50+ Things To Do Over Spring Break in Champaign-Urbana

Don’t let Spring Break break you: keep the family busy with 50+ things to do in Champaign-Urbana

Spring break in Champaign-Urbana is right around the corner and you’re already thinking: what are we going to DO?

Well, we have some info to help you put the pieces together. We’ve got 50+ ideas for things to do over spring break around Champaign-Urbana for your family.

Chambanamoms thanks United Way of Champaign County for presenting this resource.

United Way of Champaign County, Birth-5 Illinois, and the Champaign County Home Visiting Consortium are offering free developmental screenings for children from birth to 5 years old. These screenings assess communication, social, and motor skills to help families track their child’s development.

Screenings will be available at multiple locations across Champaign County.

These screenings provide valuable insights into early childhood development and connect families with helpful resources. Schedule your child’s screening today and support their bright future!

For more information: Website

 

For most school districts, spring break in 2026 is the week of March 16-20, with many schools adding a day or two off in the weeks prior or following. (If you need childcare during this time, check out our list of Spring Break Camps.)

We are including a variety of activities, so that whatever you are comfortable doing, you have some options. Of course, always check our events calendar to see what’s happening as well, as it gets updated daily.

This list is intended to help you discover some options when it comes to the week of spring break in Champaign-Urbana. The status of these businesses/events can change at any time, so check with the business before venturing out to be sure it is open and if reservations are needed.

Visit a Champaign-Urbana area museum or nature center

Head over to Museum of the Grand Prairie at Lake of the Woods. Step back in time with a variety of exhibits and activities. FREE.

Visit the Anita Purves Nature Center. FREE. Go play on the playscape outside the nature center afterwards, or stroll through Busey Woods.

On the University of Illinois Campus, the Spurlock Museum takes you around the world with artifacts from every corner of the globe (closed Monday all day and Tuesday morning, but otherwise open). Krannert Art Museum is open, too. It has everything from masters to modern. Both are FREE.

Pack a picnic on a nice day and drive out to Homer Lake, playing on the playscape. Note that the Interpretive Center is currently closed when it gets a makeover; instead, drive out to Middle Fork, where there is currently an interim Interpretive Center set up that will feature some spring break programming, too.

Venture a little further for museums like the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal or the Children’s Museum of Illinois in Decatur.

Be active – the kids, the family, whoever needs it!

We have a whole list of ways to be active together with your family. Need to get started? Spring break is a great time to start new habits. The weather is improving and there’s lots to try.

The Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center is open March 16-20 and has many public swim options from 1:30-5 p.m. during spring break week.

Head to the bowling center! Bowling is open at Old Orchard Lanes, as well as dining (pizza for the win). Arrowhead Lanes also has indoor putt-putt golf.

Head out to the golf course or the driving range. Taking on nine holes at Lake of the Woods (or visiting after 2 p.m.) are two inexpensive ways to get out to the green together, as long as the spring weather cooperates, that is!

If you’re not already a member, snag guest passes for the Stephens Family YMCA. You can enjoy family swim time or family gym time. We also have the Martens Center in Champaign and the Health and Wellness Center in Urbana with all kinds of great options at a very affordable day pass price.

Skating at Skateland and jumping at Elevate are options as well. Want to venture further? Drive to Iron Coyote in Bloomington-Normal.

Get outside and explore

Go out to a new park or a park you haven’t been to lately — we have a whole list of favorite parks and playgrounds you can try. The Hessel Park playground is always a great place to start. You could also try out Meadowbrook Park or Blair Park in Urbana which are some of the more recently renovated playgrounds.

Make a day of it in Monticello: head out to Allerton Park and check out Pfc. Robert C. Burke Memorial Park, located outside of the Monticello Family Aquatic Center.

Go to the library

So kids might want to take a break from learning, but libraries make learning FUN. Go check out some books at the library over spring break. You can get some books, movies and maybe even some fun other things, like games or puzzles, depending on the library. Try the Champaign Public Library, Urbana Free Library or Mahomet Public Library. Get our round-up of all local libraries here. 

Try some of our favorite foods

If you’ve noticed, we have quite a few favorite foods around Champaign-Urbana. Check out this page for everything we love to eat and drink around town. Pizza, barbecue and ice cream are just a few of note. Spring break makes a great time to visit campus and enjoy some new places to eat while the students are out of town.

‘Travel’ to outer space

Check out some of the unique space activities we have in Central Illinois. With the recent solar eclipse fresh in our memories, there is still plenty of buzz in outer space related fun.

Get crafty

Go to the I.D.E.A. Store and find some unique crafting supplies and ideas for an eco-friendly craft — on the cheap!

Go to campus

Spring is a great time to visit the University of Illinois campus, whether just for a new place for a scenic walk, to shop, or to enjoy some of the unique dining opportunities. Go bowling, play billiards and arcade games at the Rec Room inside the Illini Union. University of Illinois students are on spring break during this same week, so hours on campus and in Campustown may be different than usual. (For example, the University of Illinois Ice Arena is closed during 2026’s spring break, but you can sneak in a lunch skate on March 12-13.)

Enjoy some gymnastics

Speaking of campus, the University of Illinois will be hosting the Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Championships on March 20-22. See the best talent in the Big Ten over the course of these three days. All-session tickets will be available soon. The meet will be conducted in three sessions, with four schools competing in the evening session on March 20, four schools competing in the afternoon session on March 21 and four schools competing in the evening session on March 21. Team seeding is determined by the final Big Ten regular season standings.

Trek to the zoo

We have lots of zoos within a short drive (let’s say three hours or less) that we think your family will love —  Miller Park Zoo and Peoria Zoo being the closer options and Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo and Saint Louis Zoo being some others. (Scovill Zoo in Decatur won’t open for the season until April.)

Get ready for Easter and Passover

No FOOLING, these holidays are around the corner! Passover starts the night of April 1, and Easter is April 5. Don’t let those holidays sneak up on you; get your Easter baskets ready (non-candy options here), prep for those egg hunts, and much more.

Go out to eat on a budget

A few restaurants in town offer specials for kids on certain nights of the week. Check out our list of places where kids eat free (or cheaply). A bonus: Restaurants in C-U tend to be slightly less crowded on spring break, given the U of I students are gone and some C-U residents are on vacation.

Take a day trip

We LOVE day trips, and have a whole list for you. See the big things in Casey, where the attractions are mainly outside. Go to Peoria and see Peoria Riverfront Museum. Make a date to head out to the museums and Lincoln sites in Springfield. There might be some free museum days in Chicago, like visiting the Field Museum for free on Wednesday.

Find an event

We have so many events happening over spring break on our event calendar! Here are just a few we are highlighting. Please be sure to review registration for any event you plan to attend as many have limited spots.

Are you at home for Spring Break? What are you doing with your family? We’d love to know! Tell us if we’ve missed your choices for spring break fun. Email editor@chambanamoms.com

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• Visiting Imagination Grove Near Bloomington-Normal
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• Day Trip from Champaign-Urbana: Living Large in Casey
• Effingham, a Trip to the Crossroads
• Winter Break Day Trip: Family Fun in Peoria
• Travel Back in Time at Lincoln Log Cabin