Centennial Wheel
Centennial Wheel
4
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Near North Side
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
2,599 within 3 miles
Attractions
967 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- Sara G.Saint Louis, Missouri895 contributionsChicago ViewsChicago views! Of course I went up in the Centennial Wheel with the free hour I had in Chicago. I’m a tourist at heart. We’re going up 200 feet for panoramic views of the city and Lake Michigan. There is something about a good view. The enclosed gondolas ensure a comfortable ride year-round cold or hot and regardless of the weather. Navy Pier and the Centennial Wheel are musts.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten 17 April 2024
- egwanderlustHampton, New Hampshire1,971 contributionsWorth The PriceThe Centennial Wheel is such a great experience when visiting the Navy Pier! While I don't recommend the rest of the amusement park rides - this one is worth it. Tickets are pricey - but you get to revolve around not once but three times. Gondolas are air-conditioned, and on a less busy day, you will get a gondola on your own. The views are gorgeous and give you one of the best skyline views. Before the ride, they take your picture, and the prices are $35 for three. Not a bad souvenir.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 August 2024
- shellybe2018Trumbull, Connecticut11 contributionsWonderful Chicago experience!So much fun! We had the VIP gondola which had 4 comfy seats and a glass bottom floor! I am not a huge fan of heights but being enclosed helped. Amazing views of the city as well as the lake. Highly recommend!Visited September 2024Travelled with familyWritten 11 September 2024
- Ian CPerth, Australia210 contributionsEnjoyable experience & great views of ChicagoAbsolutely a must with a great 360 degree view around Chicago. You go around three time which is enjoyable enough to take some photos and relax to enjoy the experience. $19 eachVisited September 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 14 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
185 reviews
Excellent
77
Very good
68
Average
26
Poor
10
Terrible
4
Sara G.
Saint Louis, MO895 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
Chicago views!
Of course I went up in the Centennial Wheel with the free hour I had in Chicago. I’m a tourist at heart.
We’re going up 200 feet for panoramic views of the city and Lake Michigan. There is something about a good view. The enclosed gondolas ensure a comfortable ride year-round cold or hot and regardless of the weather.
Navy Pier and the Centennial Wheel are musts.
Of course I went up in the Centennial Wheel with the free hour I had in Chicago. I’m a tourist at heart.
We’re going up 200 feet for panoramic views of the city and Lake Michigan. There is something about a good view. The enclosed gondolas ensure a comfortable ride year-round cold or hot and regardless of the weather.
Navy Pier and the Centennial Wheel are musts.
Written 17 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob W
1 contribution
Jul 2021
Views of the City were fantastic. However, the crew running the ride was rude and pushy.
It seems highly suspect to be forcing every person entering this ride to take a photo so that Navy Pier's Photogenic service could sell them a souvenir picture after the ride.
The management of this ride needs to retrain the employees, especially Julianne, or there might be a need for legal action to correct this situation, as it clearly violated privacy rights.
The experience could have been great, but wrong people working here ruined the whole visit.
It seems highly suspect to be forcing every person entering this ride to take a photo so that Navy Pier's Photogenic service could sell them a souvenir picture after the ride.
The management of this ride needs to retrain the employees, especially Julianne, or there might be a need for legal action to correct this situation, as it clearly violated privacy rights.
The experience could have been great, but wrong people working here ruined the whole visit.
Written 27 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cowboydavy115
Spokane, WA284 contributions
Sept 2021
It was a fun Ferris wheel ride. We try to ride a Ferris wheel when we find one in a city we visit. It was fun to explore the Navy Pier and find the Big Wheel. Last time we were on Navy Pier it was 115 degrees with the heat index! It was much more pleasant this time.
Written 21 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John K
Costa Mesa, CA2,447 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Went on a Saturday, arrived right when they opened at 11:00AM. Paid $18 each for adult tix. No senior discount offered. Waited only 15 minutes or so to board, and two of us had a gondola to ourselves. Enjoyed views of the city and the lake. Would be a special attraction at night.
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian C
Perth, Australia210 contributions
Sept 2024 • Friends
Absolutely a must with a great 360 degree view around Chicago. You go around three time which is enjoyable enough to take some photos and relax to enjoy the experience. $19 each
Written 14 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelersalongway
McLeansboro, IL172 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Was a short wait since they could put several people on at one stop. Was a nice smooth ride, despite the wind blowing hard. The view of the city skyline along the lake shore was very nice. Love trying out the wheel in different cities and this view was very nice.
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingMama
New York, NY427 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Fun experience. The line wasn’t long, staff were friendly. Amazing views of the city and the lake. If you find yourself on Navy Pier it’s worth a look. A little pricy for about 15 minutes - but similarly priced to this kind of attraction in other cities.
Written 14 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BoCyphers
Covington, GA60 contributions
May 2024 • Family
The ride cost $60 for me, my wife, and my 8yo son. We went around once stop-and-go while they loaded the ride. Then we rode twice and that was it! Two nonstop rotations for $60. I expected the price, but there were very few people there; they could have extended the ride much longer. What a ripoff! We won’t return.
Written 8 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa M
Aledo, IL40 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Very clean, staff very helpful, and great views. It was a wonderful experience. Very pricey and a fairly short ride. Price was to be expected, just wish it was a bit longer. Before you go download the navy pier app and avoid the line to purchase tickets.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane K
Venice, FL4,582 contributions
Mar 2022
We had lived in Chicago for 14 years - but I had never ridden on the Ferris wheel. When we came back to spend Spring Break with our grandson - I finally went for a ride. It was pretty expensive (about $1 a minute for each of us). But it was fun to see the views and experience the wheel which is a Chicago icon.
Written 6 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have 5 Centennial Wheel Fast Passes purchased on 8/15/2018. How long are those passes good to use?
Written 19 May 2021
Is it worth getting the fast pass? Also how long is the ride?
Written 23 September 2018
Fast Pass: The two times I've ridden Centennial was this Summer and I did not use Fast Pass for either. The line was nothing big at all (granted, I went both times on weekdays, non-holidays). The good thing is that
A) you can buy the regular ticket from your cell phone just seconds before getting in line (just google for "Centennial Wheel Chicago tickets", it'll give you an option quickly, I promise), and buy the ticket(s). This way, if the line to the Ticket Booth itself is long, you skip that, right off the bat and then you can proceed to the line for the ride itself (ain't bureaucracy grand?).
B) While you're resolving the ride ticket item (see "A" above), if you see that the line to the ride itself is super huge, then you can make a judgment call on your own to determine if it's worth the extra money to buy the Fast Pass itself before going into either the regular line or the Fast Pass line.
Me? It would have to be a superhuge line (which, sometimes it might be, granted), and/or maybe I'd feel the need to impress "someone" with just how much I value their time and happiness or some other abstract reason (maybe you only have 6 weeks to live, I dont know...), then perhaps I may consider the Fast Pass. But I'd wait until I got there to decide if it's worth it, 'cause I'll be kicking myself very, very hard if I buy it before I got there and when I arrive it's not the very longest of lines.
The ride itself, seems to me, took about 15-20 minutes, maybe longer (not 100% sure, sorry, I wasn't timing the thing), 'cause it's once around while they board a full cycle, then 3 more nonstop spins at slow speed. Very comfortable gondolas and it's just your party in the ride, even if it's just the two people, you won't be mixed in with anyone else.
Written 24 September 2018
Does anyone recommend the Fast Pass for the Centennial Wheel, or the Play the Park tickets instead? Any advice is welcome.
Thanks!
Written 23 July 2018
I thought the Centennial Wheel is closed by 8pm, but the fireworks aren't until 9:30. Does the ferris wheel stay open longer on fireworks nights?
Written 23 July 2018
Not that I know.Great views guranteed from night cruises,beaches & Planetarium.
Written 26 July 2018
Has anyone ridden the premium $50 ride and was it worth the extra money?
Written 22 May 2018
Is the wheel wheelchair accessible?
Written 27 March 2018
Yes, with some minor challenges. There is a flat-ish and smooth walkway leading to the wheel. The entry into the cars could present some navigational opportunities, but should work out fine. The cars are surprisingly large and fully enclosed.
Written 28 March 2018
Slightly weather dependant, which is strange because the cabins are enclosed and temperature controlled, but it's a safety issue. As well, some of the mechanical parts don't work well in snow or ice. Plus, standing in line can be uncomfortable.
Written 14 March 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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