A first weekend in Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago: choose your gallery visit
Lincoln Park: Nature Boardwalk and a free zoo visitAn example packing list for Chicago in January
Use this as a starting point and choose what suits your plans. Packtricia tailors your list and quantities to your trip length, weather and preferences.
Clothing
- Underwear
- Bras (if worn)
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Long-sleeved thermal base-layer top
- Comfortable trousers
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Warm insulated wind-resistant coat
- Insulated water-resistant boots with grip
- Thermal leggings (for long outdoor stops)
- Warm hat
- Scarf
- Insulated gloves
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash or soap
- Deodorant
- Skincare products
- Sunscreen
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shaving supplies (if used)
- Menstrual products (if needed)
- Contact lens solution (if used)
Essentials
- Passport or accepted travel ID
- Travel tickets and booking confirmations
- Wallet and payment cards
- Phone
- Charging cable and charger
- Travel adapter (if needed)
- Medication (if needed)
- Glasses or contact lenses (if used)
- Refillable water bottle
- Day bag
- Power bank (if needed)
- Water-resistant pouch
- Compact umbrella (if preferred)
Monthly weather and packing notes
January calls for an insulating coat, warm knit and base layers for slow outdoor stops. Wear winter footwear with grip for snow, slush or ice around the Loop, and keep a hat and mittens ready before a short lakefront view or a wait for transport.
- Daytime
- -2–2°C
- Evenings
- -9–-5°C
- Rain
- Rain, snow or slush possible
- Daylight
- Shorter days: put park and harbour views in daylight.
- Packing style
- Insulating layers and weather-resistant walking footwear
National Weather Service Chicago O’Hare station normals cover 1991–2020. Mean daily maximum 31.6°F (-0.2°C), minimum 18.8°F (-7.3°C), monthly precipitation 1.99 inches (50.5 mm). Clothing bands convert to Celsius, round and expand by 2°C each way; these are outfit prompts, not forecast limits. Precipitation includes water-equivalent snow. Airport exposure differs from downtown streets, riverbanks and the lakefront. Check the forecast for your actual travel dates.
Outfit ideas for your outings
January around Millennium Park
- Long-sleeved thermal base-layer top
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Comfortable long trousers
- Walking footwear with grip
- Warm insulated wind-resistant coat
A Riverwalk or open boat-deck outing
- Long-sleeved thermal base-layer top
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Warm insulated wind-resistant coat
- Hat and insulated gloves
- Secure comfortable footwear
Art Institute galleries and an indoor stop
- Long-sleeved thermal base-layer top
- Removable knit
- Comfortable trousers or skirt
- Closed shoes
- Day bag to store outer layers
What to leave behind
- Stiff unworn shoes: test footwear before Loop paving, park paths and transit stairs.
- Only thin clothes: outdoor queues and an exposed lakefront stop need insulating layers.
Reviewed 2026-10-13
National Weather Service: Chicago O’Hare 1991–2020 normals · Choose Chicago: first-time visitor routes · CTA: route, payment and access guidance