, founded in 1922 by Joy Morton of the salt company. It holds more than 4,000 kinds of trees and plants from around the world, laid out across woodland, prairie and lakes with 16 miles of trails and a nine-mile paved loop you can drive or cycle. For fall colour it is the single best destination in the Chicago area, and it is not close.

The maple collection and the East Woods are the strongest areas, usually peaking in mid to late October, roughly a week ahead of the lakefront because the lake keeps the city warmer. The Arboretum publishes a fall colour report through the season. Timed tickets are required on peak weekends and cars without them are turned away at the gate. Allow four hours plus travel.

Pro Tip: Book the earliest weekday slot you can and walk the East Woods rather than driving the loop road. The car route is where everyone else goes on a colour weekend, and the woodland trails a few hundred metres in are usually close to empty.