Are There Any Bungee Jumps In Chicago, Illinois?

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Are There Any Bungee Jumps in chicago

For those who love extreme sports, bungee jumping is an amazing experience; once you get a taste of it, you’ll most likely want to go again. However, doing the same location over can get boring; I tend to branch out and find new bungee jumping locations I’ve never tried before. But to do that, you need to know where you can go. Are there any bungee jumping spots in Chicago?

There are no bungee jumps in the city of Chicago, but there are a couple of options within driving distance. The Extreme World Bungee in Wisconsin Dells is less than 200 miles away, or take a road trip to the Vertigo Bungee off the Youngs High Bridge, one of the best bungees in the USA. 

I’ll share a few of the closest bungee jumping locations with you as well as some other extreme activities in the area as alternative options. You’re sure to get the thrill you’re looking for no matter what you choose to do!

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Where Can I Bungee Jump Near Chicago?

Don’t be discouraged if you’re looking for places to bungee jump in Chicago. While there aren’t any within the city limits, there are several that you can travel to nearby. Here are the closet bungee jumps to Chicago!

1. Extreme World Bungee Jump

Now, if you don’t want to settle for something else, you can travel up to Wisconsin Dells Extreme World, where they have a bungee jump that’s 120 feet up. You’ll jump from a suspended platform that’s fixed to a metal arch. The views from up here are pretty cool, as you’ll get to see the rest of the park.

You’ll dive headfirst with an ankle harness. As you feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, the cord will catch before you hit the ground and sling you back toward the platform. Once you stop, the team will reel you back up to the platform to end the trip. Be prepared to spend a couple of minutes upside down!

The Extreme World park was recently purchased, and the new owners have mentioned the park will open and the bungee jump will be operating, along with the go-karts and the Castle of Terror.

2. Vertigo Bungee – Youngs High Bridge Bungee Jump

The Vertigo Bungee – Youngs High Bridge isn’t the closest to Chicago, as it is in Kentucky, but it’s within driving distance. It’s also one of the best places to go bungee jumping in the whole USA, so I couldn’t skip this opportunity to mention it.

The bridge sits 240 feet over the Kentucky River and provides some of the most beautiful views of Kentucky. So not only will you get to enjoy the beauty and the adrenaline rush, but you get to do this jump with a company that’s been in business for decades.

Read our related post “10 Highest Bungee Jumps in the United States” here.

3. Six Flags Great America – Dare Devel Dive

One of the best bungee jump-like experiences near Chicago is in Gurnee at Six Flags. However, this isn’t the classic bungee; it’s a harness swing that will still give you that same adrenaline-rushing drop as bungee jumping does.

At this location, there is a 125-foot arch, which you will be wenched up to and cut loose to freefall before the cord catches you and swings you pendulum-style up to the other side. You can enjoy this solo or with up to two other people, depending on the weight distribution.

As with all other harness swings, the price of admission does not cover the price of this ride. So please be ready to pay an additional fee to hop on.

If you’re heading to the Six Flags in Gurnee for bungee jumping, you might as well hop on a few of the rollercoasters! They also have the Giant Drop, among many other adrenaline-inducing rides.

NOTE: This ride was closed most of 2022 and completely in 2023, it has not been confirmed if it will be permanently closed or not. 

Can You Bungee Jump From The John Hancock Center?

The John Hancock Center Bungee? Nope you cant

There are a couple of articles throughout the internet claiming that you can jump from the John Hancock Center as there is a new bungee jumping attraction on the 360 observation deck. However, this is sadly false because you CAN”T bungee jump off the John Hancock Center in Chicago. (I’m disappointed too!)

But, if this is a place you planned to go, they do have a couple of neat attractions like the observation deck, sky yoga, and a tilt ride that will tilt you out over the edge of the building to make you feel like you’re going to fall. But, nowhere on their website does it mention bungee jumping.

Can You Bungee Jump From the Willis Tower?

Willis Tower chicago bungee

Another rumor is that you can bungee jump from the Willis Tower. There is no bungee jumping offered at the Willis tower either! There is nothing on their website that says there are bungee jumping tickets available or if they ever considered offering the extreme activity.

However, they do have an encased glass ledge on the 103rd floor that you can stand in to feel a little rush of adrenaline. While it’s not like bungee jumping at all, it’s still a little adrenaline fix for anyone already heading that way.

Other Activities in Chicago to Get Your Adrenaline Fix:

If you don’t want to travel too far outside of Chicago, no worries! Here are some nearby activities that you can enjoy instead to get your heart racing.

Helicopter Tours

While this is very different from bungee jumping, it’s kind of similar if you think about it because it still gives you the thrill you’re looking for, as well as the view of the city from up high. One of the best companies in the area to tour with is called Fly Heli Chicago, which is rated 4.9 stars on Google. They have several different tours to choose from.

iFly Indoor Skydiving

Chicago has several iFLY locations in Rosemont, Lincoln Park and Naperville. If you don’t want to go diving out of an actual plane, you can always opt for indoor skydiving.

For indoor skydiving, you’ll be put into a wind tunnel with an instructor, in which you’ll safely experience the feeling of the freefall without the height factor. However, if you want to hop out of a plane, you can do that too with a skydiving company.

Read more of our indoor skydiving articles:

Skydiving

Skydiving is probably the most like bungee jumping on this list, as you still get to take the leap from high up. However, you’ll be doing it out of a plane, over the city of Chicago. You’ll have unobstructed views of the city and the hundreds of miles surrounding you.

One of the best companies to skydive with is Skydive Chicago. They have tandem options, as well as classes that you can sign up for (yes, it does require a fee) to learn how to skydive.

Ziplining

If you had just a little outside of Chicago, there’s Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park. They have ziplines, treetop courses, and even a forest escape journey (think like an escape room, but outdoors.). There are a lot of kid-friendly activities here as well, so there’s plenty for the whole family to do.

Read our full post “6 Thrilling Places to Go Ziplining in Chicago” here.

Are There Any New Bungees Coming to Chicago?

I cannot find anything throughout the sources I’ve checked that points to a new bungee jump coming to Chicago, and I haven’t heard any news either. However, that’s not to say that there won’t be sometime in the near future! I suggest you keep your eyes peeled and your ears open in the upcoming months. You never know!

You can always read our related bungee jumping location posts here:

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