Maywood, Illinois City
City in Illinois known for its suburban community
A short ride west of Chicago, Maywood offers small-town streets, early-20th-century homes, community festivals and access to forest preserves - handy for museum trips into the city.
At a GlanceKey facts, why go and what's on now
Maywood, Illinois at a Glance#
Costs: $60-$100 per day - typical Chicago-suburb prices; affordable compared with city center hotels.
Safety: Mixed - exercise caution in parts - higher crime rates than many suburbs; exercise normal urban caution.
Best Time: May to September - warm months are best for exploring local parks and nearby Chicago.
Why Visit Maywood, Illinois?#
As a near-Chicago suburb, Maywood mainly appeals for its accessibility to the city’s museums and nearby green corridors. Visitors often use Maywood as a quiet base for exploring Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright homes, the cultural attractions of Chicago, and the Des Plaines River forest preserves for biking and birdwatching. Small-town storefronts and occasional community festivals provide a localized Midwestern feel between urban outings.
Things to DoTop sights, bucket list and day trips
Best Things to Do in Maywood, Illinois#
Maywood, Illinois Bucket List#
Maywood Metra Station - Ride the Metra Union Pacific West Line for easy access to downtown Chicago.
Proviso Township Public Library - Visit the local library for community exhibits, programs, and historic archives.
Maywood Historic Downtown - Walk downtown to see historic buildings, local shops, and classic diners.
Proviso Historical Society & Museum - Discover local photographs, documents, and stories about Maywood’s early development.
Local diners and bakeries - Sample long-running family-run diners and bakeries that preserve Maywood’s neighborhood flavors.
Community murals and pocket parks - Find small murals and pocket parks scattered around town that showcase local artists.
Oak Park (Frank Lloyd Wright) - Explore Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Unity Temple, and historic Prairie-style architecture.
Chicago Loop - Take Metra into downtown Chicago to visit Millennium Park, Art Institute, and theaters.
Nearby Cities #
When to GoSeasons, weather and festivals
Best Time to Visit Maywood, Illinois#
Maywood is most pleasant in late spring and early fall when temperatures are moderate and parks are lush. Winters are cold and snowy; summers can be hot and humid with thunderstorms.
December - February
-8-3°C (18-37°F)
Cold, often snowy with short daylight - urban museums and indoor activities work best; dress for wind and slush.
March - May
4-18°C (39-64°F)
Variable but increasingly pleasant; great for parks returning to green and for comfortable city wandering before summer heat.
June - August
18-30°C (64-86°F)
Hot and humid at times; ideal for summer festivals and outdoor dining but expect occasional thunderstorms and muggy evenings.
Maywood, Illinois's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 29°C. Moderate rainfall (938 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -10° - -1° | -11° | 44 mm | overcast | 87% | 4.8 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.4h |
| February | Poor | -7° - 2° | -8° | 40 mm | overcast | 85% | 4.7 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.5h |
| March | Poor | -1° - 8° | -1° | 66 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.9 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 4° - 15° | 7° | 96 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 5.0 m/s | 1.1 high | 13.2h |
| May | Good | 9° - 22° | 16° | 92 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 4.4 m/s | 1.5 high | 14.4h |
| June | Excellent | 15° - 27° | 21° | 101 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 3.7 m/s | 1.8 very high | 15.0h |
| July | Excellent | 18° - 29° | 24° | 95 mm | some cloud | 72% | 3.3 m/s | 1.9 very high | 14.7h |
| August | Excellent | 17° - 28° | 23° | 105 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 1.6 very high | 13.7h |
| September | Excellent | 13° - 24° | 18° | 89 mm | some cloud | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 1.2 high | 12.3h |
| October | Good | 6° - 18° | 12° | 68 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 4.0 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.0h |
| November | Acceptable | 0° - 9° | 1° | 78 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 4.6 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.7h |
| December | Poor | -6° - 2° | -7° | 64 mm | overcast | 87% | 4.6 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.1h |
Getting There & AroundAirports, trains and local transport
How to Get to Maywood, Illinois#
Maywood is a close-in Chicago suburb with a Metra station on the Union Pacific West Line, making rail the simplest way to reach downtown Chicago. O’Hare and Midway both serve the area via a mix of CTA + Metra or direct rideshare/taxi.
Chicago O’Hare (ORD): ORD is the nearest major international airport. From O’Hare take the CTA Blue Line into downtown Chicago and transfer to Metra (or take Metra by connecting at a downtown terminal) to reach Maywood’s Metra station; total travel time is commonly 60-90 minutes depending on connections. CTA fares are $2.50 and Metra fares depend on zones.
Chicago Midway (MDW): Midway is another option; take the CTA Orange Line toward downtown and transfer to Metra or use a direct rideshare/taxi to Maywood (shorter drive time than from O’Hare in lighter traffic).
Metra (Union Pacific West Line): Maywood is served by the Metra Union Pacific West Line (Maywood station). Travel to downtown Chicago (Oglevie/Union Station transfer points) typically takes 20-30 minutes by train from Maywood.
CTA / Pace buses: Local Pace buses and CTA services connect Maywood with nearby suburbs and transit hubs; useful for short commutes and reaching nearby shopping or transit connections.
How to Get Around Maywood, Illinois#
Maywood is best served by Metra for trips into Chicago; CTA/Pace buses, taxis and driving cover local mobility. From O’Hare or Midway use a combination of CTA + Metra or direct rideshare for the most convenient transfer.
- Metra (Union Pacific West) ($3.25-$5.25) - Maywood has a Metra station on the UP-W line with regular service to downtown Chicago (Oglevie/Union Station area). Trains are reliable for commuting; fares are zone-based and purchased via Ventra or onboard where permitted.
- CTA / Pace Bus ($2.50) - Local Pace buses and CTA routes provide connections to neighbouring suburbs and to rail hubs. Useful for short trips; frequency varies by route and time of day.
- Taxi / Rideshare ($10-$40) - Taxis and rideshares offer door-to-door transfers to airports and local points; they are convenient for early-morning or late-night travel when trains/buses are less frequent.
- Car Rental / Driving - Driving is common in the suburbs - parking is generally available and road links to I-290 and I-294 make access to the region straightforward. A car is useful for errands and exploring adjacent suburbs.
- Walking - Maywood’s residential centre is walkable for short errands and to reach the Metra station; for larger shopping trips you may need transit or a car.
Where to StayThe best areas to base yourself
Where to Stay in Maywood, Illinois#
Near I-290 / suburban edge - $60-110/night
Maywood (near Chicago) has few true budget hotels inside village limits; many economy options are located in adjacent suburbs and along I-290.
Nearby suburbs / Western Chicago - $110-180/night
Mid-range chain hotels and airport business properties are found in nearby suburbs and around Chicago’s West Side; Maywood itself has limited inventory.
No in-town luxury - Chicago for high-end options
There are no luxury hotels inside Maywood; premium stays require travelling into central Chicago or to larger nearby suburbs with full-service hotels.
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Maywood, Illinois’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Eat & DrinkStreet food, restaurants, bars and nightlife
Nightlife in Maywood, Illinois#
Maywood has minimal nightlife of its own; evening entertainment options are mainly local bars and restaurants. For a wider variety of bars, clubs and late-night dining, head into nearby Chicago neighborhoods.
ShoppingMarkets, malls and souvenirs
Shopping in Maywood, Illinois#
Shopping in Maywood is limited to local shops and small strip-malls serving neighborhood needs. For a wider retail selection, shoppers typically travel into neighboring suburbs or into Chicago.