If your kids have ever dreamed of spending the night in a museum — surrounded by dinosaurs, submarines, and rockets — the Snoozeum at Chicago’s Griffin's Museum of Science and Industry makes that dream come true. It’s one of the most memorable family adventures in the city, and we finally got to experience it firsthand.
What the Snoozeum Is All About
The Snoozeum is an overnight event that invites families to explore the museum after hours. Guests can roam through exhibits, take part in hands-on science activities, catch a special film in the Giant Dome Theater, and then roll out sleeping bags to spend the night under one of the museum’s iconic displays — like the giant U-505 Submarine, a model train landscape, or even a suspended Boeing 727. The staff assigns sleeping assignments and we got to sleep within the opening of the Mirror Maze exhibit!
What to Expect
When you arrive, the museum is buzzing with excitement. Families check in, drop belongings at their sleeping areas, and get a schedule of evening activities — from science experiments and scavenger hunts to interactive demos and engineering challenges.
One of the most memorable moments for me is watching my daughter and her friends play "Mindball" while secretly learning the power of the mind (and relaxation!). I also loved just being an observer as the kids ran around exploring, laughing, and having a truly great time making their own memories.
You’ll have plenty of time to explore exhibits with fewer crowds than usual, which means your kids can linger at their favorites. The lights are dimmed later in the night, and after a bedtime snack and story, everyone settles in for lights-out.
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Sleeping in a Museum: The Reality
Sleeping at the museum is definitely part adventure, part campout. The floor is hard, and you’ll hear the occasional zip of a sleeping bag or whisper from another excited family — but that’s part of the magic.
My 47-year-old back was kind enough to remind me to bring an air mattress for each of us. If you do bring a mattress larger than a twin, it needs to be shared. I brought a twin for myself and a slightly smaller "kid-sized" one for my daughter. The majority of the campers had mattresses, and everything stays packed off to the side until the designated time to set up your sleeping areas.
Come morning, families wake up to breakfast and more chances to explore before the museum opens to the public. It’s an unforgettable way to see MSI in a whole new light.
Tips for Families Thinking About Going
- Pack smart: Bring sleeping pads/bags, layers, and a pillow. We packed it all, inlcusing our air mattresses, inside of a large suitcase to wheel in easily. Many others used wagons to help haul their load from the parking garage to their sleeping spot. (Yes, parking is included)
- Eat before you go: The event includes an evening snack and continental breakfast, but just in case you have concerns about the snack being enough, make sure you have a good dinner before arriving.
- Tickets for the Coal Mine and U-505 tours are available in limited quantities and on a first-come, first-served availability (unless you upgrade your registration). People were in line for these right away, but we had already done both on previous visits, so we passed to allow us extra time to explore.
- Bring your sense of adventure: It’s more campout than hotel stay, but that’s the fun!
- Soak it all in: You’ll never look at the museum the same way again. The next morning, once you have cleaned up your sleeping site you are welcome to stay and enjoy the museum. It is included with the Snoozeum registration price.
- Registration starts at $85 per person, but there are three different package levels if you and your group are looking for a little extra. The majority of the participants were larger groups, it seemed - scouts, classmates, and a few birthday parties.
Upcoming dates:
- Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026
- Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026
- Saturday, June 6, 2026
SOLD OUT: February 28 and March 7, 2026
Final Thoughts
Whether you have a budding scientist, an engineer-in-training, or just a curious kid who loves exploring, the MSI Snoozeum is an experience they’ll remember for years. It’s one of those rare events that combines learning, adventure, and just the right amount of chaos — in the best way possible. My daughter and I were graciously hosted by the Snoozeum team from MSI, and we had a truly memorable experience. It was a fantastic and unique way to see one of our favorite museums.
Our participation in the MSI Snoozeum event was #hosted, but the words and opinions in this article are my own
