Willis Tower Skydeck
Step out onto a glass box 412 meters above the streets of Chicago, with views over four states.
Photo: Cortney Martin · CC BY 2.0
Willis Tower guide: the Skydeck on the 103rd floor, the glass Ledge, the history of the Sears Tower, tickets and time slots, the best time for views, and tips.
Willis Tower: what to expect
Completed in 1973 as the Sears Tower, this black steel skyscraper in the Loop was the tallest building in the world for almost 25 years. It rises 110 stories to a roof height of 442 meters, and it took its current name in 2009, when an insurance broker leased part of the space.
The Skydeck on the 103rd floor sits about 412 meters above the street. On clear days the view stretches some 80 kilometers across Lake Michigan and the prairie, taking in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. An exhibit on the way up explains the city’s architecture and the engineering of the building’s bundled-tube design.
The highlight is The Ledge, four glass boxes that extend about 1.3 meters out from the west wall, so you can stand on a clear floor with nothing but air between you and the street. Lines for the Ledge can be long at busy times, and staff limit each group to a short photo stop.
Clear winter mornings often give the sharpest views, while sunset over the western suburbs is the most popular slot. Low clouds can hide everything, so check the visibility before you buy tickets.
Willis Tower: top things to do
- 1Standing on the glass floor of The Ledge
- 2The view over Lake Michigan and the Loop
- 3Sunset over the western suburbs
- 4The exhibit on Chicago architecture
Willis Tower: best time to visit
All year on a clear day; early morning or late evening for shorter lines.
Willis Tower: insider tips
- Check the visibility forecast; low clouds can hide the view.
- Book a time slot online to avoid the ticket line.
- Combine it with an architecture boat tour on the Chicago River.
Fees, passes and parking
- Federal park passes such as America the Beautiful are not valid here.
- Tickets are sold online for a date and time; the price changes with the day and the package, and the glass Ledge is included.
- Public transit is the easiest way to get around the center.
Checked Oct 28, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
626 gas stations within 20 km
- 0.6 km BP open 24 hours
- 1.3 km Citgo
- 1.3 km Mobil
- 1.4 km Shell
- 1.6 km BP
- 1.6 km BP
- 1.1 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 1.5 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
- 1.7 km Electrify America Fast chargers (Electrify America)
- 2.0 km EVgo Fast chargers (EVgo)
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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