Shopping and Schaumburg (northwestern Chicago suburb) go together as peanut butter and jelly. It’s a cliché but it’s true. In this Northwestern suburb is located Woodfield Mall – at the intersection of Golf Road and Interstate 290.
Of course, Woodfield is not the only mall in Chicagoland but it’s the largest one in the state of Illinois and among the biggest ones in the country.
With more than 300 stores and restaurants there’s something for everyone – from kids (Rainforest Café and Yu Kids Island to stay entertained) to adults (Stonewood Ale House and stores like Victoria’s Secret and Boss).
What’s more, because of all the people visiting the mall every day a lot of other business set up shop in the surrounding areas. IKEA is one of those businesses (they have only two stores in Illinois and one of them is in Schaumburg).
And of you’re visiting the area with kids you definitely have to check Legoland Discovery Center out. They can spend literally hours building structures or add to ones that have been built already.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that you can spend an entire day in the mall, there’s so much to see and do regardless of whether you’re by yourself, with friends or with family (you can also spend the night in Schaumburg enjoying the night life).
I personally like the fact that the Dunkin Donuts restaurant inside the mall is open early in the morning so I can grab a cup of French vanilla coffee and a Boston crème donut on my way to work. If Dunkin Donuts is not your cup of coffee you can hit Starbucks, located on the lower level, for a Frappuccino.
If you’re more into European style coffee you’d like to visit Nordstrom Ebar located inside the store (on the west side of the mall).
When I’m with my family we like to have lunch at Rainforest Café (my daughter loves it) and then play in the kids’ area. The food is nothing to write home about, but the décor is what makes us return to it time and time again.
If you don’t have kids then you can choose from a wide range of restaurants for every budget. There’s a McDonalds and Subway if all you want is a quick bite before you continue shopping.
However, if you have more time on your hands and want to enjoy the food you have a choice between traditional American, Chinese, Southern, Brazilian and Mexican cuisine.
All in all, Schaumburg in general and Woodfield mall in particular is a great place to spend a day or just a few hours. It’s easy to access and for that reason it’s a popular tourist destination in the Chicago metropolitan area with more than 27 million visitors annually.
Directions to Woodfield Mall from O’Hare Airport Terminal 1:
- Get on I-190 E from Departures (use any lane to take the I-190 ramp to I-90/I-294/Chicago Loop
- Take I-90 W to McConnor Pkwy in Schaumburg. Take the W Suburbs exit from I-90 W
– Continue onto I-190 E
– Take exit 1C for I-90 W/Tollway toward Rockford (toll road)
– Use the left 2 lanes to merge onto I-90 W (toll road)
– Keep left at the fork to stay on I-90 W (toll road)
– Use the right 2 lanes to take the W Suburbs exit (toll road)
– Use the left 3 lanes to take exit 1B-1A toward Woodfield Rd/IL-58/Golf Rd
- Continue on McConnor Pkwy. Take Perimeter Dr to Woodfield Mall
– Merge onto McConnor Pkwy
– Turn right onto Woodfield Rd
– Turn right onto Mall Dr
– Turn left at the 1st cross street onto Perimeter Dr
– Turn right toward Woodfield Mall
– Continue onto Woodfield Mall - Arrive at Woodfield Mall 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Directions to Woodfield Mall from Chicago Loop via I-290W
- Chicago Loop
– Head east on E Jackson Blvd toward S Michigan Ave
– Turn right at the 1st cross street onto S Michigan Ave
– Turn right onto E Congress Pkwy - Follow I-290 W to E Frontage Rd in Schaumburg. Take exit 1B from I-290 W
– Continue onto I-290 W (signs for I-90)
– Use the left 2 lanes to turn slightly left to stay on I-290 W
– Keep right at the fork to stay on I-290 W, follow signs for I-294 Tollway N/Milwaukee/Rockford
– Keep left to stay on I-290 W
– Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 1B toward Woodfield Rd/Golf Rd - Continue on E Frontage Rd. Take Woodfield Rd and Perimeter Dr to Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg Township
– Continue onto E Frontage Rd
– Turn left onto Woodfield Rd
– Turn right onto Mall Dr
– Turn left at the 1st cross street onto Perimeter Dr
– Turn right toward Woodfield Mall
– Continue onto Woodfield Mall - Arrive at Woodfield Mall 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
