Field Museum Chicago: Early Access SUE T. Rex & Private Tour

What if you could stand alone with the world's biggest T. rex?

You arrive before the museum opens to the public and spend an hour with a private docent exploring SUE the T. rex and the Evolving Planet halls without crowds. After the guided portion, you have the run of all 35 permanent exhibitions (mummies, gems, dinosaurs, ancient civilizations), for the rest of the day. Entry and the early-access tour are included. Groups stay under 20 people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Early access VIP tour at Field Museum

• Enter Field Museum at 8am
• Join personalized tour with expert
• Visit Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet
• See SUE the T. rex fossil
• Take photos without crowds
• Learn about Maximo the titanosaur
• Take break at Field Bistro
• Explore museum independently

The experience

The Field Museum opens its doors at 8am, but you'll be inside at that hour when the halls are still quiet and the light hits SUE differently than it does at noon. A museum expert meets your group, capped at 20 people, and walks you straight into the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet, where SUE, the world's largest and most complete T. rex fossil ever found, dominates the space without the usual crowd pressing in from all sides. You get time to actually look, to circle around, to take a photo that doesn't have someone's shoulder in the frame. The guide points out details most visitors miss when they're rushing through with a hundred other people.

After SUE, you head down to Stanley Field Hall to meet Máximo, the titanosaur: the largest dinosaur ever discovered, which still manages to feel less famous than it should be. The early access tour of the Field Museum includes the Evolving Planet exhibition, where giant sloths and woolly mammoths sit frozen in their own moment of time. Then there's a break built in. You can stop at the Field Bistro for coffee or breakfast, or just catch your breath before the museum officially opens and the pace changes. After that, the rest of the museum is yours to explore on your own time: the 23 mummies in the recreated Egyptian tomb, the Grainger Hall of Gems, the Aztec empire galleries, whatever catches you. Nearly half a million square feet of gallery space means you won't feel crowded even when other visitors arrive.

The whole thing works because the group stays small and the timing is locked in. You're not negotiating with crowds or wondering if you've seen everything. The docent knows the collection and answers questions as you go, but it's not a lecture. It's more like walking through with someone who actually works there and can tell you what matters.

What’s included

• Your ticket includes all-access admission to the Field Museum's 35 permanent exhibitions and a one-hour private docent-led tour before the museum opens to the public.
• The guided portion covers SUE the T. rex in the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet, Máximo the titanosaur in Stanley Field Hall, and a stop at the Field Bistro for a break.
• After the tour ends, you're free to explore the rest of the museum on your own (the Egyptian mummies, the Grainger Hall of Gems, the Hall of Jades, the Aztec empire galleries, and everything else), for the remainder of the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (19 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (3 to 18 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Field Museum - Chicago

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see the Field Museum's main attractions without the midday crowds and with expert context: the early start and small group size are what make both possible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (3 to 18 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What time does the early access tour start?

8am, before the Field Museum opens to the general public.

How long is the private docent tour?

One hour, covering SUE the T. rex, Evolving Planet, and Máximo the titanosaur.

Can I explore the rest of the museum after the tour?

Yes. After the guided portion, you have access to all 35 permanent exhibitions for the rest of the day.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are limited to 20 people to keep the experience intimate.

What's included in the ticket?

All-access admission to the Field Museum and the private docent-led early access tour.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas, surfaces, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. Strollers and service animals are also allowed.

Can I get food or drinks during my visit?

Yes. The Field Bistro is open during your visit and offers breakfast, lunch, and beverages.

Is parking available?

Public transportation options are available nearby. Check the Field Museum's website for parking and transit details.